P.O. Box 209
Santa
Claus, IN 47579
(812)
937-5000
Fax (812) 937-5500
Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort History
The Koch family led by Bill Koch opened Lake Rudolph Campsites
in 1958 to accommodate visitors to Santa Claus Land. Located next door to the
theme park and behind the Koch family home, the campground was built around a
7 acre lake with a beach and swimming area. It was an immediate success, and
has grown considerably in scope and function since.
In the mid-80’s, the campground was closed, renovated, and then re-opened as
the Holiday World Outdoor Resort, a membership-only campground and a Coast to
Coast resort. The Koch family built a new home in Christmas Lake Village and
their old home was transformed into the campground office and meeting space.
A short time later, the name was then changed to Lake Rudolph Outdoor Resort.
Several hundred memberships were sold, and several members of the campground
remain today. Four cabins and several rental RVs for members were added over
the years.
In 1997, the family decided that public camping was again needed to
accommodate the needs of guests to Holiday World, so an additional 150 sites
were added and they named this new section Dasher. Since that time, extensive
renovations and additions have taken place, including: 4 modern bathhouses
with air conditioning, a swimming pool, playgrounds, basketball courts,
horseshoe pits, a new camp store, a new mini golf course, new cabins and
rental RVs. Most of the roads in the campground have been paved. The public
can now enjoy all of the new amenities as well as the amenities available to
our members.
In 1999, the name of the park was amended to Lake Rudolph Campground & R.V.
Resort. A new logo was designed featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and
an aggressive marketing campaign was launched to inform the public….and the
public has responded. Business has grown nearly 140% in just three years.
In 2000, many of the campground roads were paved, plus the Office and Welcome
Center were given facelifts. Renovations continued in the 2001 season, with
19 new Rental RVs, 2 new basketball courts, new beach volleyball court, new
nature trail, new horseshoe pits in the Dasher section, new larger camp store
and game room, renovated bathhouse in the Prancer section, and air
conditioning was added to Dasher’s bathhouse.
Renovations and additions in 2002 include a new road featuring 15 new rental
RVs & 5 new cabins, the 4 original cabins have been renovated, a new mini
golf course, 2 new additional unisex family bathhouses, a new laundromat in
the Dasher section, new deluxe RV sites featuring concrete pads, upgraded
electric & water hookups in the Lakeside section, newly paved roads in the
Lakeside and Prancer sections, renovated office lobby and tourist information
area, and public golf car rentals.
We now have 46 Rental RVs and 9 cabins, plus 240 public sites for campers and
tents. Amenities include two swimming pools, kiddie pool, miniature golf,
fishing lake, paddleboats, playgrounds, camp store, outdoor pavilion, game
room, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, nature trails, meeting room, free
Holiday World shuttle, and discount tickets to Holiday World & Splashin'
Safari.
Reservations are taken year-round at our toll free number: 1-877-4RUDOLPH
(1-877-478-3657). We also have an automated information line at 1-877-YES
RUDY (1-877-937-7839). Our website address is www.lakerudolph.com.
Since 1958, the campground has been owned and operated by the Koch Family
(Santa Claus Land, Inc. and then Koch Development Corporation).
In May 2002, a new company was created by Philip Koch and his sister Kristi
George. The new company is HO HO HOldings, LLC. Philip Koch serves as the
President and operates Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Kringle Place
Shopping Center, and various area real estate.
Holiday World Theme Park, Splashin' Safari Water Park, and the Holiday
Village subdivision is still owned and operated by Koch Development
Corporation.
The Koch family continues a great tradition of providing wonderful family
destinations in the heart of Southern Indiana. We hope to see you soon and
Merry Christmas from Santa Claus, Indiana!
Campground Owner: HO HO HOldings,LLC
President/CEO: Philip Koch philip@hohoholdings.com
Campground Manager: Wayne Utley, CPO wutley@lakerudolph.com
Marketing Director: Dave Lovell dave@lakerudolph.com
HO HO HOldings History |
Kringle Place Shopping Center History
Koch Development Corporation History |
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari History
Koch Enterprises History |
Santa Claus, Indiana History