SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — Holiday World is saying goodbye to a man who has certainly left his mark on the iconic theme park.
Rick Emmons, sign shop manager and the artist behind many of the iconic Holiday World murals and logos, is retiring at the end of the month after 52 years.
Over his five decades, Emmons is behind the large murals in Santa’s Merry Marketplace, building murals and thousands of signs.
"We can never thank Rick enough for sharing his talent with us for more than half a century,” said Leah Koch-Blumhardt, fourth-generation owner of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. “He has quite literally shaped our parks through his murals and signs, and we’re so much better for it."
Emmons started at the park as a seasonal worker in 1972 when it was still known as Santa Claus Land. In 1975, he came on full-time and has spent decades adding his artistry to enhance the experience of millions of families who have visited.
