Holiday World (HW) Discussion Thread

[jynx242]

I feel like I just lost a friend. He was such a genuinely nice person and will be missed. My thoughts are with his family.

[Yamez]

[ConleyKE]

Very, very sad news. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Koch family, friends, and everyone at Holiday World.

[jdcoffeytime]

Wow! SO Young! He will be missed! Rest in Peace.

[ratdogg68]

Such sad news to wake up to, he will be missed. Such a nice and friendly guy, my prayers go out to Everyone in his family and at Holiday World.

Edited June 14, 2010 by ratdogg68

[rctneil]

Oh No, What dreadful news to hear. My condolences to Pat and the rest of his family. I was too looking forward to meeting Will later this year but alas that is not to be.

 

Once again Rest In Peace.

[willh51]

Such sad news for the industry and coaster enthusiast community. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

[testtrack321]

Absolutely floored.

 

I never met Will nor saw him, despite his appearance on Colbert. But I have met his extended family, and I know that he is a great man because of what he left. Disneyland stayed open when Walt died, and it's only true that Holiday World be open and greeting guests this morning.

 

"You'll be seeing lots of Muppets stuff soon, because that's the way the boss would have wanted it." - Kermit

 

Thoughts from all the coaster nerds at the University of Dayton.

 

Joe

[Coaster Cow]

Holy geez. I'm really lost here. My heart goes out to the family, he was truly a wonderful man.

[Montuman99]

Why must the awesome die young.

[sobrider]

This just bumms me out to no end. He was a good guy.

He was really glad when he Got to meet my mom at HWN who wasn't a coaster person and asked her why she came.

He seemed happy when she said it was because I spoke so highly of the park.

 

He looked like he was having a blast during the water park ERT and the walkback.

I am really going to miss him.

[bgwfreak777]

Apparently Pat is at the park this morning greeting guests...Strong woman

 

Doesn't surprise me a bit though. She continued on when her husband the passed on, and I'd see her at the park picking up trash or walking around making sure people were having a good day at an age when most people her age would have been taking it easy in Florida.

[The Voyager]

Wow, I really just don't want to believe it. Its just to sudden. I've been to the park about 10 times this year and every time I've seen him he's been SO gueuinely nice. I saw him only 2 days ago, he waved at me and smiled. And to imagine that he never got the chance to ride the Timberliners. I'm gonna miss Will..

 

Will put 20 years of hard, loving work into Holiday World to make it what it is today; I'm confident that he would want it to continue to grow and put smiles on peoples faces for years and years to come. But the question still remains: Who will take over?

[thrillrider]

This is heartbreaking news.

 

I had the great opportunity to meet him a few times during various coaster events at the park. He even took the time and sat with us at our table to eat dinner one night. Why do things like this seem to always happen to the good guys

 

My heart goes out to his family and friends.

[AndCamSS]

I can't stop thinking about that "Goodnight Mom, Goodnight Will" message that plays when the park closes.

[itsme102]

Wow, what a shame. To have someone go that suddenly and that young is never fair. Thoughts and prayers to the Koch family.

[cfc]

This is very sad news. It's clear that Holiday World is a labor of love for the Koch family. My thoughts are with them.

[darklingscribe]

I'm sorry for their loss. News like this is always hard, even more so when it happens so suddenly.

 

I send my heartfelt condolences to the Koch family and friends.

[testtrack321]

I can't stop thinking about that "Goodnight Mom, Goodnight Will" message that plays when the park closes.

 

I hope they still play it tonight and will continue to.

[coaster-crazy]

Wow... this is awful and shocking too. He was only at 48 years old, which is even more shocking. Darn diabetes. I send my condolences to his family.

 

~Nicholas

[coasterdad]

Wow this really floored me. I've known the Koch's for a very long time. My prayers are with the family and the park. They were a one in a million family that love the industry and coaster people.

[Divv3k]

Really sad to hear this. My thoughts go out to the family.

[JR Villain]

Sad day in the industry . My thoughts go out to the whole Koch family. It was cool to meet him at last years HoliWood Nights.

[Emiroo]

Interview videos with Pat & Paula here: http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=12643268

[thrillrider]

Uggg...

 

For some reason, I can't open that video.....it just keeps loading.