This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the first element of our Heartspitality Culture equation in honor of the month of love. Now, at Herschend, Love isn’t the brotherly, emotional, or parental kind of love, which are all nouns (feeling words). We practice AGAPE love, which is a verb (an action word). It’s about our behaviors and making a conscious choice to love one another through our actions, regardless of how we feel. The key behaviors of AGAPE love, which are also our company core values, are being patient, kind, humble, respectful, trusting, unselfish, forgiving, truthful, and dedicated.
It’s not always easy, but choosing to love everyone unconditionally is the key to achieving our purpose of Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®.
Each Herschend property is unique, but what's always constant is our love for one another, our guests, and our communities. So, this month, we’re celebrating some of the ways we show love through our actions.
Enjoy!
-Andrew Wexler, CEO
Herschend
Herschend University (HU) is an annual gathering designed to develop and inspire senior leaders from across our properties. Each year, property chiefs select senior leaders to attend, providing them with an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. This year's HU was particularly special as participants celebrated Herschend’s 75th Anniversary with themed activities and immersive educational workshops to enhance their leadership skills. Key highlights of the week were the introduction of Coaching with L.O.V.E and our new guest excellence training: H.E.A.R.T, reinforcing our commitment to delivering outstanding guest experiences.
The culmination of HU is the prestigious Herschend Arrow Awards, which recognize excellence in various performance areas. These awards honor the hard work, dedication, and achievements of hosts across all properties. The awards are divided into two categories with metrics measured using the Arrow Model: Green Leaf Awards: Recognizing the properties with the most improved scores in various performance areas. Gold Leaf Awards: Honoring the properties that achieved the highest overall scores in their respective categories.
These awards are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our leaders and teams across all properties. Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding achievements!
Our Heartspitality culture equation starts with LOVE. An unconditional love that comes from our actions. Love at Herschend is choosing to behave in a manner that makes everyone feel welcome, valued, and respected. Leading with love in all we do is the foundation our founders planted to grow Herschend more than 70 years ago, and it continues to guide our actions today.
Herschend’s free tuition program, GROW U., is celebrating its third anniversary! Help us celebrate by clicking the link below to learn more about all the opportunities available to you. Ready to start a new career chapter right now? Take a look at all the open positions across Herschend.
For nearly three decades, Martha Kent Booth has been a familiar face at Silver Dollar City, dedicating herself as an Area Host. Her connection to the park runs deep, intertwined with profound personal milestones.
In 1994, Martha married Paul Kent, a Silver Dollar City Citizen known for his roles with the Frisco Silver Dollar Line. Their shared love for the park made it the perfect backdrop for their wedding. After Paul's passing in 2007, Martha found solace in her work and the community.
Years later, love found Martha again with Wayne Booth, a friend and toy shop employee at the park. They wed in December 2021 at Brown’s Candy Factory, but tragically, Wayne passed away just days later.
Through these profound losses, Martha remains a testament to resilience, finding comfort in the park's familiar paths and the memories they hold. Her story exemplifies the deep bonds formed within the Silver Dollar City community.
For a more in-depth look at Martha's journey, click below to read the full article.
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Kentucky Kingdom was thrilled to partner with the Harlem Globetrotters during their visit to Louisville in January. Latif ‘Jett’ Rivers kicked it off with a visit to the park to shoot some fun and engaging social media content. The excitement continued into the weekend when the Globetrotters marketing team kindly invited us to participate in their game at the KFC Yum! Center. Our team gave away prizes on the concourse before the game, King Louie & Globie cheered on competing fans for a chance to win four Kentucky Kingdom season passes during halftime, and more! This opportunity was not only a gesture of agape love on the part of the Globetrotters team but also a chance for Kentucky Kingdom hosts to generate excitement ahead of the all-new land coming to the park this season.
At 105 years young, Helen Hubbard is proving that age is just a number—especially when you have a lifelong love for Silver Dollar City! The Carthage, Missouri, resident and World War II veteran recently celebrated her milestone birthday, and Silver Dollar City was right there to honor her.
As a die-hard SDC superfan, Helen has spent decades enjoying the park, cherishing the memories made there. To mark her big day, Silver Dollar City sent a special flower arrangement, recognizing her as one of their most devoted fans. Carthage’s mayor even declared January 8 as "Helen Hubbard Day."
Known for her adventurous spirit—she took a lap in a NASCAR at age 103—Helen continues to inspire those around her with her humor and zest for life. “I guess after 105 years, I’ve figured out how to be the center of attention,” she joked.
Read more about Helen’s incredible story below.
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Callaway Resort & Gardens served as the proud host for this year's Herschend University (HU), where the commitment to excellence and hospitality was on full display. The service provided throughout the event was phenomenal, with a true sense of Heartspitality emanating from every corner.
A standout moment occurred during the 1950s-themed banquet, where the staff at the Lodge took the experience to the next level. Dressed in playful 50s pink lady costumes, the banquet team went above and beyond to add a special touch that enhanced the overall atmosphere of the evening.
Chris Lutz, Vice President and General Manager of Callaway Resort & Gardens, shared his pride in the team’s dedication. "I'm extremely proud of how our team excelled at every level during HU. The banquet team, in particular, went above and beyond, adding a special touch that helped create lasting memories for all the attendees. Their dedication truly reflected the care and commitment to hospitality that we uphold here at Callaway. I’m grateful to every host for embracing our guests with such exceptional hospitality."
The event highlighted the remarkable dedication of the Callaway team, ensuring that Herschend University was a memorable experience for all who attended.
The Vancouver Aquarium recently opened an all-new interactive exhibit, Survival of the Slowest. From close-up encounters with masters of mellow—like sloths and armadillos—to hands-on experiences and daily animal presentations, you’ll discover how takin’ it slow can be a superpower. Until September 1, guests will have a daily opportunity to get up close with some of the animals in this exhibit.
With live presentations and hands-on interactions led by our wildlife experts, you’ll get up close with these masters of mellow and see how they play the game of survival on their own terms. Slow down and discover that, in nature, sometimes taking it easy is the ultimate advantage.
“Survival of the Slowest is an opportunity to discover animals who evolved to be slow as part of their survival strategy. We are excited to bring this new exhibit, the latest in a series of limited time offerings, to encounter new animals and further explore the wonders of the natural world,” said Vancouver Aquarium Executive Director Clint Wright.
In an exciting move to expand its event offerings and create memorable experiences for families, Adventure Aquarium brought the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons to life! Inspired by the hit Nintendo Switch game, this unique event invited guests to dive into the wonders of aquatic life while immersing themselves in the charming world of Animal Crossing.
As part of the event, Adventure Aquarium saw a sold-out weekend, featuring a special appearance by none other than the game’s beloved character, Tom Nook! It was an unforgettable experience that brought generations of fans for a weekend full of fun, adventure, and nostalgia.
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is offering guests an exclusive new way to connect with Dolly Parton through the stories stitched into her iconic wardrobe.
Curated by Dolly’s niece, Rebecca Seaver, this special exhibit features 18 legendary outfits, from her 2002 “Halo & Horns” tour to her 1970 album "The Fairest of Them All" and even her Netflix “Grace & Frankie” cameo. Each piece reflects a moment in Dolly’s journey, giving fans a rare glimpse into her world.
With Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort celebrating its first anniversary and DreamMore Resort nearing its 10-year milestone, this experience adds even more magic to a Dollywood Parks & Resorts stay. It’s more than fashion—it’s a walk through Dolly’s history!
From now until March 9, 2025, all Herschend hosts can take advantage of special rates at Dollywood Resorts. Visit Dollywood’s Host Rate Page or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD to learn more.
The first “bloom” or “smack” of jellies has arrived at Newport Aquarium in preparation for the new exhibit, Jellies: Go with the Flow opening next month. The white-spotted jellies and the Atlantic Sea Nettles are drifting safely behind the scenes while work continues on their permanent home. These amazing animals will be joining a diverse gallery of other jelly species, including upside-down jellies and comb jellies. Once opened, Jellies: Go with the Flow will add more than 2,000 square feet to the guest experience at Newport Aquarium.
Watch VideoWild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, GA, just sealed a piece of its story! To celebrate the opening of The Safari Campground, the park team gathered on February 4 to bury a time capsule—set to be unearthed in 25 years.
Every department added a piece of today for future adventurers. Operations included snapshots of the Century Wheel and First Aid Center before their transformations. Zoo contributed an ostrich eggshell and a snakeskin shed by Meatball, one of the park’s newest reptiles. Maintenance signed and stashed a Twisted Typhoon wheel, while HR added a Fall Frenzy T-shirt. Finance packed in Adventure Bucks and game tokens, and Merchandise included a 2025 souvenir cup and park maps. Marketing filled a flash drive with park music, commercial footage, and highlights from last year’s Snow Day and Drone Show.
“This time capsule is a tribute to our incredible team and a glimpse into how far Wild Adventures has come,” said Jon Vigue, vice president and general manager.
When the capsule is cracked open in 2050, the future Wild Adventures crew will get a snapshot of a park built on dedication, teamwork, and unforgettable thrills!
Through the kindness of the Herschend Community, with 4,000+ donors each year, we can come alongside hosts and provide them with love and support when they need it most. Over the last 20 years, Share it Forward has provided more than $14 million in support to assist hosts with over 10,000 hardships.
Please view our 20th Anniversary video to learn more about our impact.
Interested in giving to Share It Forward?
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For over 40 years, Missouri has championed Parents as Teachers (PAT), a program that empowers parents as their child’s first teacher. In Blue Eye School District, this initiative is thriving—helping families prepare children for success through home visits, skill-building activities, and group events.
Thanks to $42,000 in Hope Grants from the Silver Dollar City Foundation, PAT continues to grow, serving 23 families this year alone. Parents like Cassie Tranbarger appreciate the support. “Even as a preschool teacher, this program gives me fresh ideas for home,” she said.
Dr. Sharon Jones, Director of Special Services, calls the impact “school readiness and beyond.” With continued support, PAT is helping families build bright futures—one heart, one home at a time.
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Adventure Aquarium recently announced that they welcomed two healthy African penguin chicks to their colony. The chicks, named Gabby and Shubert, are the 49th and 50th to be hatched at the Aquarium and will play an essential role as ambassadors for their at-risk species.
African penguins are native to the coast of southwestern Africa and, despite their size, can eat up to 20% of their body weight in just one sitting. These hatchlings are particularly significant as African penguins were reclassified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in October 2024 due to habitat loss and other environmental factors. Experts predict African penguins could be functionally extinct by 2035 if conservation efforts aren’t prioritized.
Both chicks were hatched to first-time parents on December 1, 2024, making this occasion even more exciting for the Aquarium team. Gabby, a female, was hatched to parents Taco (#36) and Bahari (#42) and got her name from her talkativeness, which her keepers say started before she was even out of the egg. Shubert, a male, was hatched to parents Hubert (#47) and Mushu (#44) and is described as a big bird who only continues to exceed his growth milestones.
Watch VideoHarlem Globetrotters legend, “Sweet Lou” Dunbar sits down with Melanie Camp for an exclusive interview with Houston Life at Fondé Recreation Center. Sweet Lou gives his own personal story and ties it into the rich history of the Harlem Globetrotters. Basketball would not be where it is today without the influence of the Globetrotters.
Watch the Interview
