Nick VanGelder

Biography

Nick VanGelder serves as the Director of Attractions and Safety Compliance for Herschend Family Entertainment, where he supports attractions, safety, and security programming across the organization’s diverse portfolio of parks, aquariums, resorts, and entertainment brands. Nick began his career in the theme park industry in 2005 as a ride operator at Darien Lake in Western New York. He joined Herschend Family Entertainment in 2011, eventually relocating to Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park in 2015. During his time there, he took on various operational roles, including Director of Attractions, Campground, Guest Services/Ticketing, and IT. In 2021, Nick transitioned from Stone Mountain Park to Herschend’s Property Support Center at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where he continues to drive excellence in attractions and safety compliance.