Indiana Beach love thread

I was just looking through Indiana Beach's new website (http://www.indianabeach.com/) and on the main page, I see they finally have a new overview picture of the whole park displayed and I just thought that was pretty neat. I know they hadn't taken one before the Double Shot was built, because the last one they had on their site, Double Shot was still missing, so it's cool to see this.

Anyway, I'm so excited to get down there this year and enjoy the place. Everytime I go, I feel like a kid again! The park atmosphere is just excellent and a ride on the Hurricane and Cornball at night just gets me going. I think all those people I read about who say they think about adding Indiana Beach to their trip schedule this year should definitely try it out! I think you'll all be in for a big surprise. I'm so happy that my boring little state is home to two awesome family amusement parks, go Indiana! *** Edited 4/9/2004 9:42:34 PM UTC by Glitch01***

I find that Indiana Beach is a park people either "get" or don't. I definitely get it and love spending time there.

I can't wait to get back to IB....the one visit was definteily NOT enough...:)

Plus, I still need rides on Tig'rr and "the coaster that Moosh named"...;)

....and more Cornball goodness...Indiana does indeed ROCK! :)

edit: I'm a "dolt" for forgetting to mention the *awesome* Sally dark ride....DoLT... *** Edited 4/9/2004 6:53:42 PM UTC by rollergator***

The coaster that Moosh named...you mean the crazy oversized Japanese wrestler? :)

LOL! Don't forget I've also coined the term "SHOTS."

I am one of those who did not get Indiana Beach when Hoosier Hurricane first opened up. But when they opened Cornball I woke up to Indiana Beach. It was further cemented by Lost Coaster or Superstition Mountain. (I must be into B&D/S&M or something cuz I like Son of Beast too!) So did Den of Lost Theives. What a fun dark ride. That is something you dont find everywhere. And with the 2004 addition of Air Crow, I am excited to go there for my 3rd or 4th year in a row.

I went to Indiana Beach and I don't see what the hype is about.

Cornball Express is practically a kiddie coaster and the airtime isn't existant. Those buzzbars are VERY restrictive. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain is just a wooden wild mouse. Hoosier Hurricane was a snore waiting to get in a coma. Tig'rr reminded me of Space Mountain in diapers. Don't even get me started on the training wheels that is the Galaxi.

When I ride Double Shots, I expect to be flown out of my seat, not restricted by those GOD AWFUL horsecollars that prevent any and all enjoyablilty.

Indiana Beach was boring with a capital D. *** Edited 4/9/2004 7:27:50 PM UTC by RCTfan***

You spell 'boring' with a 'D'?

I didn't "get" Indiana Beach at first either. I lived in Monticello for a year and only went there once! Now that I live in Lafayette (45 mins away) we go at least once a month. I LOVE Cornball and can't wait to get my fix in less than a month.

I guess I "get" it because I had a blast on my one visit to the park, and I've been wanting to get back ever since. I love how the rides are stacked on and around each other -- it's like a big tangled mess of amusement park goodness!

The selection of rides is great, there is definitely something for every taste. The coasters were great; Cornball Express is still my #2 or #3 woodie, Tig'rr is a hoot, and I actually found some decent pops of air on Hoosier Hurricane! I haven't had a spin on LoCoSuMo yet, but I hope to get back this year and rectify that. The flats were just as fun, especially DoLT (lol, rollergator) and the Yo-Yo over the water.

If you haven't been to IB yet, I highly recommend it -- you won't be disappointed!

- Aaron K, Cornball junkie

Let me explain my "get" comment. Some people view IB as a glorified carnival. When I visit I feel as if I've been transported back to the 1960s. The park, depsite many modern rides, just feels that way.

I spent two days at the park, staying in the hotel's penthouse overlooking the midway, and had a fantastic time taking it easy, playing lots of Fascination, and riding rides over and over.

Frankly, if IB is a glorified carnival I wish more carnivals were like Indiana Beach!

Tangled mess is right. I love that place. Next road trip I'll be back.

I think RCTfan up there is trying to get folks excited or something. I can understand you not liking it, but sounds like you outright hate the place. Too bad. The concept of not enjoying the place is about as foreign to me as not liking fried chicken or something. Wierd.

It's hard for me to express how much I love IB, but I can tell you, when my hormones are just right, the sights, sounds and smells that hit me when I enter the park can make me cry happy tears. I "got" IB long before the coasters were an issue; it was my family's regular vacation spot for over ten years and the place just overwhelms me with memories. That is, of course, when I'm not being overwhelmed with airtime (I miss you Cornball...you and me, May 2). :)

GOCC is holding their annual Spring Fling event at Indiana Beach on May 22nd and 23rd. There is "ride time" on Cornball, Hoosier, LoCoSuMo, Dodgems, Double Shot, and Den of Lost Theives. Plus an all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet in the Skyroom is included in the costs of only $44 (non member rate). That's two days admission plus all the goodies just mentioned included in the price. See GOCC"s website to download flyer if interested, or IM me and I'll send you one.

Wood - anything else is a imitation

RCTfan, didn't you get the memo? This is a LOVE thread! j/k, you have your own opinion :)

I have never heard anyone else call Cornball a kiddie coaster! While it might be kind of a short ride, I think it makes up for it with it's awesome airtime and unique placement in the park. The front, middle, and back seats all give you very different rides, in my opinion at least. Also, at night...it's insane!

And you have to admit, even if Lost Coaster is a wooden wild mouse (I'm not sure if the park advertisted it as anything more than a twisty wooden mine ride) it's a pretty unique ride. I mean, come on! The elevator at the begining just makes it seem that much more like a real mine ride. Tig'rr and Galaxi might not be the most exciting rides in the world, but I couldn't imagine Indiana Beach without them. They give the place a real boardwalk feel.

Hoosier Hurricane, as we all know, is not an airtime machine. But, I think it's made to thrill you in other ways. It's speed, fun hills, the sudden jerk to the right you get in two different areas on the ride, the AWESOME turn around that takes you right next to the gigantic ferris wheel and give you an awesome view of the lake, because you are basically on it, and so much more!

Also, Double Shot might only be 85 feet high (or however tall it is) but I think it's much more thrilling than...let's say Power Tower. The reason is, I love how jerky it is. Every time my friends and I get off that ride, we are all laughing like little kids because of how insane the second shot down is. What kind of restraint do you expect they use for a double shot? I think the horsecollar restraint is going to be about the best they can do, anything else and you might have guest being thrown all over the park.

Like I said, you are entitled to your own opinion (duh, everyone is) but I'm just inserting mine too!

I've never experienced IB, but I can't wait to visit this year on my way to (or back from) SFGAm. I really love the smaller traditional indie parks like Lake Winnie and Holiday World...none of the corporate BS, so I'm hoping IB is along those lines.

IB will not disappoint you :)

All I know is, I visited once, and will never forget it. How I wish I could go there whenever I wanted!

Cornball was a fantastic surprise that grew even more fantastical as the day progressed. LoCo was a pleasure to ride either way. And the placement of rides was miraculous. And for me, yes it did evoke a very nostalgic feeling. I could write volumes praising this place.

And when visiting the Haunted Castle attraction, be sure to get a close view of the band as it jams (thanks, Mooshie!);).

I highly, highly recommend everyone get in a visit at this out-of-the-way gem of a park!

What's the secret with the band? I've seen it a million times and never noticed anything strange, lol. Here's a pic of the drummer:

http://groups.msn.com/IndianaBeachClub/ericstriptomediaday.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=496

The only, and I mean ONLY gripe I have about Indiana Beach (now that I think of it) would be the net cages they put on LoCoSuMo after that minor incident. Not only are they ugly but they also take away from the ride and make getting into the thing a real hassle! I wish there was a way they could get better clearance through the ride and ditch those things.

Pre-ugly nets: http://groups.msn.com/IndianaBeachClub/ericstriptomediaday.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=501

After: http://www.angelfire.com/in4/indianabeach2/lostcoaster/lc005.JPG

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RCTfan said:
Cornball Express is practically a kiddie coaster and the airtime isn't existant. Those buzzbars are VERY restrictive.

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Excuse me, but how big are you? Buzz bars are probably the least-restrictive restraints available.

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When I ride Double Shots, I expect to be flown out of my seat, not restricted by those GOD AWFUL horsecollars that prevent any and all enjoyablilty.

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Odd that you would "expect" restraints that don't exist for Double Shots. All Double Shots have the same restraints.

-Nate
*** Edited 4/10/2004 2:12:19 AM UTC by coasterdude318***