Boating and Indiana Beach

[IndyGuy4KI]

My Dad and I took my first trip this season to Indiana Beachon 8/18/10. My parents would take 6 to 10 weekend trips a season when I was little. So, there are a lot of good memories at that park and I enjoy IB for that fact. This trip also included launching my father in-law's and my Seadoo for a few hours before the park opened.

We arrived at IB about 9:15 and paid to launch the seadoos at the IB campground which has been renamed and slightly rethemed to Nascar RV Resort?? We got to the boat ramp and were getting the seadoo's ready. The night before, I was having trouble with the father in-laws seadoo getting it to turn over fast enough to start. I had charged the batter over night and got it running before we left. When we were ready to launch the seadoo's I thought I better start them first and make sure they are ready to go. Mine started right up, but my father in-laws would barely turn over again.

My dad had brought his battery booster and so we tried that with no luck. We took the seadoo's up to Lake Shaffer Boat Rental. just a block from the campground. They tested the battery for us and it was good, so we determined the starter was bad. I did appreciate their help with the battery, but when I asked if they would cut us any deals for a wave runner rental I was told "he does not do deals." We were a little disappointed but since he did help us out, my dad rented one anyway so we could go on the water.

We had a great time ridding the seadoo's for a few hours (If you have never ridden aseadoo before you know about 3 hours is really all you can take of them,especially if you are ridding them hard, doing tricks, and on rough water.) Wethen pulled my seadoo out of the water, dried off and headed towards the park.We parked in the free lot at the South entrance where you use the suspensionbridge.

We walked across the bridge and hit the skyride for we wanted to get something to eat since it was 12:30 ish and had not eaten yet. We wanted to scope out any new restaurants on the sky ride, and see the boardwalk as well. We decided to hit the Noble Romans after our nice skyride. After that I told my dad I wanted to ride Galaxi, IB's first coaster opening in the 1971 season. I remember as a kid while playing at the beach wondering why that ride made so much noise. I guess I have always been into coasters and did not realize it. Thanks to KIC and my friends here I now know what the noise is. Those Galaxi's have some of the loudest anti-rollbacks, but love to hear that sound! We had a great ride on it and started heading to Cornball Express.

We stopped on the way and took a ride on Sea Dragon, I seem to remember it going higher when I was littler, but maybe it just seemed like it. It is still my favorite Viking Ship ride. I was looking forward to CBE the most, for I just love that ride. We rode in the back, but told my dad we must ride in the front car per Terpy. We had a great ride on it. I went to ride Tig'rr. It is just not the trill it was when there was no seat belts. Before they added those 2 or 3 seasons ago there were no restrains. What a thrill it was then, I always felt like I was going to fall out of that thing. I am surprised it took that long for it to get seatbelts. Here is a pic of their cars.

Source: http://www.indianabeach.com/

We then headed towards Hoosier Hurricane, IB's first woddie. I remember ridding that thing it's opening season. We had a great ride on it as well. My dad wanted to ride the bumper cars which I love their bumper cars, they are really fast and believe a little faster than HW's. You can hit someone just right and take a wheel off the ground. Saw it before our ride. I got a pic of the front of one before the ride cycle. They really needed to go through the car wash though.

We then headed down the boardwalk to falling star, and then we hit the Water Swings. My dad is not much for spiny rides, so we did not hit Music Express , Flying Bob's, or Tilt-A-Whirl. I did however ride Paratrooper. I think it is my favorite flat in the park. While there I noticed that the scrambler was almost disassembled. I was thinking they were started to tear it down for winter rehab, but I asked the ride op at Paratrooper. He stated that the main bearing went out and the ride had to be taken completely apart to get to it. He said he did not think it would be up the rest of the season. The ride op seemed confident in his response to me and did not seem like he was pulling this info out of his um.. hat. I believed him so I did not get a second opinion from the dippin dot's guy.

We then went to Den of Lost Thieves', IB's version of BBOBH. I liked their guns for they have laser pointers on them, but still the same ole issues we see, some targets not working and my gun was about 6 inches away from the target when it would hit. I didn't know if the gun or the laser was off, but the laser almost made it harder. We had a fun ride there and then we headed towards Steel Hogg. That ride was more fun than I remember, a lot of cool elements put into a compact steel coaster, but still does not give you that wow feeling when you get off you are expecting when you look at it…

We were getting hot so we headed towards Rocky's Rapids to cool off. My dad did not want to get wet so I just rode, but the only water I got was from the water mister they had at the end of one of the tunnels beforethe lift. I did get any water on me from the ride. I must say though, their boats are much better than KI's. I would love for KI to replace their boats with these. Mine did not have any water in it, there were foot pedals for your feet, rubber matting on the botton so you don't slip, they were more comfortable, and they actually looked like a log.

We then decided to hit up HH and CBE in the front car. Loved the experience on both coasters, Terpy was right, a lot more air time on CBE in the front car! Thanks Terpy for telling me to try that! We were starting to wear down and my dad said he was done for the day. I wanted to ride Air Crow, but did not see a ride op anywhere. I really wanted to do a little snapping on those. I then told him let's hit up Galaxi and Dodg-em's one more time. After that we then took the Sky Ride back to the South end of the park to leave.

Al in all a good day. A few last comments. IB was not very clean especially in the queue's. A lot of the rides are in need of a pressure washer and some paint. Due to this fact a lot do not seem like they are well maintained although it could be the opposite. I still love their older rides, but they really need to look like they are proud to have them at their park, not just exists.

Ride Count:

Den of Lost Thieves – 1

Dod-em – 2

Rocky’s Rapids – 1

Water Swing – 1

Skyride -2

Falling Star – 1

Paratrooper – 1

Cornball Express – 2

Steel Hawg – 1

Galaxy - 2

Hoosier Hurricane – 1

Tig’rr – 1

Sea Dragon – 2

Total : 18 (Not to bad for about 4 hours of ridding)

[The Interpreter]

Glad you enjoyed the front on CBE!

I really hope the new owners keep IB well. Were you fascinated at any point?

Terp, who adored the Speckmans, and thinks they ran the park very well...

[IndyGuy4KI]

Glad you enjoyed the front on CBE!

I really hope the new owners keep IB well. Were you fascinated at any point?

Terp, who adored the Speckmans, and thinks they ran the park very well...

I am always fascinated to walk in to be in the park and remember all the memories I have there as a kid. I really wish they would have kept painting rides like they did for the water park and kiddie area the first year Morgan RV's purchased the park. How may times have you been there this season Terpy?

[The Interpreter]

I haven't made it yet this year...but I was wondering if you played any Fascination?

I like the fact you went with your Dad. That's neat.

[IndyGuy4KI]

I haven't made it yet this year...but I was wondering if you played any Fascination?

I like the fact you went with your Dad. That's neat.

Yeah, we try and make a Seadoo/Indiana Beach trip each year. Only this year we had to rent one due to the bad starter, but that is how things go I guess. Costs to have fun!

[KIfan1980]

Where's the pictures of the SeaDoo? What model do you have?

KIfan1980, who misses days on the lake riding his '97XP

[IndyGuy4KI]

Where's the pictures of the SeaDoo? What model do you have?

KIfan1980, who misses days on the lake riding his '97XP

I will work on getting a picture of it the next time I am at the in-laws house (Since that is where it is parked.) The in-law and I both have 96 GSX's. The in-laws had theirs first on a double trailer and when we were down at Dale Hollow Lake in KY/TN two years ago we found another one exactly like his, same color and year with 100 less hours on it for sale. I told him I would buy it if I could add it to his trailer. Now we have a set between us. We really enjoy them.

[Ogrmac]

The scrambler was up and running today. Apparently they got it fixed.

[IndyGuy4KI]

The scrambler was up and running today. Apparently they got it fixed.

I guess my source was not very reliable? Thanks for the update!

[Ogrmac]

The scrambler was up and running today. Apparently they got it fixed.

I guess my source was not very reliable? Thanks for the update!

No problem!