themeparkguy27 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 We got up Saturday morning, and decided to finally hit up Indiana Beach. We have lived in the Chicagoland area our whole lives, but never once been to Monticello. We had seen the "There's more than corn .... " slogans for years, but just never felt the urge to go. So we jump online to get the address for the Garmin, and then notice that Monticello is not on central time. DOH! Another hour wasted. So by the time we leave Gurnee (10am) its really 11am already in Monticello. Two and a half hours later, we arrive. I follow the signs for the FREE PARKING (wow) and we park. There is a shuttle bus waiting for us as we got out. And that's where this TR starts.... We ended the night with one more spin on LoCoSuMo. 2 1/2 hours later we were back home. Great time, glad we finally went and we will get back again. The kids love all the spin type rides. We figured they rode over 30 rides in this 8 hour span. Definitely worth the price of admission. The Paratrooper and Flying Bobs were two of their favorites. Thanks for reading! The kids really liked it and wanted to go again. Its was 9pm at this point , and we wanted to make sure we got all the credits. The Steel Hawg was on the agenda. The line was 20-30 people deep. Took at least 30 minutes. We got treated to a nice little line jump argument while in line too. Ok ride, the drop was my favorite part. Probably wouldn't wait for it unless the line was 10 people or less. We took another spin on the Hurricane and then our first on the log flume. You can see the "gum tunnel" on the back. Not going to lie. Pretty gross. Tig'rr! Next we went on the Tig'rr coaster. There are not seat belts on this ride. From what I read, this is a new feature on this classic. A little too crazy for me, but I can see how people would and can love this one. Map overview...you can see just how much is smashed in together. Unfortunately, I didn't get any shots of the Cornball Express. We really enjoyed it. Great airtime. My 2nd favorite of the day. We had to wait about 15 minutes. Slow dispatching on it on this day. One train operation. We got our first ever flyer credit. I got slightly dizzy on em...rides that spin will do that to me. Turnaround. LoCoSuMo . Take the tunnel ! LoCoSuMo Cars (as seen from the Antique Car ride). Does stuff no coaster should. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain lift and track. We didn't know what to expect on this...I had seen Robb's video, but it still didn't do it justice. If you are a coaster fan, you need to experience this for yourself. It is nuts. More Hoosier Hurricane...my favorite ride there. You can see the train tracks where their little train runs under the ride. We kept seeing boats coming right up near the boardwalk. Tons of people sun bathing and just relaxing. Pretty cool atmosphere for the park, I thought. In this picture, you can see the water swings bottom right. You can see Galaxi in the mess near top right. LoCoSuMo is in the front left, and the Cornball, Hurricane jumble is on top of that. Steel Hawg is way top left. The GIANT WHEEL did provide excellent views. Some more of the same area, from the Swings. The swings were really fun, kinda scary, and really tight for me. I had to put the chest buckle around me and it barely fit. Ugh..need to lose 20 or 40 Chloe and the expertly named "Giant Wheel". You can see some more of the midway going the opposite way. The midway once we got off. This is mid-day on a hot June weekend. Not too bad at all. The Beach and water slides took the brunt of the guests. Here is their Mack Splash Battle, expertly named SPLASH BATTLE. I don't like how the track is over the water. I guess its only a few years old now, but the water cannons for onlookers didn't work, as they were all taped up. After going on SFGam's Buccaneer Battle, and seeing what they did with theirs, this was a disappointment. But we didn't drive nearly 3 hours for a Splash Battle... From the skyride you get a good idea of just how much is cramed into one place. Here are the Antique cars intertwining with the Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain (more on that later). Good views were had by all on the skyride. She was part of the water ski jump / high dive show on the lake front. Another great little perk of the place was this show. It seemed like it was going on for most of the day. We had to take a try on the skyride. Old school all the way. Haven't been on one of these is sometime and they are fun. Only part that was kind of lame, when someone wants to return to the other station, they actually stop the ride, make the people get off, scan their Pay One Price (POP) wrist band, and then restart the ride. Chlo enjoys the shooter type games. Next up was the dark ride "The Den of the Lost Thieves". While I couldn't really follow the story line, this ride was classic. Alot of fun, and you even pop next to the midway on the 2nd floor of the ride. The Galaxi is somewhere in between that mess of 1980's style water slides. From doing some research, I see the slides and the Galaxi have been repainted in the past few years. They both look good. Next up was the Galaxi, an old classic. They were running 2 trains. No line on this beautiful warm Saturday. Taken from the Hurricane station, here you can see the lift hill and brake run of the Hurricane. You can also see the Cornball Express track that goes over. We started the day down by the Steel Hawg entrance. We passed on it, and figured we would come back later. I wanted to hit the Hoosier Hurricane. A 1994 CCI. It really is my favorite kind of coaster. Its quick and a little rough, but fun. Being over the water was a cool element that just added to the ride. The picture you WOULD have seen if I parked at the correct entrance. Oh well....
Guest Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Was that a Father's Day trip? That's nice. I'm surprised Steel Hawg looks hella fun and for people to not like it is weird.
Jojo19799 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 I've lived in the Chicagoland area for the past 23 years and I have yet to go to IB. I've also been hearing commercials that mentioned free general admission. I looked at the website and it said "rides and attractions require an admission ticket." What exactly do they mean by that? Do we have to purchase tickets (like you would for a carnival) to ride all the rides? Or, are they just offering free general admission for those who aren't going to be riding any of the rides? I honestly don't mind paying, but it would be nice to know all the info before heading to the park.
coasterville Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Indiana Beach is one of the few parks left where you can either buy the ride all day armband (About $27, add $10 or so on to that if you want to add the water park) - OR - you can buy tickets for each ride. There is NO grounds admision fee in 2009. (Before there was a nominal charge of $2-$3 to enter the park) Remember as well, there is plenty of free parking, its like Kennywood "Parking is free, its just that some choose to pay for it" That said, I recall the prices to ride the coasters was $4 each several years ago. At that rate, i'd figure one spin on all six coasters should get you pretty close to the pay one price fee. It was even easier when you could buy a 7 hour pass for $16. To the OP - no mention of Frankenstiens Castle? That is easily one of the best walk through fun houses left in America, I know its an extra $3.50, I know they don't honor ride passes, its still worth it.
themeparkguy27 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Posted June 23, 2009 Yes, its free to park and free to walk around. If you want to ride, you can either pay per ride (like coasterville said, about $3-4 per ride) or they have the Pay One Price wrist band. The band costs $29.95 for over 48 inches and $19.95 for under. We brought in Coca-Cola cans for $3 off each ticket. The water park is $7 more if you want to go on the slides and the beach areas. We did pass on the extra admission Castle. I am already regretting it. It was a $3.50 upcharge, and with 5 of us, it would of been another $21. Shouldn't of cheaped out, but at least we have something new to look forward to for next time.
Jojo19799 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Thanks for all the info. I will definitely have to check out Frankensteins Castle as well.
Cameron Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 ^ You, Matt and I should take a trip down there one day this summer. I love the park and am always looking for an excuse to go. Cameron.
Jojo19799 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 My friend Jen, her boyfriend Woody and I were planning on going sometime this summer. Once we picked a day I was going to PM you guys (Cameron, Matt and Craig) to see if any of you would be interested in going. Everyone is welcome to join us though!! I don't have a final date, but it might be the second weekend of July.
Electerik Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Great TR. Indiana Beach is awesome. Never before heard anyone say they prefer Hoosier Hurricane to Cornball Express, though! It honestly never occurred to me that Den of Lost Thieves had a storyline. Did you do Dr. Frankenstein's?
jamesdillaman Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Seriously, no love for Cornball? That is such an amazing gem of a ride for the park. I know what you mean about how HH goes over the water, though. It is cool. I also agree that you haven't done Indiana Beach until you do Frankenstein's Castle. Some good photos! -James Dillaman
mcjaco Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Once we picked a day I was going to PM you guys (Cameron, Matt and Craig) to see if any of you would be interested in going. Now you're learning!
themeparkguy27 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Posted June 23, 2009 Great TR. Indiana Beach is awesome. Never before heard anyone say they prefer Hoosier Hurricane to Cornball Express, though! It honestly never occurred to me that Den of Lost Thieves had a storyline. Did you do Dr. Frankenstein's? I agree IB is awesome, and it maybe an every year or every other year spot for us. Being a one day up and back drive, we can probably swing it. I like the out and back type coasters, so I guess that's why I enjoyed Hurricane more. They were really both tons of fun and maybe instead of #1 and #2, its more like 1a and 1b. And no Dr Frankensteins. From what I hear, I missed out. Next time!
spaceace12 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 My friend Jen, her boyfriend Woody and I were planning on going sometime this summer. Once we picked a day I was going to PM you guys (Cameron, Matt and Craig) to see if any of you would be interested in going. Everyone is welcome to join us though!! I don't have a final date, but it might be the second weekend of July. I might head up also...if there isn't a race that weekend.
stevenpensacola Posted July 1, 2009 Posted July 1, 2009 We loved our visit to IB several years ago. It's one of those places you have to see for yourself to really appreciate.
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