Schwarzkopf

Indiana Beach

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Theme Park:Indiana Beach (since 1952)
Ideal Beach (1926 - 1951)
Address:5224 E. Indiana Beach Rd.
47960 Monticello
https://indianabeach.com
Operated by:IB Parks & Entertainment


Indiana Beach, based in Monticello, Indiana, is one of the most classic amusement parks in the country. Started by the Spackman family as Ideal Beach, a small lakeside beach with a bathhouse and concession stand, the park quickly grew into a regional amusement destination. The park was family-owned and operated until 2008, when it was sold to Apex Parks. In February 2020, the group filed for bankruptcy and the park was taken over by Gene Staples. Today, the park boasts an exceptional selection of CCI wooden coasters and classic flat rides, as well as a water park.

 
Reviews

There is more than corn in Indiana


 
 
 

Highlights of the Theme Park

 



 

All American Triple Loop

A German classic

 


 

Cornball Express

America’s finest CCI

 


 

Hoosier Hurricane

The wooden coaster with a view

 


 

Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain

The awesome wooden coaster

 


 

Steel Hawg

The first El Loco

 


 

Tig’rr Coaster

The Jet Star

 


Indiana Beach

One Day, Seven Worlds, One Destination

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Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun is located right in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area, just a few minutes from the border with the state of Kansas. Opened in 1973, the amusement park is inspired by the novel *Around the World in 80 Days* and is divided into various themed areas representing different regions of the world.

In addition to a diverse selection of roller coasters and family attractions, Worlds of Fun stands out above all for its well-maintained gardens and lovingly designed themed areas. Among its most famous attractions are the wooden roller coaster Prowler, the hypercoaster Mamba, and the inverted coaster Patriot.

Together with the adjacent water park, Oceans of Fun, Worlds of Fun is now one of the most popular amusement parks in the Midwestern United States.

Gateway Gardens

Gateway Gardens serves as the welcoming entrance to Worlds of Fun. Spacious green spaces, colorful flower beds, and the Grand Carousel create a wonderful first impression as soon as you enter the park and set the stage for a relaxing day.

Scandinavia

Scandinavia stands out above all for its peaceful atmosphere and numerous classic rides. Nestled among Nordic-style buildings and lush greenery, attractions like Sea Dragon, Nordic Chaser, and Fjord Fjarlane invite visitors to take a short break between the big roller coasters.

Viking Voyager

Viking Voyager is one of the park’s original attractions, having opened alongside Worlds of Fun in 1973. Built by Arrow Development, this classic log flume takes riders on a gentle journey through the channel before finishing with a 40-foot (12 m) drop that provides the ride’s biggest thrill.

Compared to many modern log flumes, Viking Voyager offers a more relaxed experience, with only a modest chance of getting wet. It is this nostalgic charm, however, that makes the attraction so enjoyable and serves as a reminder of a time when no amusement park was complete without a classic log flume.

Africa

Africa is the heart of Worlds of Fun and brings together some of the park’s most popular attractions. Nestled among lush vegetation and African-style buildings, visitors can look forward to several highlights, including the Prowler, the Mamba, and the Zambezi Zinger. The lush landscaping and harmonious design give this themed area a very distinct atmosphere.

Prowler

In 2009, Worlds of Fun opened Prowler, one of the most popular wooden roller coasters from manufacturer Great Coasters International (GCI). The track mostly runs close to the ground through the forest, thrilling riders with rapid changes in direction, tight turns and numerous moments of airtime.

While the ride seems somewhat tame in the morning, it noticeably picks up speed as the day goes on. The layout is strongly reminiscent of Mystic Timbers at Kings Island. The two roller coasters have similar track layouts and ride experiences, though Mystic Timbers ultimately offers a slightly more varied and intense ride thanks to its larger scale and longer ride time. Nevertheless, Prowler is widely regarded as one of GCI’s best wooden roller coasters and a highlight of Worlds of Fun.

Zambezi Zinger

In 2023, Worlds of Fun unveiled Zambezi Zinger, a modern tribute to the original roller coaster of the same name which opened with the park in 1973. Designed by Schwarzkopf, the original ride featured a spiral lift hill, bobsled-style cars and a high-speed track, and quickly became one of the park’s most popular attractions. After closing in 1997, the ride was sold to Colombia, where it operated for many years as ‘Montaña Rusa’ at Parque del Café.

GCI’s new family roller coaster incorporates numerous elements from its legendary predecessor, reinterpreting them in a modern way. Unfortunately, the ride was closed all day during my visit. Even from the outside, the Zambezi Zinger makes an excellent impression. This modern ride blends harmoniously into the themed area, building anticipation for a possible future visit.

Boomerang

The Boomerang is one of Vekoma’s most famous shuttle roller coasters. On this compact track, the train first passes through a cobra roll and a loop before completing the entire ride backwards. This way, riders experience a total of six inversions.

Compared to similar rides, the Boomerang at Worlds of Fun runs surprisingly smoothly. It is one of the best examples of this type of roller coaster, which can be found all over the world.

Fury of the Nile

Fury of the Nile is a classic rapids ride from Intamin. The round boats drift through a varied river landscape before rapids, waterfalls, and several splashy sections provide the necessary thrills.
The African-themed area provides the perfect backdrop and gives the ride a cohesive atmosphere. Compared to many other American rapids rides, however, the extent of getting wet is surprisingly moderate. European amusement park fans will therefore quickly feel right at home.

Mamba

Built by Morgan, Mamba has been one of the highlights of Worlds of Fun since 1998. Following a 205 ft (62.5 m) first drop, the coaster tears through a fast and flowing layout packed with airtime hills and sweeping turns.

The first camelbacks deliver incredible ejector airtime, even stronger than what I experienced on Steel Eel at SeaWorld San Antonio. What makes Mamba truly special, though, is its relentless pace. The train keeps its speed right to the final brake run, making the ride feel just as exciting at the end as it does at the beginning.

Mamba is easily one of my favourite hyper coasters. I could spend an entire day riding it and never get bored.

Planet Snoopy

Planet Snoopy is the park’s charming children’s area, where Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang welcome younger visitors. The area features a wide variety of family-friendly rides, playgrounds and attractions designed especially for children.

Its main attraction is Cosmic Coaster, a family roller coaster built by Preston & Barbieri. Together with the area’s many other rides, Planet Snoopy offers plenty of fun for younger guests and their families.

Wild West

Wild West is one of the park’s most atmospheric themed areas. Surrounded by wooden buildings and classic Western architecture, attractions such as Timber Wolf and Detonator blend perfectly into the setting, creating an authentic Old West atmosphere.

Timberwolf

Timber Wolf opened in 1989 and is a classic wooden roller coaster built by the Dinn Corporation. Right from the first drop, the coaster picks up speed quickly, with the opening section featuring fast transitions and a surprisingly dynamic layout.

The first drop and the following turn are taken at an impressive pace, creating a strong start to the ride. After passing the trim brake, the second half of the layout becomes a little more relaxed. The long, sweeping turn that replaced the former double helix strongly reminded me of the final turn on Colossos at Heide Park—a worthy replacement for the original element. The remainder of the layout is fairly straightforward before the ride finishes with a series of small lateral hops, providing a surprisingly unconventional finale.

Although Timber Wolf loses some of its momentum after the trim brake, its excellent opening section still makes it one of the better classic wooden coasters of its era.

Cyclone Sam’s

Cyclone Sam’s is an indoor Wipeout built by Chance Rides and is an attraction that should not be missed during a visit to Worlds of Fun. Its signature wave-like motion, combined with dynamic lighting effects and a well-matched soundtrack, creates a fun and surprisingly immersive ride experience.

Detonator

Detonator is one of the first Space Shot towers built by S&S Power and still packs an incredible punch. Its classic pneumatic launch system catapults riders skyward with explosive acceleration, delivering an intense experience that has lost none of its appeal over the years. It’s a classic attraction that shouldn’t be missed.

Mustang Runner

Mustang Runner is a classic Troika built by HUSS. Its smooth combination of spinning, swinging and changing ride patterns has stood the test of time, making it just as enjoyable today as it was decades ago. It’s one of those timeless flat rides that I never pass up whenever I get the chance.

Worlds of Fun Railroad

The Worlds of Fun Railroad offers a relaxing journey through the park while providing unique perspectives on several themed areas. Passing through the African savannah and alongside Prowler are particular highlights, making this scenic train ride a welcome change of pace between the park’s major attractions.

Europa

Europa is one of the quieter corners of Worlds of Fun and is easily overlooked by many guests. However, those who venture into the area will find charming attractions such as Le Taxi, Flying Dutchman and Autobahn, giving this part of the park a relaxed and nostalgic feel.

Americana

Americana perfectly captures the charm of turn-of-the-century America with its beautifully maintained gardens and elegant architecture. It’s a peaceful area that invites you to slow down and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

What really made it special for me, though, was the soundtrack. The familiar ragtime music from RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 immediately brought back countless childhood memories and made this one of my favourite themed areas in the park.

SteelHawk

SteelHawk is a WindSeeker built by Mondial, offering fantastic panoramic views over Worlds of Fun. While it may not be as tall as the Star Flyers built by Funtime, I actually enjoyed the ride much more. Its smooth, relaxing experience combined with the excellent views makes SteelHawk one of the park’s most enjoyable flat rides.

Patriot

Patriot is an inverted coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and has been one of the park’s signature attractions since opening in 2006. Its striking red-and-white track immediately catches the eye, giving the coaster a distinctly American appearance.

After a short pre-drop, the train dives into a steep, twisting first drop before charging through the first valley and straight into the vertical loop. The nearby lift hill creates an excellent footchopper effect before the train races through a zero-g roll and an Immelmann. A sweeping helix followed by a classic drop alongside the Skyliner Ferris wheel leads into the corkscrew, while another helix and a small dip complete the layout.

The opening section features an excellent sequence of elements and maintains a smooth, flowing rhythm throughout. The middle part of the ride loses a little momentum, preventing Patriot from reaching the top tier of B&M inverted coasters. Nevertheless, it remains a highly enjoyable ride and a worthy addition to Worlds of Fun.

East Asia

East Asia may be one of the park’s smaller themed areas, but it is full of charm. Its Asian-inspired architecture creates a relaxing atmosphere, while Spinning Dragons and Bamboozler provide the area’s main attractions and round off a visit to Worlds of Fun perfectly.

Spinning Dragons

Spinning Dragons is a spinning coaster built by Gerstlauer and serves as the main attraction of the East Asia themed area. The coaster blends beautifully into its surroundings, while its layout is almost identical to Pandemonium at Six Flags St. Louis.

Unfortunately, the ride remained closed for most of my visit due to technical issues. Much to my delight, however, the maintenance team managed to fix the problem just before the end of the day, allowing Spinning Dragons to reopen for the park’s final guests. Thanks to the freely spinning cars, every ride offers a different experience, making it a perfect way to end an already fantastic day at Worlds of Fun.

Pictures Worlds of Fun

Conclusion Worlds of Fun

I’ve always loved classic American amusement parks, and Worlds of Fun is exactly the kind of park that reminds me why. It’s not just the rides that make this place special, but the beautifully maintained gardens, charming themed areas and the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It’s the kind of park where you naturally slow down and simply enjoy the day.

Mamba alone would be enough to bring me back to Worlds of Fun. Then there’s Zambezi Zinger, which unfortunately stayed closed throughout my visit. Sooner or later, I’ll just have to plan another road trip through the American Midwest.

Worlds of Fun

There is more than corn in Indiana

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Indiana Beach

Founded in 1926, Indiana Beach is one of the most classic amusement parks in the country. After more than 80 years in family ownership, the park went through a turbulent time in the early 2020s. Now owned by Gene Staples, the park has developed well and, in addition to its three CCI wooden coasters, is home to some treasures from the Schwarzkopf factory. So it’s no wonder that I really had to pay the park a visit.

All American Triple Loop

One of the main reasons for the tour was the All American Triple Loop, the former Dreier-Looping ride by showman Barth that had been at La Feria Chapultepec Magico amusement park in Mexico City for many years.

After the park had completely overhauled the ride, they decided to take the trains from its sister ride at Galaxyland amusement park in Canada and use them in the All American Triple Loop. Unfortunately, the feedback from passengers was not quite as positive, as the shoulder claws – similar to those used on Olympia Looping – have a negative effect on the ride experience.

Sadly, I was unable to see this for myself as the announced delayed opening of the ride did not take place during my visit and I could only see the ride from a distance. Now that the shoulder restraints have been removed, I would love to make the trip to Monticello to ride the ride at least once in my life. Unfortunately, when the ride toured Germany, I was too scared and definitely too small to ride it.

Steel Hawg

I took my first ride of the day on Steel Hawg as soon as the park opened, expecting longer queues due to the single-car operation in the evening.

After climbing the very steep and fast lift, you quickly reach a combination of curves without any banking leading into the 111° drop. After the valley, a small sideways turn leads directly to the first block brake.

This is followed by a turn that could easily be used more often in different coasters, as the outward sloping part of the track is quite something. Unfortunately, this part is over very quickly and is followed by a seemingly conventional turn that gets steeper and steeper towards the end and turns you upside down. The hangtime is very pronounced here and you will be glad to know that you will soon be plunging into a half loop, which is also the first time you will reach the lowest point of the ride. But the ride is not over yet, and there is another climb with a block brake at the end. Now you enter the last traditional turn, which immediately leads into a downhill heartline roll – the most interesting element of the ride. This is followed by an inconspicuous Immelmann turn, after which the ride ends abruptly.

Interestingly, the prototype of the El Loco coaster performed much better than the many identical rides I have had the pleasure of testing. A rock solid coaster when queues are light.

Falling Star

Passing the Music Express, which offers a nice forwards and backwards ride here in the park, we are now drawn to the Chance Rides Falling Star, which we are allowed to ride as a single rider here in Indiana Beach. This flying carpet is the American equivalent of the HUSS Rainbow and offers a great ride full of side forces and a touch of airtime.

Hoosier Hurricane

The Hoosier Hurricane is the largest of the park’s wooden coasters and features an out-and-back layout. After a short right turn, the ride begins with the lift hill. At a height of 77ft (23.5m) we then make our way through two turns before reaching the first drop. Here we drop straight down to the water below. This is followed by a double-up hill and a small right turn before passing under the footbridge that leads into the park. On the other side of the park we make a big turn and pass the Giant Gondola Wheel. After another right-hander, we race over a large series of camelbacks before slamming on the brakes.

Hoosier Hurricane is a cool ride. The odd layout, which takes you through the middle of the park and then along the edge, scores points for its stunning location alone. For a CCI coaster, the ride offers surprisingly little airtime, which is a bit of a downer.

Rockys Rapids Log Flume

Much to the confusion of park visitors, the entrance to the Rockys Rapids Log Flume is right next to the entrance to the Hoosier Hurricane wooden coaster. Built by Arrow Dynamics, the log flume dates back to 1974, but only came to the park in 1986 – it was previously located at Pontchartrain Beach amusement park in New Orleans. Like many of the early log flumes, Rockys Rapids Log Flume has a single drop towards the end of the ride.

Tig’rr Coaster

This sleek ride, manufactured by Schwarzkopf, stood for years at Holiday Beach Amusement Park in Douglas, Georgia, before being moved to Indiana Beach in 1984.

The ride begins with a short right turn, followed immediately by the lift. At a height of 44 ft (13 m) we then go through a rather wide turn. With momentum we plunge down the first drop and wow, is it steep! The bob-like seating position does its best to provide the first surprise of the ride. We whiz through the valley with a vengeance and immediately plunge into the steep, near-ground turn that revolutionised the rollercoaster world at the time. Just underneath the lift hill we finish the turn and immediately face a longer incline. Now on the second level, we follow the track before the first drop, then turn right and enter the Bayernkurve over a small descent. Over hill and dale, we turn left along the front of the track. There is a short change of direction in the following dip, after which we pass through the back of the ride for a third time. After a short left turn, the track descends again, followed by a very long, ground hugging right turn, which tapers into a rising helix towards the end. This is followed by a short dip and an equally short climb before the final downhill helix. We hit the brakes with a burst of speed, bringing us to an unexpectedly smooth stop.

Schwarzkopf’s Jet Star Tig’rr Coaster is still a real hit. The ride on the now 50 year old coaster is simply fun, with its smooth turns and the steep drop at the start of the ride. The ride characteristics are still as great as ever, a true Schwarzkopf coaster. It’s just a shame that there was only one car on the track, which meant longer queues.

Cornball Express

The track of the park’s second big wooden roller coaster, the Cornball Express, runs around the Tig’rr Coaster. As with the Hoosier Hurricane, the roller coaster’s station is very high up, so you have to climb stairs right at the start.

The ride begins with a left turn through the structure of the sister roller coaster. Parallel to the lift hill, we also go up. Once there, it goes into a steep curve directly into the depths. Passing the Rockys Rapids Log Flume, it now goes up a high hill, which immediately bends to the side and rewards us with wonderful airtime, which is not stingy with lateral forces. Now we circle the Tig’rr Coaster and pass a beautiful valley. After another fast drop, we plunge into the structure of the Hoosier Hurricane again. Then, after a left turn, we race towards the ground, turning into another curve. After an airy ascent, a magnificent helix follows, pushing us wonderfully to the side. Two more drops along the first half of the track then lead us towards the final brake, which we enter very quickly. Shortly after, our ride on Cornball Express ends.

What an awesome ride! The lateral airtime in the first drop and the generally very ejector-heavy ride speak for this CCI roller coaster. The turns dominated by lateral forces are also great! So far the best CCI roller coaster I’ve ridden in America.

Den of Lost Thieves

Past the Sea Dragon pirate boat and the upcharge Walkthrough attraction Dr. Frankensteins Castle, we now make our way towards the Den of Lost Thieves. This small Bill Tracy dark ride was lovingly transformed by Sally into an interactive dark ride, were you shoot pirates to gain a high score.

Shafer Queen

One of the highlights at Indiana Beach is the Shafer Queen pleasure boat. The trip first goes downstream to Norway Dam and then up the Tippecanoe River. It offers breathtaking views of the amusement park and the shores of Lake Schafer. It’s just a shame that there is no catering on the ship, so it’s a good idea to stock up on provisions at one of the stands just before departure.

Boardwalk

As well as numerous food stalls, the very large Sky Bar, the Ballroom and many skill and arcade games, the Boardwalk offers a large number of classic American rides, most of which are built directly on a plateau in the middle of the water. Unfortunately, only the Paratrooper, Scrambler and Tilt-a-Whirl were in operation, but they were all very nice rides. So I had to miss the Water Swings and the Polyp Sea Warrior.

Ideal Beach

The Ideal Beach water park was closed when I visited. The water park offers some interesting body slides and tube slides, which are curiously arranged around the Cyclone rollercoaster. The park also has a kamikaze slide and a lazy river that separates the swimming area of the Ideal Beach Pier pool from the lake and runs mostly underneath the slides.

Double Shot

Passing the Big Flush rubber dinghy slide, which promises a wet ride due to its winding course, I was drawn to the S&S Double Shot drop tower, which was also able to impress here at Indiana Beach. The airtime was amazing; it’s just a shame that the tower is unfortunately hardly used by the public due to its remote location.

Sky Ride

Instead of walking, you can also take the comfortable chairlift Sky Ride across the Boardwalk. With the best view of Lake Schafer and the rides at Indiana Beach, we now head to the other side of the park, where the Giant Gondola Wheel, a station of the Spackman Express park railway and the fun Flying Bobs ride are located next to each other. From here, we continue to the park’s last wooden roller coaster.

Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain

One of the most special roller coasters is the Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. The ride replaced an old dark ride, hence the very small footprint and odd features of this spectacular coaster.

Once all passengers have climbed into the enclosed cars, the bar has been lowered and the door locked, the ride immediately heads for the lift. Once at the top, we are pushed towards the first drop. At high speed we make a right turn past the back of the show building before making our way along the front of the ride. Here we go through a crazy series of tight-radius turns and drops. In the courtyard of the beautiful Antique Autos ride we make a turn before taking a triple up which takes us into the show building. Here we experience a wild mix of way too tight turns before being stopped for a bit of storytelling. We then do a double down before taking a turn outside the building. Back inside the building we make our way through another wild series of tight corners. After another outdoor section we take the steepest drop of the ride. Following the drop we quickly hit some trim brakes, otherwise the following section of tight radii turns would be insane. Soon after we are pushed out of the mine and back into the station.

It’s almost impossible to put into words what it’s like to ride the Lost Coaster at Superstition Mountain. This CCI compact wooden coaster is simply insane. Too tight turns alternate with too steep drops, the hardest of which is even indoors. The outdoor section alone makes this little coaster a world class ride.

Pictures Indiana Beach

Conclusion Indiana Beach

Indiana Beach is a really cool park in a great location. Even though the park is almost 100 years old, most of the rides are newer. However, thanks to Gene Staples, more and more vintage rides are coming into the park, which helps to preserve the German classics by Schwarzkopf, Huss and Weber – even if they are given very American names. I absolutely love it! I really liked the park and its location, and I look forward to visiting Lake Schafer again someday.

 

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Indiana Beach / The great Mid-Western Road Trip Day 1