IB's new for 2008 coaster, Steel Hawg, is right at the front of the park and they extended the entrance out in front of the ride and built a path that leads around it to the parks old entrance area.
This place really sucks at getting their rides open. We got there before opening to knock out the most popular coasters first but Cornball Express and Steel Hawg didnt open until 3pm, the Log Flume opened some time around noon, the flyers closed really early, and the Splash Battle didnt open at all.
I dont expect everything to be perfect and rides will open late but it was literally the two worst rides possible. Lame.
Some guys working in Steel Hawgs electrical room.
One of the rides power switches is out on the midway.
Because Cornball & Steel Hawg were closed, Tigrr was our first coaster.
It wasnt exactly running stellar capacity either, 2 cars. It was a bit of a wait with a short line.
As we know Tigrr has no restraints or seatbelts.
Its a pretty fun Shwarzkopf coaster.
So sad.
Hurricane, Cornball, Skyride, and a big blue pole from a waterslide.
Galaxi the parks other Shwarzkopf coaster had some awesome air in the back car.
The Den of Lost Thieves dark ride was fun, we did not valley it going up the hill though =(
This guy was awesome, he just sat there the whole time we were in line and his facial expression NEVER changed and he didnt move at all. Then later in the day when we rode it again, he was still sitting there in the exact same position with the same facial expression. At least it made waiting in line tolerable.
Amazingly this was not the funniest sign at this ride.
Waiting for parts? LOL
Hoosier Hurricane was a long wait with 1 train op so we proceeded to Lost Coaster in hope they would add the second train later.
Random view of IBs Yoyo and Ferris Wheel for your viewing pleasure.
Lost Coaster was running 1 train with a very long line also! So we have Cornball and Steel Hawg closed, Hoosier Hurricane and LoCoSuMo running 1 train (and I know they have 2). Total weaksauce. Waited it out since it wasnt getting any shorter.
And these are riders being walked off from the rides brakes, every once in awhile they did this. The ride was messed up, I dont know. Plus one of the trains went out with 4 total people cause 1 guy wanted to ride backwards.
Their skycoaster was pretty short and not very excieting.
Finally we made it up to LoCoSuMo's station.
Tack on another 7 minutes to the line while these people figure out 4 large people dont fit in a car very well.
Waterslides, Galaxi, Scrambler, umbrellas, strange looking old lady on the left.
Looks like some progress is being made over here.
Bring it a little the left...the other left dumba**!
IB has a really old traditional feel to it. Unfortunately that doesnt help get Steel Hawg or Cornball Express open any sooner.
At this point we had decided to go ride the Hoosier Hurricane which was still running 1 train, and the second train wasnt on the storage track. According to Screamscape the second train was used for parts for the train that was running now. Even though the line sucked it was running very well.
They had finally gotten around to inspecting Cornball Express.
I wouldve gotten a train/log in this picture but both rides were closed.
Ladies & gentlemen I present to you HOOSIER HURRICANES STATION!
The maintenence guys took some spins on Steel Hawg.
Looks like these guys enjoyed the ride.
They enjoyed it so much they rode again.
At this point there was a pretty good size line outside the entrance.
You idiot the phone lines are over there!
Thought this looked cool.
The maintenence guys setup the rides PLC so a car got stuck in the brake run, then someone went up there to push it and it vallied and balanced out "Dragster style" in the middle of this turn. The guys running the ride then all proceeded to take pictures of it with their cellphone then wait about 45 minutes, climb up there, push it down, and test the ride a thousand times again.
In the meantime Cornball Express had just opened so we rode that.
Tigrrs line had gotten very long also (it may not look long, but with 2 cars it is).
Some random employee kid who looks 16 sitting on a park bench smoking and talking to his friends.
They had unvallied Steel Hawg at this point.
Noted
A guy crossing the track while the rides in motion. Wait....d'oh.
If theres a redeeming factor to Indiana Beach its Cornball Express. Smooth, great airtime, buzz bars...pretty much everything a top 10 woodie should be.
Steel Hawg had opened.
It was running 2 cars and stacking pretty badly. Considering the cars only have 4 seats it has a very bad restraints for capacity. The opeators have to adjust the restraints for each seat manually.
The ride was pretty fun though. The drop was nowhere near as good as Spongebob or Mavericks even though its steeper, but the "turn thing" was great and had wicked laterals.
Maintenence guys were running the ride opposed to ride operators.
Every once in awhile a maintenence guy had to walk onto the brake run and pull a train into the final brakes.
Keep in mind the ride is putting through like 4 people every 4 minutes, this would not be fun to wait in.
Steel Hawg is a fun ride, but DEFINITLEY not worth that.
We luckily had gotten in line for the flyers RIGHT before this guy closed it for staffing reasons. He was a total ass to, he stood right behind us instead of at the rides entrance and anytime someone tried to enter the line he waved them away or yelled "Rides closed, cant get in line!" at them.
So yeah we were pretty lucky to get on the flyers.
The parks S&S tower is probably the best (and shortest) one ive been on. Airtime machine, and has a great view.
The short S&S towers are always the best.
Worst day possible for the Splash Battle to be closed, it was hot and crowded.
NOT a ride you want to be standing under just in case it collapses.
Wait what does that say?
Good to see the employees really love the place
.
The park has an award winning walk through haunted house type attraction. Its pretty much a bunch of random dark hallways with a [Dave made me edit out the "surprise"]. Scared the crap out of me. Well worth the $3.50.
Much like the rest of Indiana Beach, the food places were not staffed very well. It took a long, long time to get a milkshake.
Bye bye now.
