Indiana Beach Accommodations

The lake setting is a big part of Indiana Beach’s appeal. It has a breezy, old-fashioned boardwalk feel, with a small sandy beach where you can take a break from the rides. Kids can switch over to the water park, too, with its slides and lazy river. For coasters, there’s the wooden Cornball Express and the newer Steel Hawg, so thrill-seekers have options while the rest of the family can take things at an easier pace. It’s been part of Hoosier summers for generations, and I can see why families keep coming back. The park’s age does show in some ways, though. Since rides need maintenance, it’s smart to check the website or call ahead about any major closures. It works well for a full family day, and teens can enjoy a bit of independence in a manageable setting. Some places don’t need to be brand new to make a good day out. Bring sunscreen and enjoy the lake views and the chance to make your own memories here.

The park is wonderfully packed together. Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane share structure, Cornball winds around Tig'rr, which sits on top of a building, and the map somehow leaves off Cyclone, tucked beneath a waterslide. The attached water park is woven into the same space, with no separate entrance. That crowded layout is one of Indiana Beach’s signature quirks. There are seven coasters, and Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, or LoCoSuMo, is the one I’d put on anyone’s bucket list. You take an elevator up while skeletons talk, then get rattled around in a caged mine cart. It brought back my love of coasters. The park also has three CCIs, two Schwarzkopfs, an S&S, and an Interpark. The wooden rides are fun but can leave you with a headache. Hoosier Hurricane has great airtime. Steel Hawg and All American Triple Loop invert, Tig'rr surprised me as one of the few Jet Star models left, and Cyclone is almost the same as the Galaxi that used to be there. Beyond the coasters, there are flat and carnival rides, food, games, shows, and a haunted house. Scrambler is my favorite flat ride. I wouldn’t ride Sea Warrior again, since the operator ran the polyp ride strangely. The Shafer Queen is a classic riverboat that heads out onto Lake Shafer. This place is chaotic in a good way, and it belongs in a summer visit. Indiana Beach nearly closed after COVID, but Gene Staples saved it. It’s in Monticello, IN, a central stop between Six Flags Great America, Michigan's Adventure, Kings Island, and Holiday World. I find it easier to keep track of my teenagers here than at Great America, where I wouldn’t let them split off because finding them would be a headache. Here, I might even find them without texting. The park turns 100 in 2026, and that season it’s adding a ride called "Zero Gravity" that looks like the inside of a washing machine. Go see it!

Parking was free, and we had good double cheeseburgers and fries, better than the food at most amusement parks we’ve visited. The park itself is smaller, pretty, and set by a lovely lake. It wasn’t busy when we went, so the lines moved along despite the coasters running just one train. Steel Hawg and Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain were our favorites, especially the unusual Lost Coaster. The walk-through Dr Frankenstein attraction was a lot of fun. I think admission should cover it, though the extra $3.50 didn’t bother me. It’s a great park if you live nearby or are in the area.

It has the kind of old-school charm that the big corporate parks seem to have lost. The coasters are really fun and unusual, the staff care, and I’d happily go back again and again.