originally posted on 9/1/2023
Photo: Courtesy of the Bob Redman Collection. View full-sized image.
Sunny skies and warm temperatures reigned over Monticello, Indiana, as ACE Midwest hosted Hoosier Hurricon ’23. The event was held Saturday, August 12, at Indiana Beach Amusement and Water Park Resort, for which 50 people covering eight states registered, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The park provided two hours of morning ERT on four coasters — Tig’rr, Hoosier Hurricane, Steel Hawg and Cyclone. Unfortunately, Cornball Express and Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain were originally on the ERT schedule but unfortunately were not in operation the day of the event owing to mechanical issues.
When the park opened to the general public, there were informal takeovers of the Dodg’em Bumper Cars, Tilt-a-Whirl and Dr. Frankenstein’s Castle — always a fan favorite. In the afternoon, a Fascination tournament was held for an hour, and prizes were given to the top three winners: John Gramling of Brownsburg, Indiana, came in first, followed by Elia Lahti of Eagan, Minnesota, and Jaxson Gramling of Brownsburg, Indiana.
A group photo was taken afterward in front of the soon-to-debut Schwarzkopf coaster, All American Triple Loop. Indiana Beach is working to get the coaster up and running by the end of the season, although no definite date has yet been announced. Before dinner, a Kahoot trivia game was played featuring 35 questions about Indiana Beach. Prizes were given to the top three who scored the most questions correctly: Mark Brunner of Louisville, Kentucky; Ryan Flamm of Terre Haute, Indiana; and Austin Sims of Nokomis, Illinois. The prizes for both the Fascination and trivia games included T-shirts, hats and trinkets from Indiana Beach that were handed out after dinner.
The event ended with an informal takeover of the Paratrooper. A takeover was scheduled on the Shafer Queen paddleboat, but unfortunately this ride also wasn’t operating because of mechanical issues. ACE Midwest was grateful to Indiana Beach for the hospitality extended to attendees.
— Bob Redman, ACE Midwest Regional Representative
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