Introducing the 2022 Coaster101 Park Mania Champion: Indiana Beach

There’s More Than Corn in Indiana…There’s a Park Mania Champion!

We started with 68 parks from across North America. After more than 100,000 votes cast, we’re ready to CROWn our 2022 Champion: Indiana Beach!

Originally named Ideal Beach, Indiana began as a small lakeside beach with a bath house and refreshment stand opened by Earl W. Spackman in 1926. Since then the park has grown to 43 attractions, including multiple roller coasters — Hoosier Hurricane, Cornball Express, Steel Hawg, Tig’rr and the iconic Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. With nearly 100 years of history, Indiana Beach has recently risen from the ashes after APEX Parks Group shuttered the park in early 2020, and subsequently being purchased by Gene Staples and IB Parks & Entertainment, who have aimed to breathe new life into the classic park in the past few years.

In 2022, the park will welcome two new roller coasters – American Drier Looping and Cyclone, a Galaxi Model. Both coasters previously operated in Mexico.

After a random draw placed Indiana Beach in the “T-Rex” region of this year’s tournament, Indiana Beach was able to outpace most of central Florida – coasting past SeaWorld Orlando, Fun Spot Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in each of the first four rounds. In the winner take all final four, Indiana Beach defeated Busch Gardens, Worlds of Fun, and Silver Dollar City to claim the crown, garnering nearly 3 out of every 4 votes cast in the final.

Final Round Vote Tally:

  • Indiana Beach: 3,536 Votes (74.05%)
  • Busch Gardens: 956 Votes (20.02%)
  • Silver Dollar City: 247 Votes (5.17%)
  • Worlds of Fun: 36 Votes (0.75%)

The votes were largely influenced by the park’s passionate fans and their presence on social media. Indiana Beach’s “Crow Center” posts and the promise of ticket giveaways on social media, combined with local and regional media coverage helped the IB Crows rise to the top!

“Wow!  This is just amazing!  We don’t even know where to begin.  In the short period of time that I have been associated with Indiana Beach Amusement and Water Park, there’s one thing I’ve learned”, said Tom Crisci VP of Marketing and Social Media for IB Parks & Entertainment, “and that is that we have the most loyal, loving and caring fan base in the Amusement Park industry bar none!  Once this competition was brought to my attention, our entire team definitely thought this would be fun and engaging for our fans.  Once word spread, they were locked and ready to bring home the coveted Park Mania Trophy to their beloved park, Indiana Beach!  This is just proof that we are heading in the right direction and plan to make Indiana Beach a MUST stop each and every summer!”

Indiana Beach joins past Park Mania/Madness Champions, Silverwood – 2017Kings Island – 2018, Hersheypark – 2019, 2020 champion, Holiday World. and last year’s champion Carowinds!

For more information about Indiana Beach, visit their website, and follow the park on social media! Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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