Old Indiana Fun Park MEMORIES 2020

[@STEELR31GN]

I was there that day for my dads company picnic. We had just gotten off the train and moved on to the water park section. While there, we began to hear sirens and then noticed the medical helicopter landing. Very heartbreaking.

[@indianachannel4486]

very upsetting

[@mamabear9686]

I feel so old thinking about how many times I went as a kid. I loved that place

[@ryanbolton9384]

Old Indian had the best renaissance festivals every year I went several times .

[@dustjunky2000]

YES! I remember going to the ren festival! The first time I ever had a smoked turkey leg! They also had paintball matches there in those wooden building areas where the festival was.

[@PsychoSally]

I worked there as a teenager. I worked in the petting zoo part of the time. I led trail rides on horse back from 1992-1995. There were a couple of years where we used our personal horses for the trail rides and pony rides. The train was a huge problem as were many rides there. The train derailed many times while I worked there. It was a daily occurrence. Our horses were tied to a fence down along the back side of that train ride area. One time it derailed and it lurched toward three or four of the horses in the second turn on the train track. My personal horse and the barrel ponies that my sister and I used to run in barrel racing at shows pulled hard backward because the train that was now off the track and heading in their direction scared them. The old mare that my sister used to run in barrel racing at horse shows actually broke her lead rope trying to get away from it. Thankfully it didn't break through the fence. The maintenance man said that the train was built for a straight track. At least one with fewer curves and hills. It was also very old so getting parts for it was pretty much impossible. They had to adapt parts for it when there was a legitimate break down (not just a derailment). The ride that the video creator mentions several times was removed after it blew up. You know, the one where the floor drops out? Anyway people were injured in the ride failure. The mad mouse lost brakes one time. People were stuck on it for something like 45 minutes before they got it stopped. There was another ride where the safety bar/door failed and a woman was hanging out of the ride. Thankfully she was uninjured. Now fast forward to the maintenance man that I mentioned above being fired after he was injured. His injury was life altering and affected his arm. He had several surgeries to repair the damage. He was moving one of the antique cars to repair it. It was one of the two car rides that you drive on a track. Anyway something blew up through the seat of the car and injured his arm pretty badly. He dealt with permanent damage which included injury to the muscle of his forearm, the skin, and nerves. He had to file suit against the park because they terminated him in an attempt to avoid paying anything toward his medical bills. He won in court. Now there was a year that we stopped our involvement with the sub contractors that handled all of the animals mid season. They were neglecting their animals. They also didn't pay us as agreed to work in the petting zoo, pony rides, and trail rides. That would have been in 1993 or 1994. They actually had a woman buy tickets to walk along a trail behind the mini golf shack to see some big cats. When she went in there she discovered that some of the cats had died from neglect. It was awful. I loved leading the trail rides. It was a dream job for any teenage girl who loved horses. I was honestly afraid to ride the rides though after seeing some of the mishaps and maintenance failures. The maintenance failures were not because they had bad maintenance people. They guy who ran the park would open rides back up after they were closed by maintenance. He also canceled work orders and parts orders for rides and told the maintenance people to do whatever they had to do to get the ride running again. He worried more about revenue than safety.

[@indianachannel4486]

it was great times

[@jiggity9572]

I went to Old Indiana several times as a kid. I can vividly remember the last time we were there the ferris wheel was leaking gallons of hydraulic flud. Picture the stream from a garden hose pouring down the frame. The ride was full and people were stuck on the ride for hours. It closed not long after that. Sad. So many fond memories.

[@briantroxell7874]

We used to go there every summer when I was a kid. My grandparents kept a camper in nearby Thorntown in the 90’s. I was actually on that train the same week the accident happened and it felt different to me that time than previous times I had been on it. I have some pictures from the like 89 of myself at that park on a ride. It was a really fun place to go and it’s sad that accident happened and the park closed. They also had a really cool renaissance festival there.

[@thejosh24]

My parents had a seasonal lot at Old Mill Run from 88 till 2009. We probably crossed paths quite a few times.

[@Jancelina]

My whole family would go year after year for the Chrysler Picnics. I have fond memories of the mirror house and the mad mouse coaster. I also liked the parachute ride that was to the right as you walked in.

[@indianachannel4486]

awesome

[@jackcurtis7825]

Our whole family did the same. My father retired from Chrysler. Had great times there!

[@dustjunky2000]

Crossroads Dairy used to have their company picnic there every year, and our aunt got us tickets every summer. We loved Old Indiana so much. It was such a wonderful place. Sure it was kind of run-down, and maybe not super safe, but that was somehow part of it's charm. I'd give anything to take my kids there and show them how amazing small-town amusement parks were. I rode every single one of these rides many times. The train was one of my favorites. I was in jr high when the accident happened and I couldn't believe it. The train never went very fast, so I couldn't understand how it could flip on a turn like that.

[@esoteric_Derek]

Loved your recounting of the Mad Mouse! Felt like you was describing it from inside my own head, almost word for word in real time! Lol. I did the same thing after being terrified on my first ride, I went right back to the start and rode it again. It was so loud that it sounded like it was going to break apart at any moment. No restraints, just some bars to hold onto and a low narrow pad to sit on, encapsulated by a thin sheath of sharpe edged, and crack laden fiberglass, painted only on the outside. Like you had to be scared that you might get some nasty fiberglass splinters if you weren't careful to not let yourself avoid any contact with anythingf inside besides the bar rails that you hold. And the top back and forth 180's where there was no railing along the outside bend of the track, and how it wasn't like a perfectly flat stable ride, but instead it kinda wobbled a bit from left to right as it rolled along up there. Man, I felt like the only thing that kept the car from tilting of the track was low center of gravity thoughts, and some deer-in-the-headlights frozen panic mentality from the rider(s) One of the last times I was there was just after they shut down Rotor because of a couple neck sprained injuries leading up to one girl sustaining a serious broken neck. It was particularly eerie then because they hadn't yet taken down the ride, it was still there looking like yoiu could just walk up and plug in the power chord to fire it back up, but all stripped of lighting, the name and signage, looking out of place when walking by it. It was abandoned, almost like there was nothing there. My very last visit was a season after there was a fatality on the Flying Scooter ride where a boy was struck in the head by the one of the scooter wings, after he somehow(I forget how) wound up inside the rides operation zone, or maybe the wing had come partially loose and extended out into the rider queue line while he was waiting. It was all removed except for the concrete pad and some metal anchoring and the main "mast" in the center may have still been standing, but that to was just so eerie to see. And again, sad as well being that it was one of my top favorite rides actually as well. Maybe someone can remember better than I can, and will correct where I might be mistaken. risk(excitement+fear)=FUN!!

[@bobsworld1522]

Brings back so many memories

[@indianachannel4486]

yeah, Im still upset over the closer of that park, 24 years later

[@PurrrrfectGoodiesByAnnMarie]

We went every year for my gpa's work's annual employee picnic. The Mouse was my first coaster and I loved it. It was what my cousins, brother, and I looked forward to the most. Then in '95 we went as usual. My (girl) cousin and I went in one car, and my brother and other cousin (boy) went after us. For the first time the ride scared the tar out of us. Our car literally tipped with every curve. We waited at the exit for my brother and we all looked at each other and said, 'Never. Again."

[@arrowguy173]

I work in the industry and had the chance to stop by in the early 2000's when several rides were still stored in plain view, including other Six Flags rides that had migrated there. It is sad what happened, especially since that train had a great (and safe) history, having come from Cleveland's premier amusement park, Euclid Beach.

[@indianachannel4486]

i wish i had of visited the property in 2001.. it sucks ..its all removed now

[@PsychoSally]

It was not a safe train by any sense of the words. I worked there. I knew more than a lot of folks given that I worked in close proximity to it daily. I hate to sound callous but I'm shocked that no one was seriously injured sooner.

[@joggernerd8148]

My Aunt would take my cousins, brother and myself multiple times during the summer. I still remember standing against the rotating wall as my aunt is waving from up above, the water log ride. And the damned Mad Mouse…. That thing scared me more than anything but I kept going to it, the last time I rode it was my brothers first ride on it. I remember trying to calm him down as he cried. I miss that place and it was sad watching it disappear. I grew up only 15min away. Thanks for the video

[@kymroberts2994]

I went there many times because my aunt's company picnics were hosted there. It was always a blast. My grandmother and I had rode that same train ride numerous times. It was a very small track that went in a loop. When we found out about the death we were shocked. The whole ride measured only 500 square feet (guesstimating), and was a mild kiddie ride. Also, the paintball attraction you are describing used to be the most awesome Renaissance village. Looking back, some of the attractions were not the safest by today's standards...lol. I got to visit the Waterpark on my very last visit to the park. My cousins and I had an amazing time.

[@PoormansMachineGun]

I played my first game of paintball there. I was wearing a tank top and shorts! I got lit up, and I was hooked! My parents were so pissed at my friends mother who had to sign the waiver for me!

[@ZaksMuscleMotors]

I was there that day. My brother, sister, and I were supposed to be on that ride but we all three went for the cars by it instead. Emily and I are the same age. It was the only time I was there and it was one of the most magical memories I have. So sad

[@amm46001]

I was really young when we visited Old Indiana a few times. Probably one of my first theme parks that wasn't Disney. I remember them having a lot of great kids rides and an awesome log flume that I enjoyed. Sad about the tragic train accident but you think they would have repaired it, long before that happened. Sad to see these Indiana theme parks take a downfall with the closing of Indiana Beach as well. I really wanted to see what this park could become if Six Flags took over it but something we will never find out. Thanks for the videos showing some memories.

[@indianachannel4486]

Its really to bad the six flags company didn't follow through on the re-opening plan..

[@robertbeckom1962]

I was there the day this horrible tragedy happened. Had we arrived an hour earlier I'm sure we would have ridden that train. I clearly remember being on the ferris wheel and watching the Medical helicopter waiting to pick up the victims with my young daughter. It made me question the safety of amusement park rides ever since, even at the "safest" of parks. Sad to think that management knew about the maintenance issues, but more disturbing is the fact that it had been inspected by the state and deemed safe.

[@indianachannel4486]

wow man,, thats quite a testimony

[@ArthurDeaville]

My earliest memory at 3 years old was visiting this park as a stop on a long road trip in June or July of 1996. Can’t believe it was just about a month after I visited the incident occurred…

[@Bassndrumboy20]

We went there 2 times when I was growing up. The first time was most likely around 1989-90 but I was told it was Kings Island. Didn't find out that it was Old Indiana until I was 16. We went there again around 1994. The water park had just opened and I remember floating down the lazy river. Don't remember anything else from that trip.

[@indianachannel4486]

wish I could've gone one last time in 95 or 96

[@AroundIndiana]

We went a few times when GM would have their company picnics there as a kid. I remember riding that same train the accident happened on. I'm not surprised it happened, it felt very unsafe. Also if you go on Google Earth at that location and use the historical view to 1998 you can see the entire park.

[@xxg0t3mxx]

same here, went with my mom when they had gm picnics she works at the marion plant. favorite ride was the mouser or something like that

[@matttackett4799]

My brother almost got hurt on the rotor ride. Instead of sticking to the wall it was pulling him down. My mom made them stop it and let him off.

[@n2deep388]

My girlfriend was on that ride when this happened. She had actually switched seats with the lady with her granddaughter before the ride started because they needed more room for them. My girlfriend is still feeling the effects of this accident to this day. Both physically and mentally because of what happened and she gave away her rights to the lawsuit for Emily to help her because she was paralyzed because of this accident.

[@teresaann-gb5hh]

I was supposed to go that day and I didn't I was young my parents took me and my brother there and that weekend we didn't go thank God

[@andrewmankus4831]

The log ride went to idle wild in Pennsylvania.

[@indianachannel4486]

cool

[@zacharylunsford2]

Does anyone remembers Mad Mouse coaster?

[@indianachannel4486]

i do

[@erikbaker6949]

Thank you so much for making this video. The two rides you remember the most, and the parts you remember about them, are the same memories I have. Feeling like I was gonna fall off the Mouse and the floor dropping out of the Rotor!

[@indianachannel4486]

great memories

[@sandrahamilton8376]

I worked at that park 2 seasons 1989 and 1990.

[@rjohnskowjr688]

I was working there that day. My first job.

[@OhOper]

I went to school with that girl and her sister; they were both very nice and so was their family.

[@ashcalibur]

Great stuff!!!!!

[@stormgirl09]

i dont even know it was possible to die from a KIDDIE train derailment.... how does that happen?? now i cant help but picture it like you see in the cartoons. the train randomly malfunctions,engine op panics and starts fiddling with the lever like a loon,lever physically breaks off ,trains loses total control and flies off the track crashing through the whole park.....like Blues Brothers car-in-mall style!

[@FrugalMommaInTheWoods]

Have a great weekend, sad story , 💐

[@zacharylunsford2]

Montagnes Russes was actually French word for Roller Coaster.

[@dwayneconaway1733]

I rode the mad mouse once lol.

[@michaelhuff4768]

I worked there in summer of 85,86 place was a death trap girl almost got leg cut off on the rotor got $25 a day to work parking lot an could ride free young an dumb back then 😂

[@tiggergurlthecat6383]

The ride where the floor would drop out was called the gravitron .

[@indianachannel4486]

really..??

[@erikbaker6949]

@@indianachannel4486 No, it was called the Rotor. The Gravitron is what you'll find these days in the traveling fairs. It's somewhat the same but looks like a UFO on the outside. If you go to Wikipedia and look up the Rotor (ride) it has pictures and describes it all the way down to the "observation deck," which I fondly remember. The Gravitron doesn't have an observation deck. That's for the old school rides. LOL. It even lists all of the theme parks that had them. Here's the link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotor_(ride)

[@tiggergurlthecat6383]

@@indianachannel4486 yes . That was my favorite ride . I used to turn sideways on it if it was half empty

[@indianachannel4486]

@@erikbaker6949 whats what I believe too.. Rotor was the correct name

[@MrLoganDave]

The Montagnes Russes is a Schwarzkopf Wildcat and it is a portable ride.

[@christopherkauffman139]

The property is overgrown. Trees have been planted, you cant see anything past the fence

[@biker944]

cool

[@cowtipper74]

I operated that train summer of 93 derailing doesn't mean the cars coming off the track that train would go 55 mph this was totally driver error

[@bartonbrass]

Anyone know where the Turbo went? I remember they would have to push the ride to get it going!

[@indianachannel4486]

not yet.. somebody will find it

[@JFA3]

Thanks for taking the time to read me the internet story that I could have read myself let's cover more of the story or the background of the park and just give us a link to where we can go read what you're reading is please

[@FrugalMommaInTheWoods]

How sad,

[@DarkNoise]

I remember hearing that somebody got decapitated on the Rotor. But if that was true, how would that info disappear? Remember the floor dropped out during the ride? That is the only way I could imagine decapitation. Flipping upside down and working your way down before the floor came up. Hope its not true.

[@PsychoSally]

Someone was in fact hurt on the ride when it kinda blew up. I don't think they were decapitated though. Anyway that's why it was removed.