Amusement Park News

Indiana Beach amusement park, located in Monticello, Indiana, is celebrating both its 100th year in operation, and the addition of a new ride with a classic vibe: Zero Gravity.

Zero Gravity is a flat spinning ride which was manufactured by Italy's SBF/Visa and distributed through Rides 4-U. It is essentially a modernized version of the innovative Rotor ride introduced throughout the late 1940s and on.

With Zero Gravity's rebooted version, riders stand inside a spinning drum that spans 21 feet – from which the floor drops out. With no floor beneath them, riders are held against the wall by centrifugal force. This new flat-ride thriller has translucent walls with 36 strips of vibrant LED lighting. Its design creates the dreamy illusion that its riders are floating on air.

Riders must be a minimum of 51” to enjoy the excitement of the spinning drum. As the ride builds speed, riders are securely pressed against the wall. Spectators also get a thrill from watching riders, illuminated as silhouettes, appear to be suspended in midair.

Guests face inward as the drum reaches its maximum speed of 29 revolutions per minute. The ride is capable of holding 24 riders at a time, for a potential 480 riders per hour.

According to Tom Crisci, vice president of marketing and communications at IB Parks and Entertainment, the beautiful new ride brings “something completely fresh to our lineup — a modern, high-energy take on a classic Rotor experience that we haven't had in years.”

He enthuses about the “dynamic lighting and effects” in the spinning drum ride and cites both its high carrying capacity and big thrills, describing the experience as one delivering “intense forces and a memorable [feeling of being] ‘stuck to the wall.'” The experience is fast-moving and thrilling, but it doesn't cause riders to feel dizzy. Cameras positioned inside the rotor ride's drum allow operators to monitor safety as parkgoers whirl, laugh, and scream.

While its appeal to guests seeking excitement is obvious, Crisci also notes that the ride fills the thrill craving of people who want more than the coaster experiences that the park offers, including the Steel Hawg, Hoosier Hurricane, and the All-American Triple Loop, which arrived at the park just two years ago. He relates that Zero Gravity is a perfect addition to the park because it “blends nostalgic ride styles with modern technology and effects, giving families and teens a unique, shareable thrill.”

The eye-catching ride is located in a high-traffic area of the park, at the north entrance, right across from the park's Chance Falling Star. In close proximity, both rides introduce immediate excitement for parkgoers.

Crisci says the ride's placement “should make it easy for guests to find and ride as soon as they enter the park.”

He calls Zero Gravity a strong addition to the park's collection of attractions and adds that its concise footprint allowed the park to keep all of its current ride lineup intact. “We did not retire any rides to make space for it.”

While Indiana Beach already had in place a strong selection of flat rides, there was nothing quite like Zero Gravity, which Crisci calls a “perfect fit” for the park, terming it “classic fun with a modern edge.”

Manufactured in Italy, SBF rides are known for their reliability and easy maintenance. Crisci attests that the rides “strong visuals and the wow-factor 'floor drop' moment” combine to create rapid exhilaration for its riders.

Along with its attractiveness, easy fit, and the quickly galvanizing experience that the ride creates, he says that it adeptly filled “a gap” in the park's existing lineup.

“We have excellent coasters and family rides, but this adds a different kind of spinning, high-G thrill that complements everything else without overlapping,” Crisci says. The first 100 riders to experience Zero Gravity at the park received a special commemorative sticker.

According to Tommaso Frison, an owner at the SBF-Visa company, the flat ride has been manufactured for nearly ten years, but its popularity has increased dramatically in recent years. Over 80 have been sold just this year throughout the amusement industry, with a total of 100 expected to be sold by the end of the year. The ride was first introduced at IAAPA in 2024. One Zero Gravity model was purchased that same year by New Jersey's Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach.

Along with the debut of Zero Gravity, Indiana Beach added to its 100th year birthday fun with a special event on July 30, a drive-in movie premiere documentary, Legacy at the Lake, with cars ticketed at $30. The film celebrateed and documents the “history, memories, and traditions” that have made Indiana Beach beloved in the region. Commemorative posters for the event will also be available.

Ballroom concert events this year include tribute acts for the music of John Cougar Mellencamp, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Styx, and Taylor Swift. Flow Wrestling nights are also on tap. Three fireworks shows were also scheduled this summer, including displays on July 22 and September 6.

Season passes for the amusement park are priced at $82.99 and include three bring-a-friend days, free summer ballroom concerts, and VIP parking. Daily tickets for Indiana Beach are priced between $28.99 and $37.99.