Indiana
When is 2024 National Roller Coaster Day? Where to find Indiana amusement park thrill rides
See Six Flags’ new dive roller coaster, Wrath of Rakshasa
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, will introduce a record-breaking dive coaster with a 96-degree, 171-foot drop in 2025.
Provided by Six Flags Great America
National Roller Coaster Day has arrived and it’s time to celebrate.
There are multiple Indiana theme parks offering roller coasters, from Holiday World and Indiana Beach to the Indianapolis Zoo.
Holiday World Splashin’ Safari: Here’s everything you need to know.
Here’s where to find roller coasters in Indiana:
What is National Roller Coaster Day?
The day honors Edwin Prescott’s patent of the first vertical loop roller coaster in 1898, according to nationaldaycalendar.com.
When is 2024 National Roller Coaster Day?
National Roller Coaster Day falls on Aug. 16 each year, according to nationaldaycalendar.com.
Good Gravy! Family Coaster
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: May ride at 38 inches tall with a companion. Patrons with high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, and those who are pregnant or have a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
The Howler
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 42 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: May ride at 36 inches tall with a companion. Patrons with high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, and those who are pregnant or have a, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
The Legend Wooden Coaster
- Construction: Wood
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Loose articles should be stored before riding. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, have fear of heights, are pregnant, or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
The Raven Wooden Coaster
- Construction: Wood
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Loose articles should be stored before riding. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, have a fear of heights, are pregnant, or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
The Voyage Wooden Coaster
- Construction: Wood
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Loose articles should be stored before riding. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, fear of heights, those who are pregnant, and those with sensitivity to strobe lights, or recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
Thunderbird Launched Wing Coaster
- Construction: Steel, wing
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Loose articles should be stored before riding. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, fear of heights, those who are pregnant, and those who have sensitivity to strobe lights, or recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
Cheetah Chase Water Coaster
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Minimum weight requirement: 225 pound minimum per boat
- Maximum weight requirement: 340 pound max per individual; 500 pound max per boat
- More details: May ride at 42 inches tall with a companion. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, fear of heights, those who are pregnant, or have sensitivity to strobe lights or recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
Mammoth Water Coaster
- Number of riders: 2-6 per raft
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Minimum weight requirement: 500 pound minimum per raft
- Maximum weight requirement: 1,050 pound max per raft
- More details: May ride at 42 inches tall with a companion. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, fear of heights, are pregnant, or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
Wildebeest Water Coaster
- Number of riders: Up to 4 per raft
- Minimium height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Minimum weight requirement: 200 pound minimum per raft
- Maximum weight requirement: 800 pound max per raft
- More details: May ride at 42 inches tall with a companion. Patrons with a heart condition, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, dizziness or motion sickness, fear of heights, those who are pregnant, or have sensitivity to strobe lights or recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility guide.
Indiana Beach: The G-force on newest roller coaster is insane
American Triple Loop
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 49 inches
- Maximum height requirement: 77 inches
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Cornball Express
- Construction: Wood
- Minimium height requirement: 46 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Cyclone
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Hoosier Hurricane
- Construction: Wood
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain
- Construction: Wood
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Steel Hawg
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Tig’rr
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 54 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Patrons with heart conditions, high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and those who are pregnant, under the influence of alcohol or have had a recent illness, injury or surgery are not allowed to ride. Rider requirements and accessibility.
Indianapolis Zoo: Take a peak inside the new chimpanzee complex
Kōmbo Family Coaster
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 47 inches
- Maximum height requirement: None
- Weight requirement: None
- More details: Children younger than 6 meeting the minimum height requirement must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone with limited mobility will need to transfer themselves from wheelchair/scooter to coaster car in order to ride. Patrons with heart disease or back injuries, those wearing a cast and women who are pregnant are not allowed to ride.
Twist N Shout Coaster
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement, rider: 47 inches
- Minimium height requirement, passenger: 38 inches — must be age 4 or older with paying adult
- Maximum height requirement: 6 feet, 5 inches
- Weight requirement: 240 pound maximum
- Indiana location: Lafayette
Spinning Coaster
- Construction: Steel
- Minimum height requirement: 47 inches
- Maximum height requirement: 6 foot, 3 inches
- Weight requirement: 250 pound max
- More details: May ride at 36 inches tall if riding with an adult
Find more roller coasters: Your guide to theme parks not too far from Indianapolis
Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.
CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WKRC) – Authorities in Indiana found a semi trailer loaded up with hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine.
According to a statement issued by the Indiana State Police (ISP), 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California was taken into custody after nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine were reportedly found in the trailer of a commercial truck.
Per the statement, an ISP trooper seized the suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, authorities said.
The stop occurred Tuesday morning near the 37-mile marker, just east of Cloverdale, after a commercial motor vehicle was observed exceeding the posted speed limit.
Police said Singh displayed several indicators of possible criminal activity during the encounter. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers discovered multiple duffel bags and cardboard boxes in the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine.
Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at about $9 million.
Singh was taken into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.
He faces the following preliminary charges, per the post:
- Possession of a narcotic drug
Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County prosecutor.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a priority, with troopers focusing on major highways to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the state.
For many Hoosiers living in rural Indiana, accessing health care can mean driving 30 minutes or even an hour to see a doctor or reach the nearest hospital. As workforce shortages and financial pressures challenge rural hospitals across the country, ensuring access to care close to home has become one of the most important health-care issues facing our state.
About one in four Indiana residents live in a rural community, yet access to health-care services in many of these communities continues to shrink. Across the nation, rural hospitals and clinics report extremely thin operating margins and often say workforce shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary care, maternity care and behavioral health.
When rural communities struggle to maintain health-care access, the impact doesn’t stay confined to small towns. It ripples across the entire health-care system, contributing to increases in chronic conditions, reduced preventative care for children, and worsening outcomes for the sickest patients.
Communities such as Greater Lafayette serve as a regional hub for care, with hospitals like IU Health Arnett caring for patients from surrounding counties across north-central and west-central Indiana. That role is something we are proud to fulfill. But when rural residents must travel long distances for care that should be available closer to home, it places increasing pressure on emergency departments, specialty clinics and inpatient services at larger regional hospitals.
In many cases, what might have been a routine appointment, preventive screening or early diagnosis in a local clinic becomes far more serious by the time a patient reaches a larger hospital. A missed screening can escalate into a medical emergency.
That reality makes strengthening rural health care more important than ever — not just for rural communities, but for the health of the entire state.
One of the most important steps we can take is investing in the next generation of health-care professionals who will care for these communities.
At IU Health, we are working directly with local schools and community partners to help build that workforce pipeline. Across the region, IU Health has partnered with the Greater Lafayette Career Academy and area school districts to introduce students to health-care careers earlier and provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring those careers to life.
Through these programs, students explore health-care pathways and earn certifications such as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or emergency medical technician while still in high school. Many participate in job shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences and mentorship programs, giving them valuable exposure to the field before they graduate. In fact, since the first cohort in 2023, IU Health has extended job offers to more than 70 students.
The goal is simple but powerful: help students see that meaningful careers in health care exist in their own communities and create pathways that allow them to stay and serve those communities.
For rural health care, this approach is critical. Students who train and develop personal mentorship connections locally are far more likely to remain in the region after completing their education. By helping young people build skills and connections early, we can create a sustainable workforce that strengthens health-care access in both rural communities and regional centers, including Greater Lafayette.
Since launching the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund in 2018, IU Health has invested more than $40 million in community grants supporting workforce development, education and school-based programs that build Indiana’s health-care talent pipeline. This includes funding for the Indiana Latino Institute, which placed Latino students in health-care internships, supported career pathways, and provided medical interpreter training and college coaching to communities across the state.
Our goal is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation, and this is one way we work toward that in partnership with our communities.
But workforce development is only part of the solution.
Strengthening rural health care will also require continued collaboration between health-care providers, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Expanding telehealth access, supporting rural hospitals and investing in primary care and behavioral health services are all critical steps toward ensuring patients can receive care close to home.
Greater Lafayette will always play an important role as a regional health-care center, providing specialized care and advanced services for patients across a broad region. But the long-term health of Indiana’s health-care system depends on maintaining strong local access points for care in rural communities.
When rural clinics and hospitals can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions and connect patients with the services they need early, the entire system works better.
Patients receive care sooner, communities stay healthier and larger hospitals can focus on the complex cases they are designed to treat.
Healthy rural communities do not just benefit the towns where they are. They strengthen Indiana’s entire health-care system by ensuring that every Hoosier — no matter where they live — has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.
When rural health care succeeds, all of Indiana benefits.
Gary Henriott is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and the retired CEO and Chairman of Henriott Group. He is the chair of the IU Health West Region board of directors and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and president of Lafayette’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — An Indianapolis mother is now facing criminal charges after her 2-month-old baby died in an apparent improper co-sleeping environment, according to investigators.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX 59/CBS 4, police were called to an area hospital on Sept. 19, 2024, following the death of 27-year-old Brooklyn Davis’ son. The boy had been found unresponsive in his family’s home early that morning, and Davis attempted CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.
The affidavit says the boy had been sleeping on Davis’ bed with his 6-year-old brother. Davis later showed investigators a video showing the baby sleeping chest down on the 6-year-old’s chest.
An autopsy concluded the baby’s cause of death was “sudden explained death of an infant” with an intrinsic factor, which included being “placed to sleep in a queen-sized mattress being shared with a 6-year-old sibling, along with numerous blankets and other miscellaneous items; discovered unresponsive in a prone position with his face turned to the side and partially covered with a blanket.”
A report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) indicated the boy had no known health issues and that Davis ran an FSSA-licensed day care and has “extensive training on child care and safe sleeping environments.”
Davis had been known to DCS prior to the baby’s death. The boy had been born marijuana-positive and, on July 2, 2024, Davis had reportedly signed a “Safe Sleep Safety Plan,” acknowledging she understood that the safest places for her baby to sleep were in a crib, pack-and-play or bassinet and warned that co-sleeping places the baby at risk of suffocation and sleeping areas should be kept free of blankets, pillows and other items. The plan also included a provision that Davis not use marijuana while caring for her children, but she told investigators during an interview that, the morning of her baby’s death, she had gone downstairs to smoke marijuana and left the children alone upstairs.
Davis’ two other children were removed from the home, and interviews with them revealed that co-sleeping with the infant happened often.
Investigators say they attempted to contact Davis several times after talking to her children.
“She called me on February 18, 2025, and said she didn’t do anything wrong, her baby died of SIDS,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Brooklyn never came in for an additional interview.”
Court records indicate the case was filed in March 2026. Davis was booked into jail on April 1 on three counts of neglect of a dependent. An initial hearing was held on April 7, and a bail review hearing is planned for Monday.
-
Lifestyle6 minutes agoHow ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Red Carpet Looks Came Together
-
Technology18 minutes agoThe Vergecast Vergecast, 2026 edition
-
World24 minutes agoMexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
-
Politics30 minutes agoByron Donalds cracks down on persistent border blind spot leaving US vulnerable to overstays
-
Health36 minutes agoHealthy diets spark lung cancer risk in non-smokers as pesticides loom
-
Sports42 minutes agoPGA Tour signals new era with axing of Hawaii events from schedule
-
Technology48 minutes agoAlexa+ lets you order food like a real conversation
-
Business54 minutes agoNew lawsuit alleges Uber is violating drivers’ rights. Here’s how