Cornball Express is a wooden roller coaster at Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana. The ride was designed and manufactured by Custom Coasters International. It opened on May 18, 2001. The Cornball Express had gained critical acclaim among enthusiasts, being named the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world by website ThemeParkCritic.com in 2002.[1] Cornball Express, along with 2002's Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, were among Custom Coaster International's last roller coasters designed before closing their doors in 2002. It was their 48th roller coaster designed.

Cornball Express
Cornball Express reaching the top of its lift hill.
Indiana Beach
LocationIndiana Beach
Coordinates40°47′23″N 86°46′16″W / 40.789791°N 86.770992°W / 40.789791; -86.770992
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 18, 2001
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerCustom Coasters International
Track layoutWood
Lift/launch systemChain
Height55 ft (17 m)
Drop50 ft (15 m)
Length2,100 ft (640 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration51 Seconds
G-force4.7
Height restriction46 in (117 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Cornball Express at RCDB

Cornball Express, as with other rides at the park, is also notable for being 'shoehorned' into other rides at the park. The ride weaves through and uses portions of the Hoosier Hurricane's structure in some parts, glides over the Kiddieland section of the park, wraps around the park's Tig'rr Coaster, and may sometimes 'duel' with the Rocky's Rapids Log Flume attraction.

The name Cornball Express was also a candidate to be the name for the Hoosier Hurricane while it was being designed, however the name was tossed in favor for the latter.[2]

Layout

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The Cornball Express starts off with boarding the trains (designed by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters) and pulling down the "buzz bar" restraint before dispatch. The train then crawls out the station and starts the trek up the 55-foot-tall (17 m) lift hill.

As soon as the train crests the chain lift hill, it nears the first drop, a twisted drop then rockets the train to speeds of 45 miles per hour. After the drop, the ride soars over the Hoosier Hurricane and into a turnaround the then heads towards an airtime hill. After that, the ride then circles the Tig'rr Coaster's area into more airtime hills. After a third airtime hill that soars over the lake, the fourth hill takes riders into the Hoosier Hurricane's structure and mimics the "S-bend" turn of the Hurricane. The ride then soars over the Kiddieland section and goes into a helix. Following the helix, riders are treated to two more bunny hills of airtime before turning into the brake run, ending a ride on the Cornball Express.

Awards

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Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2021 2022 2023 2024
Ranking 18[3] 13[4] 17[5] 18[6] 18[7] 24[8] 25[9] 24[10] 29[11] 24[12] 39 (tie)[13] 32[14] 41[15] 44[16] 42 (tie)[17] 40[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Indiana Beach: Rides and Attractions: Five Coasters: The Cornball Exp…". archive.is. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007.
  2. ^ "Cornball Express". COASTER-net.com.
  3. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  4. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  10. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  11. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  14. ^ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  16. ^ "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  17. ^ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 71–72. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  18. ^ "2024 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2024. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
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