No sun, still fun

Northeast Ohioans can ride out the last bit of cold (in theory) at I-X Indoor Amusement Park

Spring may have sprung, but the weather is still a little cold for outdoor activities.

For those adventure seekers not wanting to bundle up, one option is the 29th annual I-X Indoor Amusement Park, which takes place March 23 through April 15 at the I-X Center in Cleveland.

“It’s a great destination event,” I-X Indoor Amusement Park Show Manager Rob Attewell said. “We schedule it every year so it’s around spring break for students. What’s really nice this year is the way spring break lines up, everybody is off either the first or second week.

“It gives families a place to go where they don’t have to drive across the country. They can come here indoors in a controlled environment and really enjoy themselves with lots of rides, food. It’s just a fun place.”

Naturally, the centerpiece of the event is the 20 acres of attractions, which include a dozen new rides. Attewell said normally there’s only a handful of additions, but this year the plan was to change things up.

“There are lots of things we’re excited about this year, such as the new Wild Cat roller coaster,” Attewell said. “It’s only a couple of years old. It’s beautiful. We had different coasters in the past that were spinning, but this is bigger, and it should be faster. It’s a straighton, traditional track-style coaster.

“We’ve have two different areas,” Attewell continued. “There’s Thrill City for the high-energy people looking for faster rides and bigger rides, while Kidzville has the rides for the smaller kids.”

Other adrenaline-fueled rides can be found in Thrill City, include Frenzy, Orbiter, Loop-O-Plane, Vertigo, Frenzy, Zipper, Shock Drop and the I-X Center’s Soaring Eagle Zipline.

In Kidzville, there are more than 25 rides. Joining new additions such as the Crazy Bus and Happy Swing are classics like Super Slide, Charlie Chopper, Dragon Wagon, Merry-GoRound and I-X Center Ferris Wheel. There’s also a petting zoo, bubble soccer and the new Dual Wipeout indoor surfing simulator.

“There are two mechanical surf boards set into a scene of a giant wave for Dual Wipeout,” Attewell said. “People of all skill levels can ride to see who can stay on the longest. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Making its I-X Indoor Amusement Park debut are The Amazing Giants. Appearing at the expanded Beach Street, the act will provide sidewalk and stage shows with aerial trapeze, stilt walking, sway pole and interactive hula hoop performances.

“I wanted to expand Beach Street,” Attewell said. “That’s really a fun area of the show. It’s a great entertainment space. We’ve got the Sea Lion Splash Show, Roberto the Magnificent, Jungle Terry and Gossamer Magic.”

Throughout the threeweek affair, which will attract upwards of 150,000 visitors, will be special events featuring The Junior Superhero Academy (March 24 and 25), Scholastic Dino Show (April 7 and 8) and Adventures in Neverland (April 14 and 15).

Looking ahead, next year marks the 30th anniversary of the I-X Indoor Amusement Park. Attewell is tightlipped about the milestone affair but promises big things.

“I can’t tell you yet what it’s going to be, but it will be special,” Attewell said. “It’s going to be huge.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Jungle Terry plans to be at the I-X Indoor Amusement Park, and you never know what pals he might bring with him.

Expect new rides and old favorites at this year’s I-X Indoor Amusement Park.