I-X Indoor Amusement Park keeps kids happy, parents cool
By Brad Miklosovic
happenings
Published March 16, 2005

We slowly inch our way towards the record of most snowfall in a year. The temperature hasn't reached windbreaker, much less shirtsleeves, level in months.

It's winter in Cleveland. No one, except ski buffs, goes out much. In my home, there is a serious case of cabin fever going on with the kids griping at each other and my wife looking for any excuse to get the kids outside.

And it is the kids that are causing the most grief. They need to go out and burn off some energy. Actually, a day at Cedar Point would be ideal. The kids could run until they collapse, ride the rides until they are dizzy and stuff themselves with park food until it's coming out their ears.

But it's winter and anyone who has ridden a motorcycle when the temperature drops below 50 can tell you going fast in cool, not to mention cold, weather is not the most pleasant of experiences.

What's a father to do?

Take the family to the I-X Indoor Amusement Park.

Now we all know the jingle… "Gotta get to the I-X…Indoor…Amuusseement Park," which celebrates its 10th anniversary, so it isn't like we've never heard of it.

Truthfully, I have never been there.

The kids, however, have and have been on me since I mentioned it to take them. I try to tell them that it isn't open yet, but to no avail.

"It's great dad," Mary said. "They have a ton of rides."

"Yeah, dad," Katie added. "You'll love it."

While I love my kids, what they consider fun and what I consider fun are two different things. I mean, really, the kids will watch "Blue's Clues" until I go insane if I let them.

So I decided to talk to someone who would know about the park, Amy Coleman, the media contact for the park.

"Everyone jokes about the weather, but it's all inside so it doesn't matter what the weather is doing," she tells me. "A lot of parents like that, they don't' have to worry about packing umbrellas." Weather, by the way, is something Coleman is familiar with being married to television weatherman Kerry Coleman.

I imagine that it is also nice to know when you are there; you can always ride the attractions because they won't be closed for weather related reasons.

"There's a coat check so you don't have to carry all your coats," she said.

Wow, that's good, but what things to do. Cedar Point is hundreds of acres of rides and shows. The I-X Center is big, but how much can you fit in there?

"The amusement park takes about 650,000 square feet, or about 20 acres," Coleman told me. "We fit about 60 rides, split 30 for little kids and 30 high-powered teen thrill rides."

There is a Kraft/Nabisco Kidzville with 30 rides including antique cars, a five land giant slide and mini Indy cars. Some of the kids' favorite television characters will also be making appearances, including Dora The Explorer (April 1-3), SpongeBob Squarepants (April 8-10) and Scooby Doo (April 15-17).

For the older kids and adults, there is a five-story roller coaster, White Water River Ride, Top Spin, a high-flying spinning ride, and Freak Out, a giant swing. (Both Top Spin and Freak Out go 70 feet in the air.)

"I think the nicest thing about our event is that there is something for everyone," Coleman said.

Of course, my first thought is, "this is going to be expensive, having to buy ride tickets for all those rides."

"The ticket cost covers all the rides," Coleman said. "You can ride all day."

She pointed out that there is, until March 23, a package deal available at Marc's. You can get four tickets and a parking pass for $49. The package would normally cost you $77.

What? There is no way I am going to spend $49 for an hour's worth of rides.

Coleman said there are plenty of rides to keep the kids entertained. "We found that people, on average, spend about five hours in the park," she said.

Great, just what I want, long lines with cranky kids.

Coleman said, while there is going to be some waiting for rides, the longest wait she had seen was 45 for the water ride.

But what if we don't want to ride the rides? Is there something else to do?

Coleman said yes there is.

There is a petting zoo for the kids and stage shows for the whole family.

OK, I'm sold.

If $81, which is what it would cost for my family of five, seems expensive, remember that you can spend 10-12 hours at the park. Also, that is a lot cheaper than Cedar Point and you don't have to drive for an hour, sit in a traffic jam in Sandusky for another half hour and worry about whether the weather will be nice -- it's always warm inside.

It's well worth it to get out of the house and let the kids let off some steam before dad blows his top.