“Our huge new water coaster is called Wildebeest,” says park president Will Koch. “Wildebeest is a record one-third of a mile long. Riders get two-and-a-half minutes of very wet hills, drops, twists, tunnels and turns.”

Located in a wooded area north of Bahari wave pool, the Wildebeest experience begins with a conveyor ride up the water coaster’s lifthill. Following the 38-foot drop at a 45-degree angle, linear induction motors (LIMs) will the four-person boats up seven additional hills, through two tunnels and around a helix. Wildebeest covers more than two acres, increasing the water park’s size to 27 acres.

“The LIM technology for shooting the boats up the hills is fascinating,” says Koch, who earned an electrical engineering degree at Notre Dame. “An alternating magnetic field beneath the slide surface propels the rafts, pushing them rapidly and smoothly uphill. LIM technology is a popular feature in some steel roller coasters; it’s cool to see it applied to water coasters, too.”

Wildebeest’s tallest elevation is...

The Dubois County Museum is joining with the town of Dubois for their 125^th Celebration with a special display of items at the museum. The exhibit will run until Sept 12. Samplings of artifacts in the Dubois display are a 1943 photo of the Bender School and its class, photos of Hickory Grove School, 1908 and 1917 Dubois Grade and High schools, Other pictures show the Dubois Blacksmith Shop, Beech Grove Dance Hall, Mathias Café and 1908 Farmers State Bank.

There are 2 quilts featuring Dubois, a Dubois High School Band uniform, a class sweater, and several promotional items, one from Chester Kalb service station. In addition one can find artifacts from the GAB Branch opening in 1962. Centering the display is a replica of the...