Media Release

 

 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Added as Air Show Sponsor

 

GARY, IN – The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has been added to the sponsor list for the 2008 Air Show held at Marquette Beach on July 12th and 13th. The National Lakeshore has agreed to offer a free shuttle service at National Park’s West Beach parking lot. Half of the parking spaces will be dedicated to South Shore Air Show attendees. Parking at West Beach in Portage will cost $6 per car.

            “We anticipate visitors coming from the east will take advantage of the additional parking added at the National Lakeshore,” stated Adrienne Shroka, Special Events Manager for the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are pleased to better connect with the people of Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties and the Chicagoland area through this partnership,” said Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The National Lakeshore will staff the parking lot and bus stop areas with park rangers who will interpret the story of Octave Chanute and the historical aviation connection of the lakeshore to those visitors waiting for the shuttle.  

In 1896, Octave Chanute and four assistants helped set the stage for the achievement of powered flight with a series of important glider trails. Chanute chose the sand dunes of (present day) Marquette Beach for his experiments because of its steady winds, elevated dunes and abundance of soft sand for landing. It was his biplane glider design that proved to be the first successful trial. The biplane design was then used by the Wright brothers, who added a motor and developed the first powered flying machine.

            More information about the 9th Annual South Shore Air Show can be found at www.garyairshow.com.

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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the 391 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore includes 15 miles of southern shoreline of Lake Michigan and 15,000 acres of beach, woods, marshes, and prairie in the northwest corner of Indiana. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/INDU.