Rose Island
Rose Island is an abandoned amusement park near Charlestown, Indiana, situated on a peninsula (the "Devil's Backbone") created by Fourteen Mile Creek emptying into the Ohio River. It is in Charlestown Township. Around it, Sons of the American Revolution (14 mi) comes first on our list.
A theme park inside Charlestown Township
Check the season before you go
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days. When to go ↓
2 rides and 1 roller coaster
Open since 1923. About ↓
You can stay in Charlestown Township
Rose Island is inside Charlestown Township, which has 8 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Indianapolis
Indianapolis is about 97 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 68–81°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather through the year
Each month’s highs and lows around Rose Island are below.
Rose Island
Rose Island is an abandoned amusement park near Charlestown, Indiana, situated on a peninsula (the "Devil's Backbone") created by Fourteen Mile Creek emptying into the Ohio River. It was a recreational area known as Fern Grove in the 1880s, mostly used as a church camp. It was so named due to the many ferns that grew there. The Louisville and Jeffersonville Ferry Company acquired it and developed it in order to increase the use of its ferry business. As Fern Grove it thrived on church picnics and family outings.
- Type
- Theme park
- Rides
- 2 · 1 roller coaster
- Opened
- 1923
- Owner
- E.B. Rose
- Wikipedia readers
- 6.9K a year
Lodging near Rose Island
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Charlestown Township (8) and Louisville (224).
- 1Sons of the American Revolution
- 2Kentucky Kingdom
- 3Lynn Family Stadium
- 4KFC Yum! Center
- 5L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
- 6Muhammad Ali Center
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Rose Island | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Township | in town | — | 8 3 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 16,748 | $254K | — |
| Louisville | 17 mi south | 25 min | 224 175 hotels · 5 motels · 27 inns & B&Bs · 11 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 795,222 | $248K | D |
| Jeffersonville Township | 10 mi southwest | 15 min | 41 27 hotels · 6 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 65,369 | $191K | — |
| Jeffersonville | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 23 16 hotels · 3 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 54,134 | $217K | — |
| Clarksville | 11 mi southwest | 15 min | 20 14 hotels · 2 motels · 2 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 22,253 | $180K | D |
| Jeffersontown | 16 mi south | 25 min | 35 33 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins | 29,193 | $251K | C |
| Charlestown | 3 mi west | 5 min | 6 3 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 8,802 | $208K | — |
| Silver Creek Township | 8 mi west | 10 min | 7 5 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground | 14,771 | $243K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
After Rose Island
These well-known places are within 57 miles.
Big draw42 mi LandmarkUnited States Bullion Depository
Big draw57 mi Theme parkArk Encounter
218 mi Theme parkKentucky Kingdom
313 mi Stadium & arenaLynn Family Stadium
414 mi Stadium & arenaKFC Yum! Center
517 mi Stadium & arenaL&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
614 mi MuseumMuhammad Ali CenterPhoto credits
United States Bullion Depository: Work permit Original author=Cliff, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ark Encounter: OlinEJ, CC0 · Kentucky Kingdom: Stevietheman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lynn Family Stadium: Bpluke01, CC BY-SA 4.0 · KFC Yum! Center: Jamesmac96, CC BY 3.0 · L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium: Perthsider, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Muhammad Ali Center: The original uploader was Stevietheman at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0
Good to know about Rose Island
Is Rose Island open in winter?
Most theme parks this far north close for the winter. Check the park’s calendar for opening days.
Is Rose Island in Charlestown Township?
Yes. It’s inside Charlestown Township, IN.
When is the best time to visit Rose Island?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 68–81°.
How far is Rose Island from Lexington and Cincinnati?
About 68 miles southeast of Lexington and about 77 miles northeast of Cincinnati, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Rose Island?
Louisville Muhammad Ali (SDF), about 19 miles away.
How many roller coasters does Rose Island have?
1, among 2 rides.
Where should I stay near Rose Island?
Louisville (17 mi, 224 places to stay), Jeffersonville Township (10 mi, 41 places to stay) and Jeffersonville (8 mi, 23 places to stay).
Tips from people in Charlestown Township
People in Charlestown Township have not posted tips yet; their Town Square is open.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.