Indiana Beach is an amusement park located on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana. The resort was developed by the Spackman family, who owned it from 1926 to 2008. The park was then sold to Morgan RV LLC, Apex Parks Group, LLC, and now is owned and operated by IB Parks & Entertainment.
History Originally named Ideal Beach, the amusement park began as a small lakeside beach with a bath house and refreshment stand opened by Earl W. Spackman. In 1927, the first thrill attraction opened, and from that point, it began to expand. In the 1930s and 1940s, it was popular for the Ideal Beach Ballroom, featuring well-known bands. In 1961, Indiana Beach added a paddle wheeler boat called the Shafer Queen, which operated for 11 years before being replaced by another paddle wheeler with the same name.
In February 2008, both the amusement park and Indiana Beach campgrounds were sold to Morgan RV LLC. On September 1, 2015, the park was sold to Apex Parks Group.
On February 18, 2020, Indiana Beach suddenly announced that it would permanently close after 94 years of operation, with no plans to reopen. Apex Parks Group cited financial difficulties for the closure and said they had "worked diligently" to find a new buyer for the park but had not been successful. In addition to dozens of seasonal workers, Indiana Beach employed 27 people in administrative and maintenance positions. Those workers were offered six weeks compensation.
In March 2020, Apex Parks Group said that it was in discussions with potential buyers of the park, and that it was possible that the park would be able to reopen that year. Because Indiana Beach generates a large part of the county's tourism revenue, White County officials agreed to offer $3 million from the White County Windfarm Economic Development Fund to the buyer after the sale was complete.
In April 2020, Indiana Beach announced that the park would be reopening that year. The park was purchased by Chicago businessman Gene Staples, subject to approval of a $3 million loan from White County. The park reopened on June 27, 2020.
Rides
Roller coasters Name Year opened Type Manufacturer/Model CommentsCornball Express 2001 Wooden roller coaster Custom Coasters International Shares the same support as Hoosier HurricaneHoosier Hurricane 1994 Wooden roller coaster Custom Coasters International Shares the same support as Cornball ExpressLost Coaster of Superstition Mountain 2002 Elevator lift wooden coaster Custom Coasters International Built at the site of the former Superstition Mountain Mine RideSteel Hawg 2008 El Loco S&S - Sansei Technologies A unique coaster with a beyond vertical drop that was once the world's steepest coasterTig'rr Coaster 1984 Steel, Jet Star Schwarzkopf Oldest operating roller coaster at Indiana Beach and formerly operated at Holiday Beach in Douglas, Georgia All American Triple Loop 2024 Steel, Triple Loop Coaster Schwarzkopf Formerly operated at the German fair circuit; Sunway Lagoon in Subang Jaya, Malaysia; Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire, England; and La Feria Chapultepec Magico in Mexico City, Mexico.Cyclone 2022 Galaxi Robles Bouso Atracciones Located at the site of the park's original Galaxi Roller Coaster and formerly operated with Garcia Attractions' traveling carnival in Mexico.
Water park attractions and rides Name Year opened Type Comments Action river 1989 Lazy River Big Flush Water Coaster 1998 Water Coaster Sandy Beach swimming area 1926 Swimming area with a recirculating pool Splash bash water spray pad 1989 Splash Pad 5 tube slides 1989 3 enclosed slides, 2 open slides Repainted for the 2016 season
Major rides Name Year opened Type Comments Air Crow 2004 Larson International Flying Scooters Antique Autos 1960s Antique car ride Den of Lost Thieves 1998 Sally Corporation Shooting dark ride Dodgem 1960s Bumper cars Double Shot 1998 S&S Power Double Shot tower ride Falling Star 1990 Chance Rides Falling Star Opened on the boardwalk, near the South Gate. In 2011, it was taken down and moved to the storage lot behind Steel Hawg. For the 2013/2014 season, it was relocated yet again next to the Hoosier Hurricane station. Flying Bobs 2020 Allan Herschell Company Alpine Bobs Not to be confused with another Flying Bobs attraction that had previously operated at the park. Formerly located at Coney Island from 1994 to 2019. Giant Gondola Wheel 1989 Chance Rides Ferris wheel Music Express 2011 Mack Rides Music Express Nao de China Weber Traumboot Formerly located at La Feria de Chapultepec until its closure in 2019. Paratrooper 1970s Frank Hrubetz Paratrooper Rockin' Tug 2014 Zamperla Tugboat Spining Ride Rocky's Rapids 1986 Arrow Dynamics Log flume Relocated from the former Pontchartrain Beach, which closed in 1983. Scrambler 1960s Eli Bridge Company Scrambler Sea Dragon Chance Rides Pirate ship Sea Warrior 2021 Klaus (SDC) Polyp Relocated from Lake Winnepesaukah in 2020, had previously been located at Kiddieland Park from 1967 up until its closure. Shafer Queen 1961 Paddle Wheel Riverboat The original boat was retired for other usage in 1972 and a newer set was known to have been bought for the 1973 season. Skyride 1960s Chairlift Spackman Express Chance Rides C. P. Huntington Miniature Train Ride Runs along much of the park's length. Tilt-A-Whirl 1997 Sellner Tilt-A-Whirl Water Swings 1992 Chance Rides Yo-Yo Zero Gravity 2026 SBF Visa
Attractions Cap'n Crow's Bumper Boats Dr. Frankenstein's Haunted Castle – A walk-through attraction SkyCoaster
Kiddieland Beach Buggies Boardwalk Balloons Boogie Boats Crazy Carp Leap Frog Little Eli Wheel Mini Motors Rocky's Roundup Rockin' Tug Wild Wagons
Former rides Bullet Chaos (1997–2007) Chance Rides Flying Bobs (Chance TM) removed in 2013 to make room for Viper Grand Carousel Chance Rides the 50' Grand Carousel (removal in 2019) Dragon Wagon (roller coaster) (2014–2018) Galaxi (roller coaster) (1971–2013) Growler (2014–2019) Wisdom Tornado spinning Family Ride Mystery Mansion Paratrooper (Original Model) Pumpkin Ferris Wheel Skydiver Splash Battle (2006–2015) Superstition Mountain Mine Ride Trabant Twister Viper (2014–2015) Wisdom Viper Zero G (2016–2020) Larson International Ring of Fire Zugspitz
Former attractions Adventure Point Boat Tag
Games Fascination Gallery of Ghouls – Shooting gallery Skee Ball Video Arcade
Lodging and cabins Lodging at Indiana Beach includes hotel, motel and cabin accommodations with varying prices, sleeping capacities and amenities. There are also campground facilities named Indiana Beach/Monticello KOA containing approximately 1,000 camp sites.
Controversies In 2011, former and current employees staged a protest due to working and safety conditions at the park, claiming that "Rides are continuously closed, or many times forced to be open using rigged components because the company will not or cannot pay for the parts that will allow maintenance to fix them properly." An inspector from the state's division of Homeland Security investigated as a result of the protest and found no major safety violations.
It was reported in December 2012 that Morgan RV LLC had sold 11 of its properties to Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership LLC of Michigan for $135 million. Among the listed properties was Ideal Private Resorts LLC, whose website includes Indiana Beach Amusement Park and Indiana Beach Accommodations as destinations. Calls by news media to Morgan RV LLC requesting comment, including confirmation or denial that all or part of Indiana Beach was included in the sale, went unanswered.
In January 2013, local news affiliates reported Morgan RV LLC was delinquent paying property and innkeeper taxes totaling approximately $347,000 to White County, where Indiana Beach is located. The CEO of then-owner Morgan RV, Robert Moser, and Indiana Beach's general manager, Bob Gallagher, stated that the park would open for the 2014 season despite misgivings stated by Monticello residents and business owners.
On June 27, 2019, a twelve-year-old boy died after suffering a medical emergency on a roller coaster at the park; it was determined it was not caused by Indiana Beach or the ride.
References
External links
Indiana Beach Amusement Resort IB Parks & Entertainment Photos of Indiana Beach