Indiana Beach

For the unincorporated community where the park is located, see Indiana Beach, Indiana.
Indiana Beach Amusement Resort
Slogan Where Families Flock For Fun"(previously: There's more than corn in Indiana! (previously: The riviera of the midwest!)
Location Monticello White County, Indiana, United States
Coordinates 40°47′N 86°46′W / 40.79°N 86.77°W / 40.79; -86.77Coordinates: 40°47′N 86°46′W / 40.79°N 86.77°W / 40.79; -86.77
Owner Apex Parks Group
Opened 1926
Operating season May through September
Rides
Total 43
Roller coasters 6

Indiana Beach is an amusement park and resort located on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana.

The resort was developed by the Spackman family who owned it from 1926-2008. Originally named Ideal Beach, the amusement park began as a small lakeside beach with a bath house and refreshment stand. In 1927, the first thrill attraction opened, and from that point, it began to expand. In the 1930s and '40s it was popular for the Ideal Beach Ballroom, featuring well-known bands.[1] In February, 2008 it was announced that both the amusement park and Indiana Beach campgrounds were sold to Morgan RV LLC. On September 1, 2015, it was announced that the park had been sold to Apex Parks Group.[2]

Controversy

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.".[3][4] An inspector from the state's division of Homeland Security investigated as a result of the protest and found no major safety violations.[5]

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.[6] Among the listed properties was Ideal Private Resorts LLC, whose website includes Indiana Beach Amusement Park and Indiana Beach Accommodations as destinations.[7] Calls to Morgan RV LLC requesting comment, including confirmation or denial that all or part of Indiana Beach was included in the sale, have gone unanswered.[8]

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 county had received a payment of $11,000 towards $191,648.49 of the innkeeper taxes in arrears, but no payments have been received for the property tax portion of the debt.[9][10][11] On March 19, 2013, a spokesperson for Indiana Beach stated Morgan RV LLC had paid the entire innkeeper tax debt in arrears and her statement was confirmed by a White county official.[12] A local news affiliate reported on March 20, 2013, that Morgan RV LLC had completely paid the tax debt arrears, including the past due property taxes.[13]

In December 2013, an article was published in the Lafayette Journal and Courier questioning whether the park would open in 2014. The CEO of 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.[14]

Rides

Shafer Queen
Hoosier Hurricane
Air Crow
Carnival Games

Roller Coasters

Name Type Design Year Opened Manufacturer
Cornball Express Wood Twister 2001 CCI
Dragon Wagon Steel Kiddie 2014 Wisdom Rides
Hoosier Hurricane Wood Out and Back 1994 CCI
Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain Wood Elevator Lift 2002 CCI
Steel Hawg Steel El Loco 2008 S&S
Tig'rr Coaster Steel Jet Star 1984 Schwarzkopf

Former Roller Coasters

Name Type Design Year Opened Year Closed Manufacturer
Galaxi Steel Galaxi 1971 2013 S.D.C.

[15]

Boardwalk Funway Major Rides

Kiddy Land

[17]

Ideal Beach Water Park

Attractions

Attractions

Games

Rides that Are Gone for the 2014 Season -Flying Bobs -The Galaxi Roller Coaster

Lodging and Cabins

Lodging at Indiana Beach includes hotel, motel and cabin accommodations with varying prices, sleeping capacities and amenities.[20] There are also two campgrounds containing approximately 1,000 camp sites.[21]

Awards

Award Year Ride
World's Best Wooden Roller Coaster 2002 Cornball Express
World's Best Walk-Thru Attraction 2008 and 2009 Dr. Frankenstein's Haunted Castle

[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: History". Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  2. ↑ http://www.screamscape.com/html/indiana_beach.htm
  3. ↑ "Indiana Beach". Screamscape.com. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  4. ↑ "Former workers protest Indiana Beach". Wlfi.com. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  5. ↑ http://newsbug.info/articles/2011/09/01/monticello_herald_journal/local_news/doc4e5819a381a4f497271293.txt
  6. ↑ "Sun Communities Buys 11 Morgan RV Resorts". RV Business. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  7. ↑ "Destinations | IPR Main". Idealprivateresorts.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  8. ↑ "White County: Indiana Beach owes $347,000 in taxes - Post-Tribune". Posttrib.suntimes.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  9. ↑ Rodenberger, Gwen (2013-01-14). "Despite payment, Beach owes $347k". Newsbug.info. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  10. ↑ "County officials: Indiana Beach owes $347,000". Wthr.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  11. ↑ "Morgan RV Resorts Park Faces $347K Tax Bill | Woodall's Campground Management". Woodallscm.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  12. ↑ Rodenberger, Gwen (2013-03-18). "Indiana Beach: Innkeepers taxes paid". Newsbug.info. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  13. ↑ "Indiana Beach all clear on its taxes". WLFI. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  14. ↑ http://www.jconline.com/article/20131221/BUSINESS/312210017/future-of-Indiana-Beach-monticello
  15. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Indiana Beach". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Indiana Beach Rides". website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  17. ↑ "Children Rides". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  18. ↑ "Indiana Beach Waterpark". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  19. ↑ "Indiana Beach Games". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  20. ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: Amusement Park, Hotel, Campground & Waterpark". Indianabeach.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  21. ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: Amusement Park, Hotel, Campground & Waterpark". Indianabeach.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  22. ↑ "Golden Ticket Awards". Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 40. September 2010. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
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