Indiana Beach
 | |
| Slogan | 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°WCoordinates: 40°47′N 86°46′W / 40.79°N 86.77°W |
| Owner | Apex Parks Group |
| Opened | 1926 |
| Operating season | May through September |
| Rides | |
| Total | 38 |
| Roller coasters | 6 |
| Website | http://www.indianabeach.com |
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 the 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
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. |
Boardwalk Funway Major Rides
- Air Crow – Flying Scooters
- Antique Autos
- Big Flush – Water slide
- Den of Lost Thieves – Shooting dark ride
- Dodg'em – Bumper cars
- Double Shot – S&S Power Double Shot tower ride
- Falling Star
- Flying Bobs – Chance. (Dismantled and replaced with The Vipor 2013)
- Giant Wheel – Ferris wheel
- Growler - Spining Family Ride
- Merry Go Round – Classic Carousel
- Music Express
- Paratrooper
- Rock N Tug - Tugboat Spining Ride
- Rocky's Rapids – Log flume
- Scrambler – Eli Bridge Company
- Sea Dragon – Pirate ship
- Shafer Swings – Chance Yo-Yo.
- Shafer Queen – Paddle Wheel Riverboat
- Skyride – Chairlift
- Splash Battle – Preston & Barbieri
- Tilt-a-Whirl – Sellner
- Wabash Cannonball – Miniature Train Ride[16]
Kiddy Land
- Baby Baron
- Convoy Race
- Dragon Wagon Roller Coaster
- Frog Hopper
- Kiddy Autos
- Kiddy Boats
- Kiddy Fire Trucks
- Kiddy Whips
- Mini Pirate Ship
- Red Baron Biplanes
- Winky the Whale
Ideal Beach Water Park
- 5 Tube Slides (3 Enclosed)
- Action River – Lazy river
- Sandy Beach Swimming Area with recirculating pool
- Splash Bash Water Spray Pad[18]
Attractions
Adventure Point
- Sky Trail Voyager – High Ropes Challenge Course manufactured by Ropes Courses, Inc. and installed by Ride Entertainment Group[19]
- Rock Wall
- The Flying Crow – Zipline
Opened: (2011)
Other Attractions
- Dr. Frankenstein's Haunted Castle – A walk-through attraction
- SkyCoaster
- Train Ride
Games
- Fascination
- Gallery of Ghouls – Shooting gallery
- Skee Ball
- Video Arcade
- 21
- Quackerz[20]
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.[21] There are also two campgrounds containing approximately 1,000 camp sites.[22]
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 |
References
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: History". Retrieved 2013-10-28.
- ↑ http://www.screamscape.com/html/indiana_beach.htm
- ↑ "Indiana Beach". Screamscape.com. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
- ↑ "Former workers protest Indiana Beach". Wlfi.com. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
- ↑ http://newsbug.info/articles/2011/09/01/monticello_herald_journal/local_news/doc4e5819a381a4f497271293.txt
- ↑ "Sun Communities Buys 11 Morgan RV Resorts". RV Business. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Destinations | IPR Main". Idealprivateresorts.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "White County: Indiana Beach owes $347,000 in taxes - Post-Tribune". Posttrib.suntimes.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ Rodenberger, Gwen (2013-01-14). "Despite payment, Beach owes $347k". Newsbug.info. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "County officials: Indiana Beach owes $347,000". Wthr.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Morgan RV Resorts Park Faces $347K Tax Bill | Woodall's Campground Management". Woodallscm.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ Rodenberger, Gwen (2013-03-18). "Indiana Beach: Innkeepers taxes paid". Newsbug.info. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach all clear on its taxes". WLFI. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ http://www.jconline.com/article/20131221/BUSINESS/312210017/future-of-Indiana-Beach-monticello
- ↑ Marden, Duane. "Indiana Beach". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Rides". website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ↑ "Children Rides". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Waterpark". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ↑ "Projects". Ride Entertainment Group. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Games". Website. Morgan RV resorts. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: Amusement Park, Hotel, Campground & Waterpark". Indianabeach.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Indiana Beach Amusement Resort: Amusement Park, Hotel, Campground & Waterpark". Indianabeach.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- ↑ "Golden Ticket Awards". Amusement Today 14 (6.2): 40. September 2010. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indiana Beach. |
| ||||||||||||||||||