Owner Apex Parks Group Operating season | Opened 1926 Total 43 | |
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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 | ||
Indiana Beach is an amusement park and resort located on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana.
Contents
- Map of Indiana USA
- Boardwalk Funway Major Rides
- Kiddy Land
- Ideal Beach Water Park
- Attractions
- Games
- Lodging and Cabins
- Controversy
- References
Map of Indiana, USA
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. 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.
Boardwalk Funway Major Rides
Kiddy Land
Ideal Beach Water Park
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. There are also two campgrounds containing approximately 1,000 camp sites.
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.". 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 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.
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. 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. 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.
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.