Indiana Beach facts for kids
| Previously known as Ideal Beach; Indiana Beach Amusement Resort | |
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| Location | 5224 East Indiana Beach Blvd, Monticello, Indiana, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°47′N 86°46′W / 40.79°N 86.77°W |
| Status | open |
| Opened | 1926 |
| Owner | IB Parks & Entertainment |
| Slogan | "There's more than corn in Indiana!" (previously: "Where Families Flock For Fun" & "The riviera of the midwest!") |
| Operating season | May through October |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 43 |
| Roller coasters | 6 |
| Water rides | 4 |
Indiana Beach is a fun amusement park located right on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana. It's a great place for families and friends to have an exciting day! The park was first started by the Spackman family in 1926. Over the years, it has been owned by a few different companies. Today, IB Parks & Entertainment runs the park, making sure everyone has a blast.
Contents
History
Indiana Beach first opened in 1926. It was originally called Ideal Beach. It started as a small beach area by the lake. There was a bath house and a place to buy snacks.
In 1927, the park added its first exciting ride. From then on, it kept growing and adding more fun things to do. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Ideal Beach Ballroom was very popular. Famous bands would play music there.
A cool paddle boat called the Shafer Queen was added in 1961. It took people on rides on the lake. After 11 years, a new Shafer Queen boat took its place.
In February 2008, the park and its campgrounds were sold to a company called Morgan RV LLC. Then, in September 2015, Apex Parks Group bought the park.
A Close Call and Reopening
On February 18, 2020, Indiana Beach made a sad announcement. They said the park would close for good after 94 years. Apex Parks Group explained that they had money problems. They tried hard to find someone to buy the park but couldn't. This news meant 27 full-time workers and many seasonal workers would lose their jobs.
But there was still hope! In March 2020, Apex Parks Group said they were talking to possible buyers. It seemed like the park might open again that year. The park is very important for tourism in White County. So, officials there offered $3 million to help a new buyer.
Good news came in April 2020! Indiana Beach announced it would reopen! A businessman from Chicago named Gene Staples bought the park. This happened after White County approved the $3 million loan. The park officially reopened its gates on June 27, 2020, bringing joy back to many visitors.
Rides
Indiana Beach has many exciting rides for everyone! From thrilling roller coasters to fun water slides, there's something for every age.
Roller Coasters
Here are some of the awesome roller coasters you can ride:
| Name | Year Opened | Type | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornball Express | 2001 | Wooden roller coaster | Custom Coasters International |
| Hoosier Hurricane | 1994 | Wooden roller coaster | Custom Coasters International |
| Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain | 2002 | Wooden coaster with an elevator lift | Custom Coasters International |
| Steel Hawg | 2008 | El Loco | S&S - Sansei Technologies |
| Tig'rr Coaster | 1984 | Steel, Jet Star | Schwarzkopf |
| All American Triple Loop | 2024 | Steel, Triple Loop Coaster | Schwarzkopf |
| Cyclone | 2022 | Galaxi | Robles Bouso Atracciones |
Water Park Attractions and Rides
Cool off and have a splash at the water park!
| Name | Year Opened | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Major Rides
Check out these other big rides at the park:
| Name | Year Opened | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Flying Bobs | 2020 | Allan Herschell Company Alpine Bobs |
| Giant Gondola Wheel | 1989 | Chance Rides Ferris wheel |
| King Chaos | TBD | HUSS Park Attractions Top Spin |
| Music Express | 2011 | Mack Rides Music Express |
| Nao de China | TBD | Weber Traumboot |
| Paratrooper | 1970s | Frank Hrubetz Paratrooper |
| Rockin' Tug | 2014 | Zamperla Tugboat Spining Ride |
| Rocky's Rapids | 1986 | Arrow Dynamics Log flume |
| Scrambler | 1960s | Eli Bridge Company Scrambler |
| Sea Dragon | Chance Rides Pirate ship | |
| Sea Warrior | 2021 | Klaus (SDC) Polyp |
| Shafer Queen | 1961 | Paddle Wheel Riverboat |
| Skyride | 1960s | Chairlift |
| Spackman Express | Chance Rides C. P. Huntington Miniature Train Ride | |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | Sellner Tilt-A-Whirl | |
| Water Swings | 1992 | Chance Rides Yo-Yo |
Attractions
- Cap'n Crow's Bumper Boats
- Dr. Frankenstein's Haunted Castle – A spooky walk-through adventure
- SkyCoaster
Kiddieland
This area is perfect for younger visitors with rides like:
- Beach Buggies
- Boogie Boats
- Crazy Carp
- First Flight
- Leap Frog
- Mini Motors
- Rocky's Roundup
- Wild Wagons
Former Rides
Some rides that used to be at the park include:
- Bullet
- Chaos
- Flying Bobs (Chance TM)
- Grand Carousel
- Dragon Wagon (roller coaster) (2014-2018)
- Galaxi (roller coaster) (1971-2013)
- Growler - Spinning Family Ride
- Mystery Mansion
- Pumpkin Ferris Wheel
- Skydiver
- Splash Battle
- Superstition Mountain Mine Ride
- Trabant
- Twister
- Viper
- Zugspitz
Former Attractions
- Adventure Point
- Boat Tag
Games
Test your skills and win prizes at these fun games:
- Fascination
- Gallery of Ghouls – A cool shooting gallery
- Skee Ball
- Video Arcade
- 21
- Quackerz
Lodging and Cabins
If you want to stay longer, Indiana Beach has places to sleep. You can find hotel rooms, motel rooms, and cabins. They have different prices and sizes. There are also campgrounds called Indiana Beach/Monticello KOA. They have about 1,000 spots for camping.
