‘Indiana Beach’ To Shutter After 94 Years In Monticello

MONTICELLO, IN. (THECOUNT) — Indiana Beach, originally named “Ideal Beach,” is closing down permanently after 94 years in business.

The park, located in Monticello, Indiana, was owned from 1926 to 2008 by the Spackman family.

In 2011, 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.

White County Economic Development Director Randy Mitchell says the parent company that now owns Indiana Beach says there are no plans to reopen.

Apex Parks Group was unsuccessful in finding a buyer for the park.

DEVELOPING::

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 1940s, 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, wikipedia.

Geo quick facts: Monticello is a city in Union Township, White County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,378 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of White County. Monticello is known as a tourist destination in north-central Indiana and is home to the Indiana Beach amusement park, Lake Shafer, and Lake Freeman – Wikipedia.