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Park News - (3/27/13) Finally some good news for Indiana Beach came out this week, as the local news reports that the park’s owners have finally paid their overdue taxes.
    (1/31/13) More bad news for Indiana Beach has hit the media this month, as the local news reports that Indiana Beach’s owners neglected to pay around $180,000 in innkeeper taxes and $167,000 in property tax to the state, for a grand total of $347,000.  According to the county, they will take action against the property to collect the owed tax dollars.
    Meanwhile Morgan RV Resorts has begun to avoid answering media questions and calls, and apparently made a token payment of $11,000 in innkeeper taxes. This can’t bode well for the theme park and the suffering maintenance budget, as the tax money will have to come from somewhere.
    Honestly, I’m amazed each and every year how much farther down the rabbit hole Indiana Beach continues to drop following the sale of the successful small park to Morgan RV Resorts in 2008. I’m just glad that I got to see it myself back in 2003 when the Spackman family still owned it, the park was popular and the rides were taken care of and ran very well. Given the stories I’ve heard since the 2008 takeover, I really don’t know if I would attempt another visit that would tarnish my good memories unless they really wake up and restore the park to run the way it should.

2013 - Attraction Updates and Improvements - (4/17/13) We’ve got some good news to share from Indiana Beach this week. According to the statement from the park, they have been performing many upgrades throughout the park and resorts over the off-season and really seem interested in trying to return the park back to its roots. There is too much for me to try and tell you, so I’ll just copy most of the press release from the park for you to enjoy, as they now seem to get it once again that Indiana Beach had a long history with their local guests and a bit too much was changed over the past couple of years.
“Indiana Beach Opens May 11th With Renovations and Park Improvements!
    2013 brings another exciting season for Indiana Beach. This year will mark the parks 87th year in operation and its 88th summer season. Indiana Beach opened in 1926 on Father’s Day Weekend by founder Earl Spackman after a Dam was built that created Lake Shafer. Every year since, many exciting things have been added to the property to make Indiana Beach a beloved and treasured destination for many visitors.
    Indiana Beach is excited to announce the 2013 season. “We have moved the Water Swings back to their original location” stated Sherry Vogel, Marketing and PR Manager for Indiana Beach. “The Water Swings were moved in early 2011 to make room for the Adventure Point attraction that includes a Ropes Course, Rock Wall and Zip Lines. The Swings were moved to another area of the park to make room for the attraction that was new in 2011”. After two seasons of the Water Swings being in a new location, they are once again back over the water. “Our guests are extremely excited that we are moving them back. This has been an aspect of the park that has been missed greatly. It’s just another one of the things that makes Indiana Beach unique and treasured by so many” stated Vogel. Also, the Falling Star will be operational. It was also moved in 2011 for the Adventure Point attraction. It will be placed where the Water Swings called home for the past 2 seasons. “Having these two rides moved and operational for 2013 is bigger to our guests then getting a new ride or attraction. The feedback has been overwhelming and has been creating positive buzz on all of our social media sites” Vogel added.
    Indiana Beach is working in other areas of the park as well. The Beach House Inn, Boardwalk Motel and Penthouse Suites are being renovated. Over 40 rooms will have a new coat of paint and new carpet. The rooms are also getting new furniture, bedding, fixtures, accessories and 32-inch flat screen televisions. The Beach House Inn Hotel Lobby will also have a new look. “We are adding new carpet, paint and furniture. The Lobby will be a nice place to be welcomed and relax with the free wi-fi when you are enjoying your vacation with us” Vogel stated. Guests will also notice a price decrease with all of the Indiana Beach Accommodations.
    Out in the Amusement Park, guests will notice lighting upgrades on rides and along the historic boardwalk as well as a new coat of paint on all buildings, structures and handrails. Many of the rides are also being re-painted thanks to a new partner of the park, Uni-Select, who came on board this season. “We are excited to partner with Indiana Beach for some of the rides. We took our time when choosing paint colors for the rides in Kiddyland because we wanted to update them but also keep the nostalgic charm of IB. As a local Monticello business, we understand how important it is to keep things as original as possible for the Indiana Beach guest”, stated Dennis Hoffman, the store manager of Uni-Select in Monticello, Indiana.
    Other improvements and renovations include – new carpet and furniture in the Skyroom restaurant, new seating and a new bar in the Roof Garden Lounge, new and updated signage throughout the park and landscaping upgrades. “The Skyroom and Roof are considered icon’s inside Indiana Beach. We feature family dining in the Skyroom and every Sunday there is a Brunch Buffet. The Roof Garden Lounge features live entertainment nightly - check our website for the band and entertainment schedule. Most people don’t realize that we have had some famous bands play in the Roof – Sonny and Cher, Chicago, REO Speedwagon, The Beach Boys – just to name a few.” Vogel added. Another new addition to the Roof will be a large screen TV where you can sit and watch sporting events during the day.
    There are also two campgrounds across the street from Indiana Beach. The Indiana Beach Campground features over 800 camping sites as well as primitive camping and 19 cabins. Ideal Beach RV Resort has 150 sites and cabins as well. You can take a complimentary flat bottom boat ferry ride over to the amusement park from the campgrounds or hop on the tram that makes stops every 20 minutes for guests. The campgrounds are in the process of a few upgrades as well. “We are currently paving the roads and entry way with a new surface of asphalt and trimming trees that are near sites”, stated Vogel. Guests will also notice a decrease in pricing for the sites and cabins.
    Indiana Beach has also added the Ropes Course and Rock Wall to the Rides Only Day Pass and Funday Pass. “They were considered an attraction previously and had an additional upcharge – now if you are riding rides for the day or have a Season Pass, it’s included.” Vogel stated. “You have many options for a fun day at Indiana Beach – check our website for all the pricing, promotions and options. The Season Pass is where you will get the most bang for your buck”.
    The Ski Show is another iconic aspect to Indiana Beach and has been a part of the park since 1959. “We have the World’s Longest Consecutive Live Ski Show and we are taking it back to our roots this season” Vogel added. “We are working with a new company that is very familiar with Indiana Beach and understands what our guests want to see. This summer, you can expect to see more female performers as well as pyramids and the swivel ski act.” The Ski Show will perform daily starting June 15th until August 19th at 2:30 and 6:30 pm Monday through Friday and 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 on the weekends. The Fireworks schedule is also more consistent this year. You can plan to see Fireworks every Saturday night about 10 minutes before closing and bigger shows on May 26, June 16, July 4 and September 1. There will be a music aspect added to the fireworks this year as well. “Don’t forget about Quarter Night on Father’s Day – it’s a tradition for Indiana Beach to drop the prices of the rides down to .25 cents starting at 4pm and offer soda and hot dogs for a Quarter as well” Vogel stated. “Indiana Beach opened on Father’s Day in 1926 and this is how we like to celebrate the anniversary”.
    “We just can’t wait to open the gates on May 11th. We have so much to show everyone. We are known for being a place that doesn’t change too much and many of our guests have been visiting us annually for over 50 years. We hear the stories everyday from guests who used to come with their grandparents and now they are bringing their own grandchildren. We look forward to seeing our guests that we have come to consider friends and family to IB. We want everyone to become part of family tradition here at IB. We are looking forward having a great summer with our guests!”, stated Vogel.”
    For the 2013 season, Indiana Beach also has a special surprise for coaster club members. They will be offering a special ticket price for approved clubs and organizations (just show your membership card) and you can purchase the  FunDay Rides & Water Park pass for just $19.95 (normally sold for $35.95) which as mentioned above, now includes the Ropes Course, Rock Wall as well as the entire waterpark. NOTE: The only attractions that still have an upcharge are Dr. Frankenstein’s Castle, the Skycoaster and Zip Line.
    (4/5/13) Indiana Beach has posted some interesting items to their Facebook page this week. For starters, they are moving the swings (Chance Yo-Yo) back to the original location over the lake. It also seems that the Falling star will be back in action this season. Topping it all off, they have pictures showing off a crew from Rocky Mountain Coasters performing some track repair work on the first drop of Cornball Express.