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Park News - (4/25/08) Another interesting change has been made to the Indiana Beach website this week with the launch of an all new Indiana Beach Amusement Resort logo. You can compare it to the old one still sitting at the top of this page.
  (3/28/08) According to a Screamscape reader the calendar for Indiana Beach has been updated to include extra days in September and October, but unfortunately the nightly park closing has been trimmed back to 10pm at the latest in the summer. According to our local source, given the location of the park and the switch to Daylight Savings Time switch a couple of years back it wont get really dark on your peak summer days until about 9pm. If the crowds warrant it, lets hope they reconsider this push for an early closing.
  (3/21/08) A Screamscape reader tells us that so far at least 14 full-time staff have been fired from Indiana Beach by the new management. In many cases, no reasons are being given and they are told that after working at the park for years, they can come back in the summer and work for $5.85 an hour (with no benefits) if they still need a job by then. While some staffing shakeups and terminations are an inevitable part of any takeover by a new owner, the news here is just heart breaking and sickening to hear. Unfortunately this all seems to be the standard operating procedure of choice from the demolition team hired to take over the park.
  (3/7/08) I’ve got a bit of bad news about Indiana Beach to report today. Screamscape sources tell us that the new management has apparently fired as many as six of the park’s year-round full time staffers including two of the park’s primary maintenance people (Butch and possibly a Mark…) who were considered to be the main reasons the park’s dark rides and coasters ran so well.
  (2/26/08) Okay… this is the last time I’m planning on talking about Rick McCurley. Again… everything said to far is only comments I’ve heard from various readers and nothing I can verify as fact, so don’t take it all as the complete truth. In this case however we actually have some positive comments.
  They say that Six Flags Worlds of Adventure and Six Flags Great Adventure ran better under McCurley than under any other Premier Parks GM. “Both parks under his leadership really returned to the fundamentals (efficient staff, open rides, clean midways, playing music, updating the website, etc.) and even went beyond that to respond to smaller-scale recommendations.” “McCurley's changes and operating skill made the park a much more welcoming and family friendly place, and in its last months as Six Flags Worlds of Adventure it was literally packed with strollers and well-mannered families spending money and really enjoying themselves. Yes, it was under Rick McCurley that SFWoA finally started to turn around, and by the midpoint of his second season there the park was even ditching its bad rap”, “This was just a few months before the park's last day as a Six Flags property, and I maintain that under McCurley's leadership that park would have maintained an upward trajectory for years to come and would by now be experiencing a fate entirely opposite the one it has sadly reached today.”
  That said… I’m planning on letting the whole McCurley issue rest until we see the park open for the season and really get some first hand perspective on what kind of changes we see come to Indiana Beach in 2008.
  (2/25/08) Remember that dark past we mentioned last week about Rick McCurley? A few readers who have worked under Rick have chimed in with their own reports about his past positions. Again... this is all information from outside sources, so we can’t verify all of this as absolute truth.
  From the sound of things he was part of the Premier Park’s era demolition team that put Six Flags into the bad spin they’re in now. So far we’ve connected his career starting out at Frontier City, then ran both of Waterworld waterparks in California before being asked to fill in as the new GM of Six Flags Marine World when the former GM left to help Six Flags build up the WB MovieWorld park in Spain. Enjoying a free career boost from the success of that park’s new Medusa coaster (which was already in the works before his arrival) he apparently was moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (where he was later fired by Cedar Fair) and then on to Six Flags Great Adventure. If the rumors are true Mark Shapiro may have terminated his GM post here personally. After this he apparently was picked up by Cypress Gardens and fired once again. If this is all true, it really makes me wonder why anyone would hire the man to run Indiana Beach.
  (2/22/08) First off I’m going to start this off with a disclaimer. I have not been able to verify or prove any of this yet, so take it all as a rumor right now until we get some verification. That said it seems that despite a rumored agreement to prevent this from happening, one of the long time Indiana Beach family members (Ruth Davis) was let go from the park. From what I’ve been told Ruth may have been the only member of the Spackman family to work at the park her entire life and served as Indiana Beach’s Operations and Human Resources Manager. On the new management side of things, we’ve heard a few disappointing facts about who the Morgan family has chosen to run their park, a Rick McCurley. From what our sources tell us Rick was actually fired from his previous posts at Six Flags and Cypress Gardens which doesn’t bode well for Indiana Beach. Anyone know more?
  (2/20/08) Screamscape has received some insider gossip coming from the fallout of the Indiana Beach sale. I can’t verify this information myself, so please take it all with a gain of salt. Apparently the deal will allow many of the Spackman family members who have been working at the park to remain working at the park at least through this season. However the vote to sell the park was said to be very divided between the family members and the board, rumored to have barely passed with a 3-2 vote in favor of selling.
  The Morgan family apparently have picked up a number of former Six Flags personnel to run the show for them: a “Rick McCurley” formerly of Six Flags Ohio / Geauga Lake and a “John Collins” from The Great Escape amongst others. Though the history and evolution of Geauga Lake wasn’t the best, lets hope they have a better run of things at Indiana Beach since it is truly such a great and unique little park.
  (2/19/08 - 6:00pm EST) - Well that didn’t take long...
  Indiana Beach has confirmed that “family owned Morgan RV Resorts” is purchasing the amusement resort and are “committed to continuing the legacy of family-friendly fun”. The purchase includes the resort’s entire operations which include not only the amusement and waterpark but also Indiana Beach Camp Resort, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort at Indiana Beach, The Beach House Inn hotel and motel, Lakeview Penthouse Suites, cottages at The Beach Club Resort and Hoosier Point, the Shafer Queen paddle wheel boat, The Fun Zone (lakefront sandy beach) and the Skyroom Restaurant.
  As for the new owners, according to the press release “Morgan RV Resorts is the country’s largest private owner and operator of RV parks and resorts. The company’s collection of regional destination resorts provides clean, fun, affordable family vacation getaways offering multiple accommodation options, activities and events for all ages, playgrounds, swimming pools and entertainment.”
  “We are thrilled to be welcoming this historic Indiana family destination to the Morgan RV Resorts family,” said Bob Moser, co-owner of Morgan RV Resorts. “Superb hospitality and exciting destinations are hallmarks of every Morgan resort. Guests of Indiana Beach will continue to take pleasure in the quality experience they have come to love over the past eight decades and enjoy an ongoing commitment to improving the destination year after year."
  (2/19/08 - 2:00pm EST) If the latest Screamscape rumor is true, local enthusiasts in the Indiana area could be in for a bit of a shock. From what I’ve heard an announcement could be forthcoming any day now announcing that Indiana Beach has been sold to a new owner. Considering that most of the big industry players aren’t really in a buying mood right now I don’t even have a clue as to who may be picking it up. Anyone know more?
  (12/14/07) Indiana Beach has announced that they are currently selling 2008 Pay-One-Price Passes and 2008 Combo Ride & Water Park Passes at 2007 prices if you buy them before December 26th. You’ll also receive free gate admission ($2.50 savings).

2008 - Steel Hawg - (5/5/08) While nothing official has been mention, we’ve heard a rumor that it may be until at least Mid July before Steel Hawg may be ready to roll. Anyone know more?
  (4/24/08) Indiana Beach has updated their blog a couple of times lately showing off our first look at the Steel Hawg’s track design, which seems to be identical to their spineless 2nd Generation Screamin Squirrel track that was previously only used on Afterburner in Russia to date.
  (4/17/08) Indiana Beach has created an all new logo for Steel Hawg, and you can see the large version of it here.
  (4/10/08) The official Indiana Beach blog posted a construction update for Steel Hawg on March 22nd when they were pouring cement for some of the ride’s footers.
  (3/4/08) Indiana Beach has announced that they have begin work on putting up the park’s new coaster, Steel Hawg. Pieces of the new ride have now started to arrive on site and the park has sent out a picture of the first supports along with artwork of what the cars will look like.
  (1/23/08) Indiana Beach has posted the new ride logo for Steel Hawg on their website along with the first ever video showing off footage of Steel Hawg’s layout on the Blog. It will feature a 120º first drop, three inversions and tons of compact twisted steel track.
  (1/14/08) Indiana Beach has released artwork in the Blog showing off just what the new Steel Hawg coaster cars will look like. As I heard at IAAPA, they appear to be a next generation version of the Screaming Squirrel cars, using the same S&S restraint system we’ve been seeing for the last few years. Though I’ve got to wonder why we haven’t seen S&S advance ahead with some new 4-across seating designs yet, either in a single car or a double-row car similar to a Gerstlauer Eurofighter design.
  (11/27/07) Indiana Beach has confirmed the details about their new 2008 roller coaster. The ride will be named Steel Hawg and built by S&S Power, located near the Hoosier Hurricane and Log Flume. Though they didn’t give it up by name, this will be the first S&S El Loco coaster, and according to the stats given by Indiana Beach the first drop will stand 96 feet tall and drop at an amazing 120º angle before entering three inversions, a Wall Turn, 45º Tip Out, Inverted Drop and Outside 360 Roll. The coaster will have a total of four cars, each able to hold four riders, with a 48” height limit.
  (11/21/07) The Indiana Beach blog has been updated again, and with all the crazy phrases about “Something Special” in the works along with “Thirteen Amigos”, I’m starting to think the blogger may have gone a little Loco.
  (11/19/07) The Indiana Beach blog has been dropping a few small hints about what they have in store for 2008 along with a photo of a group taken at IAAPA, though I’m not sure I can ID anyone in the photo. Anyone else recognize this group?
  They also point out the hints they’ve given so far, which include: “… one crazy crow…”, “… a real steal…”, “… you’re all head over heels…”, “… Something Special…” and “… Nothing quite like a Fall in Indiana…”.
  My take… we’ll see something with at least one inversion and what sounds like a vertical drop. If I had to guess, I’d say it could be something like Mystery Mine at Dollywood based only on those two hints. I’m not sure where the “real steal” or “Something Special” come into play… unless there is a reason they used capital letters on that last one. I’ve got my own “crazy” hunch, but I’m going to let this one play out a little longer.
  (10/23/07) The new Indiana Beach blog is in full swing, talking about the removal of the Chaos, how the 3D Motion Theater and Pirates Revolt ski show will return again in 2008. They also mention to stay on the look for hints as to what else in coming in 2008 throughout the off-season.