Area residents and business worry about future of Indiana Beach

Sounds like someone needs to fill out a Pepsi Refresh grant application.

This is remarkably like journalism. That's good to see.

There have been whispers on and off again for several years of Spackman family members interested in buying the park back. It would be impossible for me to say HOW happy it would make me if that were to happen.

Me too. A step back would be a step forward.

I pray they sell it back to the Spackmans or someone who cares. Obviously Morgan doesn't.

Been once since Morgan owned it, Half the rides closed, People that worked there for decades gone. If you want to stay in buisness, you have to have to make people want to come back.

It is sad to see this once amazing summertime spot inch itself into a decline it might not come out of.

Hopefully it will turn itself around due to a sale or something.

Cubkev

Hard to see how it survives this. I think the handwriting has been on the wall for a while, which is sad. Funky, fun, and well, just a bit weird, but a great place to spend the day.

Indiana Beach is a treasure I would never have discovered if not for ACE -- my first visit was for an ACE event; it's a quirky, fun place with some great coasters. I would be very sad if IB were to close.

I went this past summer for the second time ever (both times since Morgan bought them) and operations went from bad on my first trip several years ago (2009 I think) to worse this year. Rides closed, shops closed, most employees completely indifferent about their jobs, etc.

I love the uniqueness of this park, and I think it obviously has tons of potential that the current owners are completely failing to live up to.

CP Chris said:
I love the uniqueness of this park, and I think it obviously has tons of potential that the current owners are completely failing to live up to.

We weren't talking about Michigan's Adventure, though. We were talking about Indiana Beach.

IB has the potential obviously. Someone who wants it needs it. Great park, great location. Good rides. Such a shame.

Is anyone really surprised by this news? They bought the park, repainted and moved a few rides, added 2 attractions, and called it good. While they almost trippled the admission price, and prices on everything else, banking that loyal customers would continue to come. (the same thinking cedar fair has with MA)

They obviously made mistakes that people didn't like, from day one. The fact that their other properties are failing, should not be a surprise either, as those resorts are based on the sale of resort lots. Where similar resorts are not doing well either, due to a bad economy, and the price of gas.

I think if they are in serious shape, I think it would be wise for them to sell the park, and it might be to the buyers advantage to push a sale. But, unless the new owners, (or the current ones) do something exciting with the park, I don't think it's going to have a huge comeback.

If the park fails, the resorts and campgrounds around it will fail as well. So, I am surprised that the businesses in Montecello would have a problem with the park. If anything they should be thanking whomever owns it for it being there. Seriously, would anyone go to Monticello if it wasn't there?

It would be like going to Sandusky with no Cedar Point. Who would want to do that? If Cedar Point left, that town would turn into a hotel ghost town.

(Knowing it will fall on deaf ears, but unable to stop himself, slithernoggin goes in.....)

Since Michigan's Adventure has repeatedly been described as the most profitable park Cedar Fair owns, "banking that loyal customers...continue to come" seems to have worked out quite well for Cedar Fair.

Who would go to Monticello if Indiana Beach wasn't there anymore? People who enjoy boating, fishing, beaches.... Sure, tourism would take a hit. But the city wouldn't become a ghost town.

Like saying Sandusky Ohio would turn to dust if Cedar Point didn't exist. It would still be part of Lake Erie Vacationland.

T-R, is it even physically possible for you to post in a topic that's NOT about MA without mentioning MA? Jeez...

It's strange to realize that, should IB go under, the state of Indiana will only have six coasters, including three kid coasters and no adult steelies. That would be a paucity.

It may come as a surprise to T-R, but there are many people who vacation in or around Sandusky who don't go to Cedar Point. Golfers...people who rent lakeside cabins and just enjoy being lakeside...visitors to Put-In Bay...people who enjoy searching antique stores...

Don't forget all the convention business Kalahari pulls in, full of people who often times don't even know CP is there. I remember seeing a large group of suits at Steak n Shake once who were from Vancouver and had no idea the "best amusement park in the world" was two miles away.

And if 300,000 people fit those categories, CP would be responsible for "only" 90% of the tourists in the Sandusky area. If 1m people fit that category, CP would be responsible for "only" 75% of the tourist trade.

Even if Indiana Beach is responsible for "only" 50% of the area's tourism, its closure would cut the tourist trade by half.