Family-owned Morgan RV Resorts purchases Indiana Beach Amusement Resort

Posted | Contributed by Mamoosh

[Ed. note: The following is a press release. -J]

Morgan RV Resorts today announced the acquisition of Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello, Indiana. The purchase includes the northwest Indiana resort’s entire operations including the Indiana Beach Boardwalk Funway amusement park and water park, 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 Pointe, the Shafer Queen paddle wheel boat, The Fun Zone, a lakefront sandy beach, the Skyroom Restaurant, and multiple dining and retail operations. The resort complex will open for the 2008 season on May 3.

Numerous improvements are planned for Indiana Beach Amusement Resort including the addition of the amusement park’s sixth roller coaster, Steel Hawg. The new steel roller coaster, Indiana’s first custom steel coaster, features multiple flips and inversions as well as a 120-degree first drop. Steel Hawg will be in great company, joining five other roller coasters at the park including the “Grandfather” of Indiana roller coasters, The Hoosier Hurricane. Also new for 2008 will be an extended operating season providing guests with more opportunities to enjoy the park’s exciting rides.

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."

"This is an exciting time for Indiana Beach,” said Tom Spackman, Jr., grandson of park founder, Earl Spackman. “With the recent upgrades to many of our accommodations, the forthcoming arrival of Steel Hawg and now the purchase by family-owned Morgan RV Resorts, the future is brighter than ever. In the years to come, Indiana Beach is certain to remain the home for all the fun things you love to do."

Related parks

Indiana Beach

Wow. I hope they don't feel a need to make over the place.

I finally visited Indiana Beach a couple of years ago...I was pleasantly surprised...

tick tick tick tick tick

boom.

we all just kersploded

- the hives(musical group)

Wow. I did not expect this one, or see it coming. What a total shock. Will this be good or bad in the long run? Only time will tell...

tick tick tick tick tick

That's a bit premature.

I can honestly say I didn't see this one coming! Shocked. I hope that there is a transition from the old owners (Spackman's) to the new owner's so that they can see how to operate an amusement park. Considering what I thought Tom Spackman's plans were for the place, I really thought that the park wasn't going to be sold anytime soon. All I can think of is that it was the right price at the right time.

I just hope that this RV park operator doesn't do to Indiana Beach what happened to LeSourdesville Lake/Americana. That was just sad.

EDIT - additional comments.

*** This post was edited by beast7369 2/20/2008 8:32:24 AM ***

This makes me nervous. But we'll see how things go for the 2008 season...

As long as they keep a good operational team, it won't go the LeSourdsville Lake way. The operator at LL imbezzeled from the company and destroyed Jerry Couches trust to the point of closure.

I wonder if there are any other parks out there this company has been eyeing. Conneaut Lake could benefit from a company like this. Anyone think of any others?

I have a feeling that a company that has experience running RV campgrounds would be a good fit for this park. I think they are already catering to the demographic that the park pulls in.

I've got to think this deal didn't exactly come out of left field. Does anybody know if, for example, Morgan had anything to do with the operation of any of the Indiana Beach campground facilities before the sale?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I wonder if there are any other parks out there this company has been eyeing. Conneaut Lake could benefit from a company like this. Anyone think of any others?

I'm thinking Giles Pond. 'Cept all they have now is a waterpark.

RideMan,

The IB Campground and Jellystone campground have been run by family members.

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