Indiana Beach Closes Permanently After 94 Years On Lake Shafer

MONTICELLO, IN — Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park, the popular family vacation resort on Lake Shafer in Central Indiana abruptly closed for good on Tuesday. This after 94 years in operation as they opened in 1926. The Apex Parks Group that has owned the resort since 2015 decided to close it because a search for buyers ended without one, WLFI-TV, based in Lafayette, Indiana, reported. An Apex official said the reason for their closure was strictly financial.

Official word has not come from the resort, however. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, the top banner across the Indiana Beach website still read "Thanks for a great 2019 season! See you next year!"

In the Chicagoland area, some may remember the place for their classic television commercials and its motto "Not just corn," referring to Indiana of course.

Others, like longtime Homewood resident Bobby Maszak, know it as a place they spent every summer growing up.

"Growing up, my parents took me and my sisters here every year," Maszak said. "This is truly a great amusement park. I hope someone buys it. What a shame it is closing."

Just weeks ago, the park was promoting its ability to host large groups.

They even had a job fair planned for Feb. 29. The fate of the 27 employees who did work at Indiana Beach is uncertain as Apex has closed other amusement parks as well, according to the WLFI-TV report.

Indiana Beach ranked No. 3 on a 2018 Memorial Day list of the best one day trips for Chicagoans.

3. Indiana Beach: Need to bring the kids? This is the place to be. There's a popular amusement park and water resort near Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana. Take note of how many windmills you see on I-65 heading down there. You'll probably lose count after awhile.