The Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park was saved by a Chicago businessman in 2020
indiana Beach amusement park
NEED TO KNOW
- An Indiana amusement park is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, only six years after it announced it was closing for good
- Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park first opened in Monticello, Ind. in 1926, but announced it would be forced to close in 2020
- It was saved by a Chicago businessman and is now honoring its legacy with a new documentary
A beloved amusement park that once announced it was closing for good is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary — and it's not shying away from its storied past.
Twenty twenty-six will mark 100 years since the opening of the Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park in Monticello, Ind. The property, located along Lake Shafer, offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions and activities including roller coasters, flat rides, water slides and even trips on their old fashioned riverboat.
But only a few years ago, it seemed the park would never reach the 100-year milestone.
It unexpectedly shut its gates for good in February 2020 after 94 years in operation. Local outlets reported at the time tht the decision came after the park’s parent company, Apex Parks Group, couldn’t find a buyer for the property. The company later filed for bankruptcy in April 2020.
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But things turned around when a Chicago businessman, Gene Staples, bought the property that same month. The park officially reopened in June 2020, according to The Herald-Times.
“It’s not about me. I felt that someone needed to step up,” Staples said at the opening ceremony, per the Herald-Times. “We didn’t purchase this to make a fortune. We purchased it to save a park and invest in it.”
He noted that crews managed to do all the preparations to open in just two months — a process that usually takes five to six.
“It’s been a labor of love,” he said. “I wish I could’ve done so much more.”
Since the purchase, Indiana Beach has made continuing improvements to its offerings, including the addition of new attractions. In May 2024, Indiana Beach opened the All American Triple Loop roller coaster. The ride was named runner-up for USA Today’s best new theme park attraction in 2025.
Now, the park’s storied history is being explored in a new documentary set to coincide with the 100th anniversary: Indiana Beach: Legacy on the Lake.
indiana Beach amusement park
“Legacy on the Lake takes you on an emotional journey through the park’s vibrant past: its creation by Tom Spackman, its golden decades of growth and the quiet decline that left fans fearing the end of an era,” the movie’s synopsis says. “Told through the heartfelt stories from workers, ride operators, fans and families who lived the magic, this film captures what made Indiana Beach truly special.”
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Indiana Beach is set to open for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 9. To celebrate 100 years, the park is hosting a series of water ski shows featuring the Lake City Skiers throughout the summer, in addition to their 2026 Ballroom Concert Series.
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