Monticello’s Indiana beach has sold to New York based Morgan RV Resorts.

From the Monticello Times

For more than 80 years what has become Indiana’s largest amusement resort has been owned and operated by the Spackman family, descendants of Indiana Beach founder Earl Spackman.

That era is nearing an end with the announcement Tuesday of the sale of Indiana Beach, Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Indiana Beach Camp Resort and all other operations to New York - based Morgan RV Resorts for an undisclosed price.

The deal has been in the works since December, 2007 when representatives of Morgan learned about Indiana Beach through the campground industry and contacted the Spackman family. At this point few immediate changes are in store for the Indiana Beach operation according to Spackman family spokesman Tom Spackman Jr. “Indiana Beach will continue to be Indiana Beach except it will become part of Morgan Management,” said Spackman.

Spackman explained that Morgan is a private corporation operated by principle owners Bob Morgan and Bob Moser.

Morgan Management owns a number of other campgrounds and RV Courts along with about 10,000 apartments, water parks and five Jellystone Campgrounds, Spackman said.

Indiana Beach Chronology
1926: Earl Spackman opens Ideal beach with 10 rental boats, a sandy beach, bath house, and refreshment stand.
1927: Rental cottages and 20-room hotel open. Water toboggan slide added.  
1928: Passenger boat tours the lake every 90 minutes for 25 cents.  
1929: Monon Railroad brings weekend visitors for $3 from Indianapolis, $3.50 from Chicago.  
1930: Ideal Beach Ballroom opens.  
1932: Vaudeville acts, radio stars and moving pictures every Sunday afternoon and evening.  
1937: Twelve- foot wide, 650-foot promenade pier built around beach area. Ballroom doubled in size to 6,000 square feet and roll back roof installed.  
1940: Roller rink, grocery store, novelty and curio shop opens.  
1941: Bowling Alley opens.  
1944: Archery and miniature golf added. Water merry-go-round featured at bathing beach.  
1947: First permanent rides include Ferris Wheel, Merry-go-round and Rolo Plane. Rides on the Wahoo Jr., a Chris Craft inboard speedboat, thrills guests.  
1951: New Beach House Inn Hotel opens.  
1952: Ideal Beach becomes Indiana Beach. New Kiddyland is connected to Beach by a new boardwalk.  
1954: Park’s southern area raised from a submerged island in Lake Shafer.  
1955: Indiana Beach advertises on television in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Lafayette, and in Champaign. Ill.  
1959: New Aqua Theater with a Water Ski Show and boat jumping through fire.  
1961: Introduction of Shafer Queen paddle wheel boat.  
1965: Skyroom Restaurant and Indiana Beach Campground open. Bumper Cars, Antique Autos and Sky Ride added.
1966: A 400-foot steel suspension bridge connects Indiana Beach to new south parking lot.  
1969: Mystery Mansion ride opens - now the Den of Lost Thieves.  
1970: Ferry boats run between campground and Indiana Beach Boardwalk.  
1971: Galaxi roller coaster added.  
1978: Superstition Mountain opens.  
1983: Haunted Castle opens.  
1985: I.B. Crow, and “There’s more than corn in Indiana” appear.  
1987: Water Park opens with Action River and three water slides.  
1989: Giant Gondola Wheel added.  
1990: Falling Star ride and Boat Tag added.  
1991: Water Park expanded with two new tube slides and longer quarter-mile Action River.  
1994: New $4.5 million Hoosier Hurricane coaster opens.  
1995: Sky Coaster thrill ride added.  
1998: Yogi Bear Jellystone Camp Resort opens and Big Flush Water Coaster added.  
1999: Frog Hopper and Double Shot rides added.  
2000: Indiana Beach celebrates 75th anniversary. Dr. Frankenstein’s Haunted Castle renovated. The Last Resort purchased to add more cottages, now called Beach Club Cottages. 
2001: CornBall Express coaster added.   
2002: Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain added.
2004: Air Crow ride flies over the water.
2005: Monticello Post Office announces special pictorial postmark for June 19, honoring 80th Anniversary of Indiana Beach. Limited 80th anniversary edition signed poster and coke bottle offered.
2006: Splash Battle boat game introduced, four new luxury duplexes built.
2007: Television spot Corn Strikes Back introduced with Evil Supervillain Corn.
2008: Steel Hawg coaster added. Spackmans sell Indiana Beach to Morgan RV Resorts

Complete story here.

DT

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