Plainfield taking plunge with $8.4M expansion of Splash Island
Town officials want to add three water slides, a splash pad and rental cabanas to the water park in time for its opening next spring.
Amusement parks
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Chicago-area businessman acquires Indiana Beach
By purchasing the 94-year-old attraction, Gene Staples said he is “preventing the loss of another one of America’s icons.”
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Longtime Indiana amusement park verifies closure after 94 years
Indiana Beach officials confirmed that the business has closed after 94 years of operation in a statement issued Wednesday, a day after news of the closure broke.
Kentucky businessman puts Indiana amusement park idea on hold
A businessman who proposed building an amusement park in Indiana featuring an aquarium, a water park and a dinosaur museum has put that project on hold.
Check out what’s new in attractions across Indiana
A mascot museum, a hydroplane race and new sections of an existing southern Indiana cave are among the newest adventures awaiting tourists.
Indiana Beach’s new owner overhauling amusement park
California-based Apex Parks Group says it began millions of dollars in work last fall after completing its purchase of the park along Lake Shafer near Monticello in northwestern Indiana.
From small-town perch, mobile carnival firm leads industry
Farmland-based North American Midway Entertainment stages about 150 events a year, reaching 15 million people.
Indiana Beach resort sold to amusement park firm
The 89-year-old entertainment venue in Monticello is becoming part of a new California company with more than a dozen parks nationwide.
Holiday World plans $22 million winged roller coaster
The Holiday World amusement park in southern Indiana is building a new $22 million roller coaster that it says will launch riders to 60 miles an hour in 3.5 seconds, with a 14-story loop and four inversions.
Changes in store as Indiana Beach plans 88th season
The Indiana amusement park is retiring its 42-year-old roller coaster, but is adding seven new attractions.
Longtime Indiana Beach owner dies at 100
Thomas Spackman, the son of the park’s founder, added numerous rides at the tourist attraction, which became known for its commercial jingle, “There’s more than corn in Indiana.”
Court sides with widow in lawsuit over Holiday World shares
The state appeals court says the widow of a southern Indiana theme park president isn't required to sell shares in the facility to her late husband's brother.
Holiday World family takes dispute to Indiana appeals court
An agreement meant to keep a popular amusement park in the family has sparked a bitter dispute that has reached the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Holiday World plans to display fun, not family problems
A family legal battle and untimely deaths have drawn attention to Holiday World’s owners in recent years. But it’s business as usual for those who run the Indiana theme park.
Kentucky fair board, group reach amusement park deal
A group of private investors and the Kentucky State Fair board on Thursday reached a 50-year lease agreement for the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom amusement park with the new operators saying the facility should reopen in 2014.
Widow of Holiday World’s president gains park control
A judge has placed control of a southern Indiana theme park in the hands of the widow of the park's late president.
Koch family wins incentives to reopen Kentucky theme park
The family that owns Indiana's Holiday World will get as much as $3.9 million from the state of Kentucky over the next decade to reopen a shuttered amusement park in Louisville.
Former Kentucky amusement park in bad shape
The new partners who are working toward reopening the former Kentucky Kingdom amusement park say the facility is in bad condition and may not reopen until 2014.
Interest expressed in reopening amusement park
The owners of an Indiana amusement park are expressing interest in operating Kentucky Kingdom, which closed more than two years ago.
Matriarch’s work ethic inspires Holiday World staff
Pat Koch, whose official title at her family-owned Holiday World theme park is director of values, sets a high bar for hard work and dedication.
Indiana Beach plans to add ropes course, zip line
Amusement park's Adventure Point, set to open June 4, will give patrons the chance to climb 30 feet on a rock climbing wall, try the ropes course or take a zip line over the edge at Lake Shafer.