Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park
4.1(5.9K)google
2.5(226)yelp
Roller CoasterWater ParkFamilyKidsSummer Retreat
Overview
Indiana Beach is an amusement park located on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana. The resort was developed by the Spackman family, who owned it from 1926 to 2008. The park was then sold to Morgan RV LLC, Apex Parks Group, LLC, and now is owned and operated by IB Parks & Entertainment.
Practical Info
Mon11:00 AM– 9:00 PM
Tue11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wed11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thu11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeThe core summer window from mid-June to mid-August is peak operational season. Arriving at 10:00 AM on a weekday (Wednesday or Thursday) is optimal to conquer iconic over-the-water wooden roller coasters like the Cornball Express with minimum queue times, leaving the scorching mid-afternoon hours open for the lakeside Splash Bash water park slides.
Getting TherePerched along the scenic waterfront at 5224 E Indiana Beach Rd, Monticello. Drive from Indianapolis by heading north on I-65 N to Exit 178 for IN-43 N toward Brookston, merge onto US-231 N straight into Monticello, and follow localized resort signs north around Lake Shafer. The amusement park operates extensive surface parking lots adjacent to the boardwalk.
Travel Tips
- Stretching along the exposed shores of Lake Shafer, the water park shuts down instantly if ambient temperatures drop below 70°F or if lightning is detected on radar; ticket refunds are strictly unavailable.
- Parking near the boardwalk is extremely costly; unauthorized parking on private residential lawns results in instant towing. Use the official free western overflow lots to secure stress-free access.
- The water park enforces rigid swimwear safety rules. Boardshorts with metal zippers, rivets, or sharp plastic toggles are strictly banned on high-speed slides; wear basic texturized fabric suits instead.
Reviews
Positive
- Set perfectly on scenic Lake Shafer, this classic old-school park blends lakefront views and wooden coasters with authentic visual punch and retro fun!
- The coaster lineup (like Cornball Express) is thrilling, and the new waterslides and sandy beach swim zones offer great fun under alert professional lifeguards.
- Interior signs are clear, main paths are flat with smooth accessible ramps, and restrooms and outdoor rinsers are plentiful and cleaned frequently.
- It offers flexible combo passes; for driving families planning a full day out, the value and classic Midwestern carnival vibe are second to none locally.
Heads up
- The biggest complaint is that on summer weekends in July and August, it is swarming with wall-to-wall crowds! Coaster and slide lines easily exceed 50 minutes.
- If you don't pack food, internal prices are heavily marked up; basic turkey legs, funnel cakes, and sodas offer terrible value—typical park tourist traps.
- As a decades-old amusement park, parts of the wooden coaster brackets, rubber mats, and lockers look worn and broken, needing quicker modernization.
- Dedicated close free parking is extremely narrow; peak late arrivals are forced to park on remote private paid lawns, lowering general convenience.