larrygator

It is nice to see the local authorities getting involved with Indiana Beach. Besides FunSpot, there may be another potential buyer, Ronald Gerstorff, the owner of Slick Track, a go-kart business out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gerstoff told the Journal & Courier he was “blown away” after hearing the initial news of Indiana Beach’s closure, as he had been trying to get in touch with Apex a little over a year before the park closed, interested in purchasing it and taking over operations. “If they shoot me an offer, I would purchase it right now,” Gerstoff said. https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2020/02/21/indiana-beach-potential-buyers-emerge-monticello-mayor-owner-say-hopes-amusement-park-still-alive/4829720002/ Indiana Beach: Potential buyers emerge, city and owner say future for amusement park still alive Emily DeLetter, Journal & Courier Published 6:47 p.m. ET Feb. 21, 2020 | Updated 11:36 p.m. ET Feb. 21, 2020 MONTICELLO – Indiana Beach is up for sale, and the city and county that are home to the much-beloved amusement park are hoping to find a new buyer. White County and the city of Monticello will assist Apex Parks Group, a California-based company that has owned Indiana Beach since 2015, in meeting with amusement industry leaders, brokers and investors in hopes of finding a buyer for the park, Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said Friday. White County Commissioner John Heimlich said he wanted the public to know that discussions about the future of Indiana Beach were ongoing. Apex Parks Group announced Tuesday to White County officials it was closing the popular Indiana Beach amusement park that has operated on Lake Shafer since 1926.Buy Photo Apex Parks Group announced Tuesday to White County officials it was closing the popular Indiana Beach amusement park that has operated on Lake Shafer since 1926. “We want to see the Beach continue to operate, and Apex would like to see that, too,” Heimlich said. “We’ll just have to see what happens.” The 94-year-old park along the shores of Lake Shafer closed abruptly Tuesday, a few months before it was supposed to open for the 2020 season, a move that shocked residents and local officials. Calls and emails throughout the week to both Apex and Indiana Beach were not returned. In a statement Friday, Gary Fawks, general manager of Indiana Beach said, “Since purchasing the resort in 2015, we have invested in infrastructure, rides and maintenance at the well-loved park. Despite these efforts, we have not seen an improvement in operating results. The decision to cease operations was not taken lightly.” Randy Mitchell, White County economic development director, said Gregg Borman, senior vice president of operations with Apex, told him the company was closing Indiana Beach because of financial reasons. Apex also shut down SpeedZone in Texas and Fantasy Island in New York, according to media reports. Mitchell said the economic development office was working on keeping Indiana Beach going and was in the process of trying to find an investor or partner who would be interested in taking over the park’s operations. On Friday, Mitchell said he didn’t have any information on if or when rides would be disassembled, although he was previously informed that Apex would be disassembling rides in the spring. The park’s website was updated to notify guests it is permanently closed, with a link to a questionnaire regarding accommodations and camping, groups and birthdays and season passes. As of Friday, Apex and Indiana Beach had not confirmed whether guests who had purchased season passes, which were on sale as recently as Christmas, would receive refunds. Calls for refunds continued through the end of the week, with confusion and frustration from those who already put money up for Indiana Beach entertainment and couldn’t get anyone to answer phone calls. It wasn’t clear how many season passes – along with deals on food and drinks – Indiana Beach had sold for the 2020 season. Joe Wurl has had a camper at the Indiana Beach campgrounds since 1999, where he and the family go to spend days off between May and October. Wurl said he paid $3,000 for his camping spot and a place to leave his camper for the 2020 season. Wurl said he was anxious for a refund. But he said he also needed to know if and when he needed to get the camper – a project that meant hiring a truck to haul a wide load to another location. “I’d like to get my money back,” Wurl said. “But more than anything, I just want to know what’s going on.” A Facebook post from Fun Spot America, a group of theme parks based in Florida and Georgia, hinted interest in Indiana Beach, responding to a comment that a Fun Spot executive was on a plane Thursday to Indianapolis. John Chidester, vice president of marketing for Fun Spot America, acknowledged the Facebook post, but said he was not able to confirm any news connecting Fun Spot and Indiana Beach. Another interested potential buyer is Ronald Gerstorff, the owner of Slick Track, a go-kart business out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gerstoff told the Journal & Courier he was “blown away” after hearing the initial news of Indiana Beach’s closure, as he had been trying to get in touch with Apex a little over a year before the park closed, interested in purchasing it and taking over operations. “If they shoot me an offer, I would purchase it right now,” Gerstoff said. A petition was created by a Monticello resident to "Help save Indiana Beach," to entourage a buyer to purchase the park. As of Friday, it had gathered more than 29,000 signatures. The park sits along the shores of Lake Shafer, one of the Twin Lakes in Monticello, offering an unobstructed view of the lake from park property. For nearly 100 years, Monticello has grown around Indiana Beach. The amusement park, best known for it's slogan, "There's more than corn in Indiana," was an iconic institution for the small town, offering an attraction for both in-state and out-of-state tourists and a chance to put Monticello on the map. Indiana Beach was first built as Ideal Beach in 1926 by Earl Spackman. The property changed hands a few times, through Spackman family members and Morgan Recreation Vacations before it was purchased by Apex in 2015. Kaylee Hahn, the digital marketing director for Enjoying White County Tourism, said the root of White County’s tourism in its entirety stems from Indiana Beach. In 2018, Hahn said White County Tourism recorded Indiana Beach employing between 650 to 800 people, including both seasonal and full-time staff. The number of season pass holders was around 46,000, which encapsulated people in both single and family passes. The park’s total attendance in 2018 was over 600,000, according to Hahn. However, Hahn said more recent additions, including resorts, lakeside dining, boat rentals and the Madam Carroll boat on neighboring Lake Freeman have seen a parallel that moves the primary income away from solely the amusement park. “The lakes are still a great avenue of income, and they’re sustainable,” Hahn said. “They aren’t going anywhere.” There’s also a potential for high-value real estate, if the park were to dismantled and the was land sold to developers. Hahn said the White County Association of Realtors met to discuss the value and potential that Indiana Beach’s land could hold. Attempts to reach the Association of Realtors were not immediately returned. Michael Sims and Ryan Clemons, co-owners of Outrigger Resort and real estate agents, said adding developments to Indiana Beach’s land, whether those be lakefront homes or condos, would be in large demand. Houses for sale around Lake Shafer currently range from $139,900 to $989,900, according to Zillow.com. “There is a huge draw for condos here,” Clemons said. “They’re in big demand. I really believe, as a result, we’ll see a different financial demographic come through Monticello. The higher-end market would increase, and the lower-end market would decrease.”

Yes, they are definitely fun and rerideable coasters.

My cable bill!

Are you assuming that lighting will be minimal? It will pull crowds away from El Toro at night.

Amazing that they can not just come out and say "our insanely low priced season passes are not sustainable and we need to follow the hard decision CF made a few years ago to raise season pass prices and have a tiered structure for those who want to visit byond their home parke" Who is SF going to entice to pay for only a single visit when they just turn the single visit guests into season pass holders for an extra $20?

You are correct. Only the smaller and appropriate rides will end up at the Apex' FECs. The major rides are already be listed for sale, as some are reporting.

This is the most comprehensive article I've read so far. Appears to be a decision from Apex that caught park officials and local county officials off guard. The park was still marginally profitable, but investment firms like Apex are not in it to be marginally profitable https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2020/02/18/indiana-beach-amusement-park-close-after-nearly-100-years/4801090002/ After nearly 100 years, Indiana amusement park to close, with rides moving to other parks Emily DeLetter and Dave Bangert Journal & Courier MONTICELLO, Ind. – Local officials expressed shock Tuesday when the California-based owner of the nearly century-old Indiana Beach amusement park said it would close. “We didn’t see this coming at all,” Randy Mitchell, White County economic development director, said Tuesday afternoon. That morning, Mitchell met with White County commissioners and council members, to relay word that things were going well for the amusement park tucked along Lake Shafer, about 30 miles north of Lafayette. That was based on reports Mitchell said he received from Gary Fawks, the local manager of Indiana Beach. On Tuesday afternoon, Mitchell said he met with Gregg Borman, senior vice president of operations for Apex, who told him that the company was closing Indiana Beach and three other amusement parks it owns across the country for of financial reasons. Officials with Apex did not immediately respond to messages. Phones listed for Indiana Beach were not being answered Tuesday afternoon. Mitchell said Borman indicated that Indiana Beach – long known for its slogan and jingle, “There’s more than corn in Indiana” – was marginally profitable. But Mitchell said he was told that Apex wasn’t in a position to continue to make capital improvements to the rides. “This really is tough news around here,” Mitchell said. As of Tuesday afternoon, Indiana Beach’s Facebook page was still promoting a job fair, scheduled for Feb. 29, to fill positions for the summer. Customers had been buying season passes as recently as Christmas. California-based Apex Parks Group bought Indiana Beach in 2015 from Morgan Recreation Vacations of New York. Apex’s purchase of Indiana Beach marked just the second change in the park's ownership after the founding Spackman family sold it to Morgan. The sale included the amusement park, campgrounds and hotel about 30 miles north of Lafayette. Earl Spackman opened the amusement park in 1926. He initially called it Ideal Beach. The park grew over the years as a place to lounge on the beach, go on the rides and attend big name concerts. In the 1940s, Spackman handed off the resort to his son, Thomas, who eventually changed the name to Indiana Beach. Mitchell said he was told Apex would disassemble the rides this spring and take them to nine company parks in California and two in Florida. Mitchell said that under Apex, Indiana Beach seemed to be doing well enough, after some rough years under Morgan. “That was every indication we had,” Mitchell said. The Indiana Beach/Monticello KOA campground, which is a companion to the amusement park, will remain open during its normal season from May 17 to October 27, according to someone who answered at the KOA newsroom. Word about Indiana Beach spread quickly in Monticello and beyond. “What a bad thing to hear,” said Jo Wade, president and CEO of Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette. “It’s got to be hard for Monticello.” At the Riverside in Monticello, manager Autumn Lutchka said many of the restaurant’s customers were visitors from Indiana Beach and Lake Shafer. “It’s unfortunate, but I feel like you could tell over the past few years,” Lutchka said. “There weren’t as many people there as when I was growing up, when I remember it always being packed. Now, when you would go there, there weren’t ever lines for any of the rides.” Lori Tolson, a North Judson resident, lives on Lake Shafer during the summer, a five-minute boat ride from Indiana Beach. She said she and others had spent Tuesday trying to reach Indiana Beach or Apex to find out what to do with season passes that she bought during a Christmas promotion. Tolson said she had six of everything: season passes at $42.99, food packages at $69.99 and drink packages at $19.99. Her tally of season passes: Just shy of $800. “And all worthless now,” Tolson said. “Our grandbabies loved going, so that’s going to be fun telling them. … The biggest question, though, is how do we get a refund? A lot of us are wanting to know, and we can’t get anyone to answer the phone.”

What marketing plans are you privy to?

Maybe the park wasn't being offered on the cheap? I imagine SF would also want assurances that the park can be expanded, which may have required rezoning that the municipality would never go for. Indiana Baech one of my favorite parks the first time I visited 15 years ago. In terns of rides it I really was comparable to Knoebels at that time with it's charm, wooden coasters, well run flats, quirky rides and Frankenstein's Castle. By visiting every 3 years I've seen the decline, but never thought it was actually come to this. It was clearly the gem of the Apex Parks Group, but they could not stem the tide.

Final concrete was poured on 2/12. SFFT took ten weeks to complete. If build time is similar at SFGAdv, they have about 6 weeks to build the station, theme, landscape, make it operationable and test to open by Memorial Day weekend.

These last two posts sum up the situation perfectly. While some are complaining that the place is killing their business with the current pricing as far as saying the place will be closed in a year. This is not comparable to a Hard Rock Park. The park is practically selling out every day at current pricing levels and on days that there will be more demand (when all schools in NYC and NJ are out) they are raising prices to bring in more revenue. From a business standpoint, it sounds like they have dynamic pricing down pat. As such, when the demand drops, they will lower prices. If you want to pay to brag about being there before others, then you pay the price. If not, you hold out and wait like me until the price is more to your liking as this self proclaimed cheap-ass coaster enthusiast will do. Every park should be this fiscally responsible.

$175 Million is actually less the 1% (about 6 thousandths) of Disney WW Theme Park revenue from 2019. Only about 3 thousandths and total company annual revenue from 2019. A one week closure of WDW would be much more damaging. Disney probably has to flexibility to shift segment goals to make up for deficiencies in other segments especially with this much lead time. For example, a 1% increase in advertising rates could make up $200 million. Disney still has the clout to set the US TV advertising market rates. I would expect minor changes to the US park budgets as the Chinese parks will have 8 months to more heavily promote their properties if parks are back online by May. Also a large corporation like Disney, could easily offset this small of a % revenue loss via various corporate accounting practices.

I just got word from Chuck that America's Oldest Funhouse will have its Grand Re-opening on July 3rd, 2020. I'll have fres h picture of the facade and more news to print soon. I might also visit during the week of February 17th, since NYC schools are closed that week.

I've been waiting also, if only to compare and contrast the drama of driving solo in Belgium for three days versus my drama and riding by rail for three days. I remember opening the Trip Board on my first day in Belgium to express the drama of my travels (where my BnB check-in was a nightmare) only to read about your car troubles. I didn't realize that your transportation delays were balanced out by the hotel check-in. That check-in sounds super efficient. It always seems that one time you really need to speak to someone in English in Europe is the one time you can't find anyone.

I wouldn't worry about it, they are probably just fixing up their back-end and someone made a poor choice of words instead of Check back in Spring for Season Pass sales

Correction: Cyborg LOOKS like a superior version

Awesome update Chuck.

When I visited, the hike up to Doc Holliday's cemetery was longer and more challenging than I expected it to be. But the whole area is beautiful.

I don't have to be there to know what really happened because I've seen it dozens of times from people too cheap to shell out $1 Patron: "What do you mean I can't take my phone on the ride. Employee: Sorry you need to put it in locker or have a non-rider hold it. Patron: I've taken my phone on a lot of rides. Employee: For safety reasons you can not take it on KingdaKa. Patron: I'm not paying a f'n dollar, I already give his park too much money. Employee: You can leave it with someone who is not riding. Patron: Well that's not good enough Employer: Then hide it somewhere Even if the employee said the last statement, the patron has no basis to claim it is the sole responsibility of hate park. I'm sure it will get settled out of court but hope SFGAdv doesn't have to remove the "dangerous" bamboo that effectively themed the Golden Kingdom I guess Steven Keim Jr. is lucky he didn't win a Darwin Award with a deadly infection from the bamboo. But to think walking off a path to bury or hide something to avoid paying a dollar is foolish and karma's a bitch. Another example of someone who doesn't know the meaning of personal responibility Roller-coaster rider sues Great Adventure over bamboo accident Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post Published 5:00 a.m. ET Jan. 16, 2020 CAMDEN - A lawsuit filed against Six Flags Great Adventure contends the amusement park is responsible for a gruesome injury suffered by a patron after a roller-coaster ride. In the suit, a Pennsylvania man says he was at the entrance to the Kingda Ka ride when he was told he could not bring his cellphone on what's described as the world's tallest roller coaster. The patron, Steven Keim Jr., claims an employee of the Jackson park advised him to hide the phone under foliage in a bamboo grove behind a nearby smoking area. Keim quickly concealed the phone and completed his ride on Kingda Ka, the lawsuit says. But when he returned to the thicket to retrieve the phone, the lawsuit says, Keim stepped on "an extremely sharp piece of cut bamboo." The bamboo shard, allegedly covered by foliage, "pierced through his shoe, penetrated his foot and caused … serious, permanent personal injuries," says the suit. A Great Adventure spokesperson said Thursday the park does not comment on pending litigation, but added "the safety of our guests and team members is our top priority." Great Adventure's website notes "no loose articles including cell phones will be permitted on Kingda Ka." "Please store them in a locker or with a non-rider before entering the queue." it says. The suit says the cut bamboo caused "a penetrating wound to the plantar area of (Keim's) right foot requiring sutures." It asserts the accident resulted in "severe pain" and the need for surgeries, among other consequences. The suit, initially filed in state court in Ocean County, was moved this week to Camden federal court. It seeks unspecified damages and legal costs for Keim, a resident of Douglassville, Berks County, in connection with the May 2018 incident. The suit, which says Keim encountered "a highly dangerous and defective condition," includes photographs of the bamboo grove behind a bench and a cigarette receptacle. The lawsuit contends Great Adventure is responsible for maintaining the safety of its premises, "including the designated smoking area adjacent to the ride 'Kingda Ka,' and the grounds, trees and foliage immediately surrounding the area." It argues Keim's injury "was caused solely and substantially by the negligence and carelessness" of Great Adventure.

Chuck always knew of the rich history of amusement parks in Pennsylvania, but he did realize that the passion still burns in the hearts of quite a people in the area. After speaking at the historical society in November, Chuck is meeting people who know people who know other people and has created a network of locals who have knowledge of past rides in the areas. Not only do the locals have knowledge of the rides and parks they also have relics, parts and rides. Chuck has seen many items that were thought to no longer exist This upcoming weekend Chuck will have a Guys Day (brandy and Cigars) with some gentlemen who want to support Chuck's projects at Bushkill Park. These supporters have formerly worked in the dark ride and sideshow business. One of the gentlemen introduced himself to Chuck as the person that Chuck "stole" the Williams Grove dark ride from. Now Chuck didn't actually steal the dark ride. After Williams Grove closed, Chuck was hired to paint their Music Express for an upcoming rides auction. Chuck learned the dark ride was bring sold, made an offer and the owner removed it from the auction and sold it directly to Chuck before Chuck's new supporter could make a bid at auction. I don't know there will be anything immediately sharable that comes out of these meetings but I thought many would find it interesting.

Ocean Park is struggling and will make changes to survive. This beautiful park is getting triple whammied due to: The growth of Hong Kong Disney, attacks from PETA and the current political climate in Hong Hong. The park is hoping a cash infusion from the government can turn the park into a more adventure themed destination. An immediate change will be removing dolphin and sea lion shows. But US $1.4 Billion is all expeted to bring in 26 new rides over the next few years. https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2020/01/556543/struggling-hong-kong-theme-park-end-dolphin-shows Struggling Hong Kong theme park to end dolphin shows Hong Kong: A struggling Hong Kong theme park has said it will end its controversial dolphin and sea lion shows but will continue to allow visitors to hug a dolphin, drawing criticism from animal rights groups. Ocean Park said on Monday it would replace the daily shows at its flagship enclosure with “underwater viewing opportunities” for visitors. “Under the new plan, the Ocean Wonder show will cease,” said Leo Kung, chairman of Ocean Park. However, the park said it would continue to allow visitors to pay to feed and pose with the dolphins in the water. Ocean Park’s captive animal shows and dolphin-petting activities have long been criticised by the animal rights community. Dolphins suffer physically and mentally from life in captivity, according to the Born Free Foundation which also says on its website that physical interactions with the public are “highly stressful” for the animals. “Ocean Park’s decision to end its dolphin shows but to keep the animals as a tourist gimmick is a missed ethical and financial opportunity,” said Jason Baker, vice president of PETA. Hong Kong non-profit organisation Animal Rights Education said in a Facebook statement the move was an important step, but urged the park to gradually end marine animal captivity. According to the park’s annual report, it had 7,600 animals including 63 marine mammals, 59 terrestrial mammals, 454 birds and others. The amusement park has suffered an “unprecedented steep decline” in visitors of more than 30 percent since pro-democracy protests broke out in the financial hub last summer, the South China Morning Post recently reported. Hong Kong’s government is planning to help the park with a HK$10.6 billion (US$1.4 billion) cash injection. Aside from replacing the Ocean Theatre, the park also aims to add 26 new rides as part of a plan to transform it into an adventure-themed attraction.

Within one or two blocks of Port Authority Best bang for your buck Los Tacos #1 at 229 W 43rd St There are no great pizza by the slice places but this place is cheap 99 Cent Express Pizza at 301 W 43rd St Any sit down restaurant will be expensive, so stick with quick service to save money

Will you be giving away two day packages to Dutch Wonderland with a Cartoon Network Hotel stay to Media Directors in the NYC area?

Thanks for the update

I first heard of Steeplechase Park and Funny Place when I was high school in the 1980s. I was instantly fasicnated with the place, to the point that whenever I made new friends in high school I questioned their parents and would ask them to share whatever memories they had of the place. The thought of llittle people dressed as clowns walking around with "shock sticks" is just fascinating to me.