Discussion:
Indiana beach and fantasy island done for?
(too old to reply)
t***@gmail.com
2020-02-18 20:28:12 UTC
Permalink
It was removed from apex amusement parks website and an article in amusement today said rides were being offered for sale.
s***@aol.com
2020-02-19 05:41:11 UTC
Permalink
Sounds like it
Heather Kendrick
2020-02-19 23:05:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by t***@gmail.com
It was removed from apex amusement parks website and an article in amusement
today said rides were being offered for sale.
Everyone’s likely heard by now, but they have officially announced the
closure of both parks. I’m really, really sad about it, and kind of mad at
myself for not having gone to Indiana Beach more often given that it is only
a 4 hour drive. I did make it to Fantasy Island for the first time this past
summer, and I really enjoyed the Silver Comet a lot. I hope the vintage Allan
Herschell Goosey Goosey Gander (aka Blue Goose) resurfaces elsewhere. If
nothing else it might be nice if it found its way to the Allan Herchell
Carrousel Factory Museum.
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit
Ansley
2020-02-20 00:14:12 UTC
Permalink
Post by t***@gmail.com
It was removed from apex amusement parks website and an article in amusement today said rides were being offered for sale.
I'm truly deeply saddened if Indiana Beach is gone, and does not come back I absolutely love that place, been there numerous time but only once (2017) in the last 12 years or so.

My two younger kids (ages 17 and 13 now) went there for the first time (they remember) in 2017 and they loved it too. My 17 year old was bugging me about going back last year. We had so much fun on just a few hour stop in '17 and I promised them we could go back and stay a day or tow in the future.

Oh well, I'm heartbroken over this news, adn I wish they could find a buyer for the property and the 3 wood coasters could be saved! They are REALLY fun.

Ted
s***@aol.com
2020-02-20 04:49:56 UTC
Permalink
Anything think either have chance of being saved “as is” (for the most part? Apparently, they’ve both been for sale with no buyers. I wonder if the rides will be relocated to other parks in their chain and/or sold off. And the land sold to non park operators. I’ve never been to FI, but I’ve been to IB, that’s probably prime real estate for houses I’d think.
Marshall
2020-02-20 14:34:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by s***@aol.com
Anything think either have chance of being saved “as is” (for the most part? Apparently, they’ve both been for sale with no buyers. I wonder if the rides will be relocated to other parks in their chain and/or sold off. And the land sold to non park operators. I’ve never been to FI, but I’ve been to IB, that’s probably prime real estate for houses I’d think.
It might be prime real estate for houses, but the market in the area wont support the demolition costs of the amusement park. The permanent structures in the area hotel, boardwalk, shops, restaurant, rides and coasters means this is a functional amusement park or a derelict amusement park.
s***@aol.com
2020-02-20 15:02:35 UTC
Permalink
That should read “anyone” in my most recent comment.
GodsOnSafari
2020-02-20 19:37:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Marshall
Post by s***@aol.com
Anything think either have chance of being saved “as is” (for the most part? Apparently, they’ve both been for sale with no buyers. I wonder if the rides will be relocated to other parks in their chain and/or sold off. And the land sold to non park operators. I’ve never been to FI, but I’ve been to IB, that’s probably prime real estate for houses I’d think.
It might be prime real estate for houses, but the market in the area wont support the demolition costs of the amusement park. The permanent structures in the area hotel, boardwalk, shops, restaurant, rides and coasters means this is a functional amusement park or a derelict amusement park.
I was tipped off to the knowledge that the park's real estate was sold by Apex to a real estate company to which they were leasing. I confirmed that via property records:

https://twitter.com/godsonsafari/status/1230082858775130112

Given this, that the rest of what I was told in that Apex was not paying the lease in a timely fashion and ultimately defaulted on it is likely also true. Indiana Beach was stated as being profitable by Apex, but it seems that the costs of upkeep and maintenance didn't beat out the accumulated depreciation on the balance sheet for them. As you said, IB is either a functional or derelict amusement park: the company that owns the land had no intention of developing it. Without most of the core assets being present there post-Apex's sale (including, one suspects, ride control systems and trains for stuff like wood coasters), the park lacks viability to be purchased. In turn, by not having the land, IB wasn't a viable park to sell.
Marshall
2020-02-21 12:29:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by GodsOnSafari
Post by Marshall
Post by s***@aol.com
Anything think either have chance of being saved “as is” (for the most part? Apparently, they’ve both been for sale with no buyers. I wonder if the rides will be relocated to other parks in their chain and/or sold off. And the land sold to non park operators. I’ve never been to FI, but I’ve been to IB, that’s probably prime real estate for houses I’d think.
It might be prime real estate for houses, but the market in the area wont support the demolition costs of the amusement park. The permanent structures in the area hotel, boardwalk, shops, restaurant, rides and coasters means this is a functional amusement park or a derelict amusement park.
https://twitter.com/godsonsafari/status/1230082858775130112
Given this, that the rest of what I was told in that Apex was not paying the lease in a timely fashion and ultimately defaulted on it is likely also true. Indiana Beach was stated as being profitable by Apex, but it seems that the costs of upkeep and maintenance didn't beat out the accumulated depreciation on the balance sheet for them. As you said, IB is either a functional or derelict amusement park: the company that owns the land had no intention of developing it. Without most of the core assets being present there post-Apex's sale (including, one suspects, ride control systems and trains for stuff like wood coasters), the park lacks viability to be purchased. In turn, by not having the land, IB wasn't a viable park to sell.
That sounds like the Real Estate company and the City(if they want to get involved, which they should) have a pretty good case to seize the park before any of it is sold off...
a***@gmail.com
2020-02-22 17:00:33 UTC
Permalink
Depends on the agreement and what power they can exercise over the tenet based on when/how much they've paid. I mean do they want to run an amusement park there? Great question, right?
Ansley
2020-02-24 21:14:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by a***@gmail.com
Depends on the agreement and what power they can exercise over the tenet based on when/how much they've paid. I mean do they want to run an amusement park there? Great question, right?
There's been some news stories this week popping up that possible buyers are visiting Indiana Beach, sea at least 2 such news stories on my facebook feed. I hope and pray that someone will buy the park, with the rides, and re-open.

Ted
s***@aol.com
2020-02-25 00:41:34 UTC
Permalink
Haven’t both of these parks supposedly been for sale with no buyers? If that’s true, why would people suddenly be interested in buying? I’m guessing people are just going to try to purchase equipment for their own parks.
t***@gmail.com
2020-02-29 04:13:08 UTC
Permalink
Been following,

Buyer a was fun spot, not interested in the park but maybe bought rides.

Buyer b. This is an interesting one. Supposedly a guy who runs go kart track in pigeon forge has been trying. A Facebook profile called slick tracks popped (sams name as interested party). Since the page looked fake, was pressed to provide more information on current operations. Stonewalled and basically said I’m under an NDA with apex and can’t talk about it and I have nothing to prove to you. Supposedly also has a 40 million go kart complex waiting on state approval in Muncie Indiana. I call bs on this buyer.

Buyer c was a guy named Tim morrow. He supposedly owned a diesel shop but no Facebook page could be found. His whole post seemed like a pipe dream. Plus someone did some investigating and found there was a diesel shop with the name he said was his, they found a ln eviction case where the person never paid rent.

Honestly, fun spot was the best shot of announced people with interest in parts or the park. If apex has to tear down improvements at the park (rides, buildings, etc), they will spend hundreds of thousands if not millions to do so, especially if the suspension bridge has to go. That will bankrupt them. I only hope if the park doesn’t reopen wholly as a park, maybe the county can buy the land and what is left and make it a public park with what is left leased out. Like a beachside boardwalk. Maybe even find an operator for the three wooden coasters. Maybe there is a buyer laying in wait. I don’t know at this point.
t***@gmail.com
2020-04-16 14:54:37 UTC
Permalink
All three buyers in previous post were fake (I suspected), but......

Something is going on. Instead of the logo and permanently closed saying below it on Facebook, someone just uploaded a new pic and crossed out permanently.
Nathan Brown
2020-04-16 23:20:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by t***@gmail.com
All three buyers in previous post were fake (I suspected), but......
Something is going on. Instead of the logo and permanently closed saying below it on Facebook, someone just uploaded a new pic and crossed out permanently.
Saw that today as well, there is hope!

There were no details beyond that, I know the town is floating a $3 million grant for someone to purchase it and keep it as an amusement park. I think the biggest mistake made with IB was the same one made at Conneaut Lake, creating a gated park. It just is not that kind of place.

-Nathan Brown
s***@aol.com
2020-04-17 04:11:14 UTC
Permalink
Saw that yesterday also. Hopefully that’s good news! Especially with all going on with closed parks this year, it’s great that IB apparently has a good chance to come back.
s***@aol.com
2020-04-23 18:11:20 UTC
Permalink
Indiana Beach just posted on facebook that they’ll be back this year, I guess they found a buyer?

Unfortunately, Fantasy Island can’t say the same. Drone photos online show that all the rides except the Ferris wheel and wood coaster are gone. I guess most or all of the other rides were either sold or moved to other Apex parks.
t***@gmail.com
2020-04-23 18:35:55 UTC
Permalink
Yes, gene staples out of Chicago.
Heather Kendrick
2020-04-25 06:04:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by s***@aol.com
Indiana Beach just posted on facebook that they’ll be back this year, I
guess they found a buyer?
Unfortunately, Fantasy Island can’t say the same. Drone photos online show
that all the rides except the Ferris wheel and wood coaster are gone. I guess
most or all of the other rides were either sold or moved to other Apex parks.
I hope their vintage Allan Herschell rides resurface, especially the rare
Goosey Goosey Gander. In an ideal world some philanthropist would buy that
one and donate it to the Herschell Factory Museum.
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit
s***@aol.com
2020-04-27 22:37:21 UTC
Permalink
Looks like the Ferris wheel at Fantasy Island is going overseas. Leaves just the Silver Comet and some water park attractions left on site.
s***@aol.com
2020-07-03 03:13:26 UTC
Permalink
Good news for Fantasy Island and their coaster!

https://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/western-new-yorks-beloved-fantasy-island-to-reopen-in-2021/
Loading...