Former junkyard to become aquatic facility near Whitestown

Whitestown, Indiana – Plans for converting a disused junkyard in Whitestown into an aquatic facility are taking shape.

Town authorities have been working to address environmental issues related to the former Wrecks Inc. property during the past few years. Late last year, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued a Certificate of Completion for the area, paving the door for the proposal to build an aquatic facility.

According to Nathan Messer, director of operations and economic development for Whitestown, the site will break ground in late 2023 and be completely operational by 2025. The renovation was estimated to cost $20 million by our colleagues at the Indianapolis Business Journal.

In the future, it’s anticipated that the development will feature a hotel, apartments, offices, a fieldhouse, and more.

“We look forward to adding other amenities to the site and continue building out the other phases of the project,” Messer said.

The Wrecks Inc. sign, which reads “We meet by accident, drive carefully,” has long been recognized by I-65 drivers. Town officials have been hammering out the technicalities of developing the property along Indianapolis Road while the proposed project has been in the works for some time.

The “highly anticipated” aquatic facility, according to Town Council President Clinton Bohm, won’t be financed by an increase in real estate taxes.

“The aquatics facility is expected to be funded through revenue generated as a direct result of Whitestown’s industrial and commercial growth, such as tax increment financing (TIF),” Bohm said in a statement.

In a public-private partnership, a partner will be chosen to build and run the facility while the town retains ownership, according to Whitestown officials.

At its meeting on April 12, the town council is anticipated to take the initial steps toward sanctioning the project.