Wells Street Beach Inc. Concession & Parking

Wells Street Beach Inc. Concession & Parking Wells Street Beach Concession & Parking is OPEN for the 2026 season. Thank you Beach Bums for making WSB the best beach around! Swim at your own risk.
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Enjoy the closest beachfront parking on Lake Michigan's southern shore! β˜€οΈ Wells Street Beach – Back for Summer 2025! Wells Street Beach offers beachfront parking and concessions on the shores of Lake Michigan. Find us in Miller, Indiana, just a short drive from Chicago, Michigan City, LaPorte, and Valparaiso. Enjoy a day on the beach with family and friends or stop by for lunch!

πŸ“ Privately Owne

d - We reserve the right to ask you to leave.
🚫 No entry 2 hours before closing
πŸ’΅ Cash Only
πŸ…ΏοΈ $15/vehicle on weekends and holidays
$13/vehicle on weekdays
No outs-and-ins
Vehicles in the lot after closing will be towed.

⏰ WSB is Central Time Zone
Always weather pending
All season long - Hours subject to change due to weather, daylight, and unforeseen circumstances.

🐾 No animals
πŸ”₯ No grilling
🚐 No trailers or RVs
🚫 No alcohol or drugs
🚫 No loitering or hanging out in the parking lot

🌊 Know Before You Go
Unguarded beachβ€”there are NO lifeguards on this section of the beach. The beach in front of WSB is owned and patrolled by Marquette Park. Patrols include both Gary Police and Lake County Sheriff. Please follow all beach rules and be considerate and kind to all patrols. Let the concession stand know if you ever have an issue on the beach.

πŸ–οΈ Plan a Safe Beach Day
Always stay within arms reach of children. The lake bottom changes constantly with drop-offs and uneven footing. Waves, winds, and currents on Lake Michigan can be dangerous. Please educate yourself, your family, and friends with best practices from the following websites:
http://www.coldwatersafety.org/nccwsRules3.html
https://glsrp.org/
https://greatlakeswatersafety.org/

🌊 Be aware of:
Offshore winds (south wind)
– blow inflatables out into deeper water. Don't chase inflatables, balls ect... Always have an anchor for your float or leave it in the car on these days. Longshore currents (east/west winds)
– move you sideways along the shore - right and left - putting you in a different spot than you were

Rip currents (typically north winds)
– this section of water has a pull to it. This pull/current will pull you out with the water. As waves come in the water always finds the easiest way to go back out, most often found in a deeper area between two shallower areas

If caught in a current:
Don't try to swim into the current; they can be very strong. Always swim perpendicular or at an angle. Don't panic if caught in a current - catch your breath and think about what to do. FLIP – FLOAT – FOLLOW
πŸ” Flip onto your back
🌊 Float, stay calm, and conserve energy
πŸŠβ€β™‚οΈ Follow the current, then swim at an angle back to shore

πŸ§’ Always stay within arm’s reach of children near water. Keep an eye on them and stay close! Check Beach Hazards for weather and water conditions:
https://www.weather.gov/greatlakes/beachhazards
Check bacteria levels here: *after Memorial Day https://portal.idem.in.gov/BeachAlert/beach-info/?id=d5d38d36-f3bf-eb11-8236-001dd804b938
https://www.in.gov/idem/lakemichigan/lake-michigan-beach-monitoring-and-notification-program/

LIVE on Indiana Weather Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9pUPh8JYgg
https://www.youtube.com/


Get some fresh air and sunshine, but please enjoy the beach responsibly!

06/25/2026

Thursday
June 25
Parking opens at 9
Concession opens at 11:30
Cash only
No animals

Pictures and updates to come

UPDATE
There is a water quality advisory from all the rain the past few days.

06/24/2026

Great info/ study.
It's not that you will be swimming straight out but being in the lake, even close in, pending what the conditions are can be exhausting.

Please watch.
When I did, when I skipped the ad, it sent me back to the beginning of the video - justvwatch it from the beginning again and it'll go through with out ad the 2nd time. At least that was my experience.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/196kocB1UQ/

Wednesday June 24CLOSEDForecast us for rain starting a by 11 for a few hours, then a break then again in the afternoon. ...
06/24/2026

Wednesday
June 24
CLOSED
Forecast us for rain starting a by 11 for a few hours, then a break then again in the afternoon.

Man oh man- July has to be better than June!

Good night beach bums! Love seeing this fantastic sand wall that I believe was built today.
06/24/2026

Good night beach bums!
Love seeing this fantastic sand wall that I believe was built today.

We want to acknowledge the missing child in Michigan City.  Reports say entered the water, did not return out.  Body has...
06/23/2026

We want to acknowledge the missing child in Michigan City. Reports say entered the water, did not return out. Body has not been recovered. Some first responders (dive team) injured during search. And send our heartfelt concern and we share in the sadness. Overwhelming sadness.

This is the nightmare of a potential drowning. The person/ child, family, first responders, friends, beach goers, local community and larger water community- It affects everyone in a devastating way.

It is why we post conditions and so many water safety messages. We don't mention pier safety often because there is not one readily available when parking at WSB. There is a lot to know about being on or near a pier. Primarily don't swim near one and stay off on wavy days when waves break onto of it

Water safety is a personal responsibility- knowing limits, safe for one IS NOT safe for all or another. There are drowning on wavy days and flat days.

Water safety is not always common sense. It is learned. It is researched. It is practiced. It is discussed. Water safety education is important for all beach goers. The Great Lakes are not the same as a pool, inland lake or ocean. Each local area is/ can be different. Each has different rules. Follow local rules.

Being in the lake on a wavy day is an endurance event. Up to 200 waves in 15 minutes can hit you. Our wave frequency is high. Our sand is fine and always moving- creating uneven bottom, especially during and after a wavy day, causing it to be challenging to walk/ maintain balance. Sandbars form with small and big drop offs.
Waves turn up the sand making water visibility zero.

Floating is a survival skill but more challenging in whitewater/ waves.

Life jackets keep you floating on top of the water, head out! Not just for kids but on wavy days kids and adults could benefit from wearing one. Adults watching kids especially because it is hard to hold a child and keep yourself up.

Rip currents are not the only water movement/ current that can cause issues. You need to be aware of all of them.

The combination of hazards and lack of experience and skills is usually the cause of a drowning. Sounds like common sense- but if you don't know. You don't know.

Any kids that go in need to be within arms reach of a QUALIFIED adult for the current conditions.

Seek out information, practice skills. Take precautions. Know when to not go in for you.

We love our beachbums and the lake.
Please be careful.
Our first responders need to be trained for these conditions and in top condition to handle them. Swift water training and a periodic swim in the lake is insufficient for great lake rescues and recovery situations. We want all first responders to be safe as well!

Tuesday June 23rdPics at 8:30 am today. Getting ready to openSee you at the beach!
06/23/2026

Tuesday June 23rd
Pics at 8:30 am today.
Getting ready to open
See you at the beach!

Tuesday June 23We will be OPEN! YAYParking opens at 9Concession by 11:30 Cash only for bothNo animals Unguarded beach in...
06/23/2026

Tuesday June 23
We will be OPEN! YAY
Parking opens at 9
Concession by 11:30
Cash only for both
No animals
Unguarded beach infront of WSB
I forgot my thermometer guessing water 65....

Photos taken at 6:30 am this morning

Beach hazards showing yellow today then it drops down tonight. Moderate to strong longshore, 1-3' waves. A lot of motion in the water now but will probably get less and less.
Lots of potholes as you walk.
Water no visibility with sand turned up.

Know your ability!
Adults stay within arms reach of kids and have the ability to handle the conditions.
Great day for life jackets

Pls read our fb abouts description tab for important information about parking here and water safety.

06/23/2026

Tuesday June 23
OPEN at 9 a.m.
Concession opens by 11:30
Cash only
No animals
Unguarded beach infront of WSB

Video taken at 6:30. Beach hazards showing yellow today then it drops down tonight.

6:30 a.m. - Moderate to strong longshore going east to west (right to left facing the lake) 1-3' waves. A lot of motion in the water now but will probably get less.
Lots of potholes as you walk.
Water no visibility with sand turned up.
Can't see sandbar locations.

Know your ability.
Water watchers and responsible adults should be within arms reach of kids.
Adult supervision should have the water skills for the conditions of the day.
It's a great idea for adults to wear life jackets to as it makes it easier to assist the kids.

It's windy! Watch that flag blow! Click on the luve camera link.
06/22/2026

It's windy! Watch that flag blow! Click on the luve camera link.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Address

9501 Lake Shore Drive
Gary, IN
46403

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+12199388275

Alerts

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