Special Olympics Indiana announces 2027 Polar Plunge Dates at SKYLAKE Adventures

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Special Olympics Indiana announced on Thursday, Oct. 29, the opening of registration for its 2027 Polar Plunge season. The two-day season showcase is scheduled for March 5 and 6, 2027, at SKYLAKE Adventures just east of Sheridan.

The 2027 Special Olympics Indiana two-day Polar Plunge showcase event will feature a school plunge on Friday, March 5, followed by a community plunge on Saturday, March 6. Participants will brave the cold water of SKYLAKE’S six-acre lagoon to raise funds for year-round sports training, competition, health, and leadership programs for more than 20,000 Hoosiers with intellectual disabilities.

“Polar Plunge is about so much more than getting into cold water. It is about people coming together, challenging themselves and showing their commitment to our athletes,” said Jeff Mohler, president and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana. “We’re excited to bring this tradition to SKYLAKE Adventures and introduce participants to a new venue where we can continue building on the success of this important fundraiser.”

A new home for Polar Plunge

The 2027 event marks the first time SKYLAKE Adventures will host the Polar Plunge season showcase, which previously took place at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.

Opened in June 2026, SKYLAKE Adventures is a 133-acre outdoor adventure destination just north of Westfield’s Grand Park Sports Campus. Its six-acre lagoon, white-sand beaches, and outdoor gathering spaces will provide an ideal setting for the annual event.

“Special Olympics Indiana is an incredible organization and we’re honored to welcome Polar Plunge to SKYLAKE Adventures,” said Sean “Mouse” Howard, co-founder of SKYLAKE Adventures. “We built this destination around bringing people together and creating memorable experiences. Having the opportunity to support these athletes, their families and the entire Special Olympics community is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

During last week’s press conference, representatives demonstrated an ADA-accessible mat designed to provide a more accessible route into the lagoon for participants with mobility challenges, including individuals who use wheelchairs. The demonstration highlighted the organizations’ shared commitment to creating an inclusive experience for Polar Plunge participants.

Special Olympics athlete Sam Routt also participated in the announcement, sharing a personal perspective on the impact of Special Olympics Indiana and what Polar Plunge means to the athletes it supports.

Photo courtesy of SKYLAKE Adventures & Special Olympics Indiana

Registration is open now

According to Special Olympics Indiana, the 2027 Polar Plunge season will feature more than 20 events across the state from January through March. Individuals, families, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies and community organizations are encouraged to participate.

In 2026, more than 3,000 Hoosiers participated in Polar Plunge events statewide, raising more than $1 million for Special Olympics Indiana. Nearly 1,000 individuals have registered for the two events that will move to SKYLAKE Adventures in 2027.

For registration information, event details and the complete season schedule, visit PolarPlungeIN.org.

About Special Olympics Indiana
Special Olympics Indiana is a nonprofit organization that is part of the global Special Olympics movement, created by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities. Its vision is an inclusive world, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy, and fulfilling lives.