McCormick's Creek State Park: Indiana State Park Travel Guide Series, #1

By Mossy Feet Books

Established as Indiana's first state park in 1916, McCormick's Creek State Park offers rugged hiking, a waterfall, an inn and an excellent campground.

McCormick's Creek Falls

McCormick's Creek Falls cascades down a ten foot drop into the canyon, providing a lovely backdrop to the forest behind it. Easily visible from an overlook, the adventurous can hike down into the canyon on Trail 3 for a closer look.

Hikers will find over 14 miles of hiking, ranging from rugged to handicap accessible.

Camping

Campers have the choice of 189 electric sites and 32 primitive sites. The modern campground comfort stations have hot showers and toilets.

McCormick's Creek Fire Tower

Visitors can climb the McCormick's Creek Fire Tower for a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

Owen County Tourism Guide

Indiana's Owen County has more than just the state park. Cataract Falls, Indiana's largest waterfall, is nearby as are many other nature preserves and an historic theater in Spencer, Indiana called the Tivoli Theatre. The book, McCormick's Creek State Park can serve as your ideal travel guide for Owen County.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mossy Feet Books
• Release date: Jan 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224405763

Book preview

History of McCormick's Creek State Park

Prior to settlement many Amerindian tribes hunted the area's rich wildlife population and utilized many of the other food sources in the area. Tribes using the land included the Miami, Pottawatomie, Eel River Indians and Delaware tribes. Game animals included white tailed deer, wild turkeys, bison, squirrels and rabbits. The forests yielded a rich supply of nuts and acorns while the forests floor provided blackberries, raspberries, plum, persimmons and grapes.

Settler John McCormick

Early settler John McCormick homesteaded about 100 acres of land in the area around the water fall on what became known as McCormick's Creek in 1816. Numerous attempts to build a gristmill failed because the creek's water flow was not sufficient. The soil was too poor to farm and the difficult terrain made transportation of the quarried limestone in the area almost impossible. Physician Frederick Denkewalter, impressed with the tranquil atmosphere of the site, established a sanitarium on the area now occupied by Canyon Inn in 1888. When Dr. Denkewalter passed away in 1914, the State of Indiana purchased his estate for the establishment of a state park. The founder of the Indiana State Park system, Richard Lieber, had become aware of the area and pressed for the property to be used as one of the state's first state parks. In honor of Indiana's centennial in 1916, the state established the state park system, with McCormick's Creek becoming the first state park on July 4, 1916. The park's dedication was part of the state's Centennial celebration. Originally 350 acres, the park has grown to 1924 acres through the acquisition of surround farmland.

John Wesley McCormick, I (August 30, 1754 - April 18,