Brown County State Park
Encyclopedia
Brown County State Park is an Indiana state park on 15776 acres (63.8 km²) near Nashville
in Brown County
, Indiana
in the United States
. The park opened to the public in 1929, and is Indiana's largest state park
. It was the most visited Indiana State Park in 2008 with more than 1.3 million visitors per year. It is located along the Knobstone Escarpment
and features dramatic views from its highest elevations.
constructed many of the buildings, roads, shelters, ovens and trails in existence today.
, is located within the confines of the park, which is sometimes referred to as the "Little Smokies" because of frequent low lying fogs in the forested valleys of the park. The park has multiple campgrounds, RV sites, and a horseman's camp.
The peak visitation is in the fall during the leaf changing season. A significant portion of the park's annual visitors come during this time. The park affords a number of vistas that overlook miles of wide swaths of deciduous
forest
that display a large array of colors in the fall.
Brown County was the site of the biking events at the 1987 Pan American Games
. The Brown County area is known as one of the best mountain biking locations in the Midwest.
, raccoon
, eastern gray squirrel
and chipmunk
. Birds in the park include robin
, white-breasted nuthatch
, blue jay
, cardinal
, junco
, crow
and wild turkey
.
Nashville, Indiana
Nashville is a town in Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana, United States. The population was 803 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Brown County and is the county's only incorporated town...
in Brown County
Brown County, Indiana
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population is 15,242. The county seat is Nashville.- History :...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park opened to the public in 1929, and is Indiana's largest state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
. It was the most visited Indiana State Park in 2008 with more than 1.3 million visitors per year. It is located along the Knobstone Escarpment
Knobstone Escarpment
The Knobstone Escarpment is a rugged geologic region in Southern Indiana. Physically, the Knobstone Escarpment is the most rugged terrain in Indiana. The highest hill in the area is Weed Patch Hill, with an elevation of 1,056 feet above sea level....
and features dramatic views from its highest elevations.
History
In 1924, Brown County State Game Preserve was opened to the public. In 1929, Brown County commissioners gave just over 1000 acres (4 km²) of land adjacent to the Game Preserve for Brown County State Park. Later, the game preserve lands were sold to the Dept. of Conservation and added to the state park. In 1934, the Civilian Conservation CorpsCivilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
constructed many of the buildings, roads, shelters, ovens and trails in existence today.
Description
Included within the park boundaries are two lakes: Ogle Lake at 17 acre (0.06879662 km²) in size, and Strahl Lake covering 7 acre (0.02832802 km²). There are 70 miles (112.7 km) of bridle trails and 20 miles (32.2 km) of hiking trails. Hiking trails range from easy to rugged terrain and 0.5 to 3 miles in length. The third highest point in Indiana, Weed Patch HillWeed Patch Hill
Weed Patch Hill, also known as Weed Patch Knob , is the third highest summit in the U.S. state of Indiana. Located in Washington Township and Brown County State Park, it is the highest point in the Knobstone Escarpment....
, is located within the confines of the park, which is sometimes referred to as the "Little Smokies" because of frequent low lying fogs in the forested valleys of the park. The park has multiple campgrounds, RV sites, and a horseman's camp.
The peak visitation is in the fall during the leaf changing season. A significant portion of the park's annual visitors come during this time. The park affords a number of vistas that overlook miles of wide swaths of deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
that display a large array of colors in the fall.
Brown County was the site of the biking events at the 1987 Pan American Games
1987 Pan American Games
The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, from 7 August to 23 August 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas competed in 30 sports earning...
. The Brown County area is known as one of the best mountain biking locations in the Midwest.
Fauna
Animals common in the park include white-tailed deerWhite-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, eastern gray squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
and chipmunk
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
. Birds in the park include robin
American Robin
The American Robin or North American Robin is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after the European Robin because of its reddish-orange breast, though the two species are not closely related, with the European robin belonging to the flycatcher family...
, white-breasted nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small songbird of the nuthatch family which breeds in old-growth woodland across much of temperate North America. It is a stocky bird, with a large head, short tail, powerful bill and strong feet. The upperparts are pale blue-gray, and the face and underparts are...
, blue jay
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in...
, cardinal
Cardinal (bird)
The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae ....
, junco
Junco
A Junco , genus Junco, is a small North American bird. Junco systematics are still confusing after decades of research, with various authors accepting between three and twelve species...
, crow
Crow
Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...
and wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
.
Facilities
- Abe Martin Lodge
- Bridle trails and saddle barn
- Cabins
- Camping
- Dumping station
- Hiking trails
- Indoor Water Park
- Mountain bike trails
- Nature Center
- Playgrounds
- Rental and recreation buildings
- Shelters
- Olympic size swimming pool
- Tennis courts