Prophetstown State Park Is Turning 20 Years Old And It's The Perfect Spot For A Day Trip
By Tori Jane|Published January 09, 2024
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Hidden away near Battle Ground northeast of Lafayette is an amazing state park – Indiana’s youngest – that holds the key to much of our state’s history. Snuggled right about where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash River, this 900-acre sanctuary offers a glimpse into the Indiana that was long before any of us. It’s Prophetstown State Park, and hey, I’ve got great news: this year, the park turns 20 years old, and best of all, we get to celebrate. Sure, there won’t be cake and ice cream… but you can make it a day trip, and that’s honestly even better. Of the 24 state parks in Indiana, this one’s one of my favorites – come out and see why!
Shaped over many millennia by natural processes like wind, water, and ice, this region is truly Indiana at its best.
This park makes for an awesome day trip destination, as it's just big enough that a few hours won't cut it but multiple days might be more than plenty.
Thousands of years ago, Native American folks used this land as a fertile hunting ground, with plenty of game to choose from.
Today, the landscape has been restored to what it would have looked like back then; human hands originally developed the land, and now, human hands are helping it heal.
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You can learn about the Native people who used to call this region home - as well as all the details about the geological history of the area - while you're here.
It's also home to an awesome playground and a pool, with a 30-foot waterslide and all the delights of a water park for much, much more affordable prices.
Kids three and under are free, and folks four and up are just $5 (on top of entry fees for the park, that is). The pool is seasonal, but the camping and amenities are not. This is a fun place to go camping even when it's cold.
Visitors can also explore a 1920s-era barn and learn all about how folks lived here way back when.
There's no limit to all the cool stuff you can learn here - it's up to you, of course, to guide yourself, but that's my favorite kind of park. It's awesome to think that this wonderful place has been a part of our history for thousands of years - and only just recently (relatively speaking) became a designated Indiana state park.
Truly, the best way to celebrate Prophetstown State Park's 20th birthday is to show up.
Anniversary celebrations will occur on and around the date itself - August 24th, 2024.
Be sure to keep checking back to the official 20th Anniversary Celebration website for details as they come out. If you need a place to stay while you’re enjoying the festivities and don’t plan on camping here, check out the available places on Booking.com for some great deals.
Where are your favorite state parks in Indiana? Let me know!
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