NUMBER 3: POTATO CREEK STATE PARK
This state park is only minutes from my home. I have spent a lot of time here and know the park extremely well. I rated this park #3 only because it is what I call a party park. (more about that in a minute.) Potato Creek is Indiana’s 2nd most used state park. As you can imagine it is always busy and the weekend camping is almost always full.
Party Park
Because of Potato Creeks close vicinity to Notre Dame, many football fans come into town and stay and camp at the park. Potato Creek is also the park that many college students use to go camping on fall and spring weekends. Not trying to make a sterotype about students and Notre Dame fans but camping and drinking seem to fit together along with loud cheering and noises. That is why I call this the party park of Indiana. This is a great park with huge grassy campsites. The park is less than 30 years old and close to South Bend, Mishawaka, Plymouth and only 5 miles from North Liberty, Indiana.
ACTIVITES AND FACILITES
Bicycles:
There is a bicycle trail of 3.3 paved miles and has some hilly and curvy stretches. Bicycle rentals are available, but it is much better to bring your own.
Camping: Campground is equipped with flush toilets, hot water, showers and electricity. No full hook-ups. Tent and trailer sites available and a separate horsemen’s campground.
There is a camp store open from May through Septemeber.
Cross Country Skiing: Ski equipment is not provided and there are over 8 miles of groomed trails when the snow is on. There is also tubing, sledding and ice fishing.
Family Cabins: Open year round and reservations taken by telephone, in person or mail. There are No Pets Allowed in cabins. Cabin will accommodate eight people. There are 2 bedrooms, bath, kitchen, dining area and screened porch.
Fishing: Bass, bluegill, etc. Must have Indiana State license and 14” minimum bass limit is in effect.
The park has picnic areas with tables, grills, toilet facilities, playground equipment, playfields and picnic shelters equipped with electricity. There is a free beach on the property with handicapped accessible area. Bathhouse and beach open Saturday before Memorial Day and no later than Labor Day.
HISTORY
Darcy Worster and fellow conservation club members first proposed a man-made reservoir on Potato Creek in the late 1930’s. Their project was halted by WWII, but Darcy Worster kept the dream alive by sending his hand-crafted insects to state officials to “bug” them about creating a park. In 1969 Darcy Worster dream became a reality as the area was designated to become a park.
Potato Creek State Park with 3,840 acres or six square miles was dedicated on June 6, 1977. The parks 327 acre Lake was name Worster in Dorcy’s honor.
Native Americans collected plants with potato-like roots growing along the creek. The early settlers’ English translation was “wild potato” hence the name potato creek. The park is located 3 miles east of North Liberty, Indiana on State Road 4. Many recreational facilities can be found at potato creek and visitors will find a variety of natural areas. Most of these areas were drastically altered by decades of farming and other land uses prior to the are becoming a park.
In the early 1990’s an active resource management program began at Potato Creek. These efforts will restore and maintain some of the park’s natural areas to condition found here before the area was settled in the early 1800’s. The natural wetlands had been drained fo farm the land over the last 100 years. Several of these are being restored to provide valuable habitat for a variety of plants and wildlife.
(Information from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in Indianapolis, In)
