Muscatatuck County Park facts for kids

Muscatatuck County Park is a fun place to visit near Vernon, Indiana in Jennings County. It's a park where you can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. It used to be called Vinegar Mills State Park and later Muscatatuck State Park.

Park History

Early Days and Name Changes

Muscatatuck County Park first opened on May 17, 1921. It started as a state park called Vinegar Mills State Park. The land, about 86 acres, was given by Jennings County to the state of Indiana.

The park got its first name from an old mill. This mill was used to cut stone during the early pioneer days. It was located along the Muscatatuck River. Soon after, the park's name was changed to Muscatatuck State Park. This new name honored the Native American name for the river. Many believe "Muscatatuck" means "winding waters."

Park Development and Improvements

When it was a state park, Muscatatuck didn't have many buildings. There was a small inn, which was a brick house called the William Read Home. It worked like a bed and breakfast. There were also tents with wooden floors for visitors. The park stayed mostly a forest. It was a popular stop for people traveling between Madison, Indiana and Indianapolis.

Interestingly, this park was the first state park in Indiana that didn't need money from the state government. It never charged an entry fee. Even though the founder of Indiana's state park system, Richard Lieber, thought parks should charge admission, Muscatatuck managed on its own.

During the Great Depression, two special groups helped the park. These were the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). They made small improvements, like building roads and a fire tower.

The Vinegar Mill

Inside the park, there are ruins of an old water-powered mill. It was built in the 1830s and was first called Stone Mill. This mill used a large wheel to cut building stones. These stones were used for things like window sills, door frames, and steps. Some stones cut by this mill can still be seen in the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon today. People say the mill got the name "Vinegar Mill" because its machinery looked like a cider press.

In 1962, the state park had grown to cover about 260 acres.

Changes Over Time

From State Park to County Park

In 1956, Muscatatuck State Park changed its purpose. It became a state game farm. Here, they focused on raising birds like quail and pheasant.

By 1962, the park also opened the first youth camp in Indiana for the general public. This camp was for all young people, not just those who had been in trouble.

In 1968, the land was given back to Jennings County. Since then, it has been a county park. For about twenty years, the park didn't have much money. But by the 1990s, it started getting more funds and community support. This helped the park grow and improve.

Activities at the Park

Today, Muscatatuck County Park is a great place for outdoor fun. One popular activity is mountain biking. The park offers trails for bikers to explore the natural surroundings.

Important Note

It's good to know that Muscatatuck County Park is different from the nearby Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. They are two separate places, even though their names are similar.