Potato Creek State Park facts for kids

Potato Creek State Park is a super fun place to visit in Indiana! It's a state park located in the northern part of Indiana, about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of a city called South Bend. Even though it's one of the newer state parks, lots of people love to visit it. It's actually the third most-visited park in Indiana!

You can visit Potato Creek State Park all year long. There are many exciting things to do, like fishing, hiking, camping, and even mountain biking. The park has different natural areas to explore. These include the 327-acre (1.3 km²) Worster Lake, old fields, thick woodlands, and restored prairies. You can also find diverse restored wetlands here. Each area offers different chances to see cool plants and amazing wildlife. A special part of the park, called "Swamp Rose Nature Preserve," is mostly wetlands or part of Worster Lake.

Park History: How It Began

Early Days and Native Americans

Long ago, Native Americans lived in this area. They hunted and fished, and they also gathered special plants. One plant they found was called "wild potatoes" from the creek banks. This is how Potato Creek got its name!

In the 1830s, settlers moved into the area. They cut down the forests and turned the wetlands into farms. People also built dams on Potato Creek. These dams helped power mills, which were like early factories. You can still find an old cemetery, Porter Cemetery, near the park's center. Some of the first settlers are buried there. Before and after the American Civil War, there was also an African American settlement in this area.

Creating Worster Lake

About 100 years after the land became farms, the soil started to get tired. A man named Darcy Worster had a great idea. He wanted to bring back the natural areas. He also worked hard to get a dam built on the creek. This dam would create a big lake for fishing and fun activities.

Darcy Worster was very determined! He even sent handmade insects to politicians to "bug" them about his idea. His efforts were paused during World War II. But finally, in 1977, the reservoir was created. The beautiful lake you see today is named Worster Lake, in his honor.

Becoming a State Park

On June 6, 1977, Indiana Governor Otis R. Bowen officially opened six square miles as the Potato Creek Recreation Area. Later, in 1983, it became a full state park. A local farmer and politician named Dick Mangus helped make this happen. He had a special connection to the area, as part of his family's farm was used for a road nearby. A section of that road is now named after him.

Important Bird Area

In 2006, Potato Creek State Park became known as an important place for birds. This is because many migratory birds visit the park. These are birds that travel long distances each year. You can also see native birds that live there all the time. These include osprey, wild turkey, and many different songbirds.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Potato Creek State Park has many awesome facilities and activities for everyone to enjoy!

• Biking:
  • Paved Bicycle Trail - 3.2 miles (5.1 km) long
  • Mountain Bike Trail - 6.6 miles (10.6 km) long
• Hiking: Explore many different Hiking Trails
• Nature and Wildlife:
  • Nature Center: Learn about the park's plants and animals
  • Wildlife Observation Area: A great spot to watch animals
• Picnic and Play:
  • Picnicking areas
  • Playground Equipment for kids
• Water Fun:
  • Swimming / Beach
  • Fishing
  • Fish Cleaning Station
  • Boat Launch Ramps
  • Boating (only electric trolling motors allowed on the lake)
• Camping and Stays:
  • Cabins - 17 available
  • Camping - Reservations are recommended!
    • Class A sites - 287 spots
    • Horsemen's Class A sites - 70 spots for campers with horses
    • Youth Tent Areas for groups
  • Camp Store for supplies
  • Dumping Station for RVs
• Horseback Riding:
  • Bridle Trails for horses
• Winter Activities:
  • Tubing Hill for sledding fun
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Ice fishing

Equipment You Can Rent

Don't have your own gear? No problem! You can rent lots of equipment right at the park:

• Bicycles
• Paddleboats
• Rowboats
• Kayaks
• Canoes
• Trolling Motor + Rowboat combo
• Recreation Building for events