Spring Mill State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spring Mill State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Spring Mill State Park Location in Indiana
Location	Lawrence County, Indiana, USA
Nearest city	Mitchell, Indiana
Area	1,358 acres (5.50 km2)
Visitors	627,566 (in 2003-2004)
Governing body	Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Spring Mill State Park is a cool place to visit in Indiana. It covers about 1,358 acres, which is like 1,000 football fields! You can find it south of Bloomington, near the town of Mitchell. The park has lots of fun things to explore. There's an old pioneer village, a special memorial for an astronaut, a nature center, and places to camp.

This park is built on a unique type of land called the Mitchell Karst Plain. This means the ground is made of limestone, which water can easily dissolve. Over time, this has created amazing caves and sinkholes all around the park. Some of the famous caves here are Bronson Cave, Twin Caves, Shawnee Cave, and Hamer Cave. You can even take a boat tour into Twin Caves, going about 500 feet inside!

A part of the park has very old trees that have never been cut down. This area is called the Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve. The Mitchell Karst Plain also has over 1,000 sinkholes in every square mile! Many parts of the park, like the Spring Mill Inn, Spring Mill Lake, and most trails, were built in the 1930s. This work was done by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Explore the Pioneer Village

Imagine stepping back in time to the 1860s! Spring Mill State Park has a special pioneer village in a valley. It has a historic watermill and 19 other old buildings. A stream flows through the village, powered by water from Hamer Cave. This water turns the big wheel of the watermill.

People called heritage interpreters work in the village. They dress up in old clothes and show you how people lived and worked long ago. You can see them doing crafts and skills from the 1860s. There's also an old cemetery, Hamer Cemetery, south of the village. The park bought this 295-acre area from a cement company for just one dollar! People like Richard Lieber helped restore the village in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Gus Grissom Memorial: A Space Hero

One of the most exciting parts of the park is the memorial for Gus Grissom. He was born in Mitchell and was one of the first American astronauts, part of the original Mercury Seven team. Sadly, he passed away in the Apollo 1 accident.

The memorial has a real spacecraft from Grissom's Gemini 3 space flight! He nicknamed it the Molly Brown. You can also watch a short video about his life and see cool things like a space suit, helmet, and other personal items from his time as an astronaut. It's a great way to learn about space exploration!

Nature Fun and Camping

If you love nature, the park's Nature Center is a must-see. It's open from spring to fall. Inside, you can see live snakes, watch birds from a special window, and learn about local plants and animals. There's even a fun area just for kids! In the winter, a smaller Nature Nook is available at the Spring Mill Inn.

Want to stay overnight? The campground at Spring Mill State Park is awesome. It has 188 campsites with electricity, a fire ring, and a picnic table. There are also simpler campsites and youth camping areas. The campground has four "comfort stations" with modern restrooms and showers. You can also find a camp store for snacks and supplies.

Gallery

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  Spring Mill Inn

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  Water Mill at Spring Mill State Park

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  Small village house overlooking north village garden in summer 2004.

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  Twin Caves boat tour

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  Amish family members walking through Spring Mill village

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  Village leather shop

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  Gus Grissom's and John Young's Gemini 3 capsule, nicknamed Molly Brown