Turkey Run State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turkey Run State Park |
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Parke County, Indiana, USA |
| Nearest city | Marshall, Indiana |
| Area | 2,382 acres (964 ha) |
| Created | 1916 |
| Operated by | Indiana Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Official Website: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2964.htm |
Turkey Run State Park is a beautiful natural area in Parke County, Indiana. It is Indiana's second state park, located along State Road 47. The park opened in 1916, which was the same year Indiana celebrated 100 years of being a state.
No one is completely sure how the park got its name, "Turkey Run." The most popular idea is that wild turkeys used to gather in the park's deep, narrow valleys, called "gorges" or "runs." Early settlers could easily find and hunt them there. Today, Turkey Run State Park is famous for its hiking trails, the Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, and a cool suspension bridge over Sugar Creek. It also has places to camp and the historic Turkey Run Inn.
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Exploring Turkey Run State Park
Turkey Run State Park is a great place to explore nature. It has many unique features, from its deep canyons to its interesting history.
Park Location and Natural Features
Turkey Run State Park is about 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Shades State Park. Both parks are located along Sugar Creek. This creek has carved out amazing gorges in the sandstone rock. The type of sandstone found here is called Mansfield sandstone.
You can see cool rock formations like the Punchbowl on Trail 3. This was formed by ancient glaciers that left behind rocks that swirled around and carved out the stone.
Hiking Trails and Water Fun
The park has many trails for hikers. In the summer, when the water levels are low, it's easy to explore the canyons. A long suspension bridge crosses Sugar Creek, letting you reach trails on the other side. Trail 3 is very famous because it's rugged and has ladders and narrow, deep gorges.
Many people enjoy floating down Sugar Creek in inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks during summer. You can choose trips that are about 3-mile (4.8 km), 8-mile (13 km), or even 11-to-15-mile (18 to 24 km) long. In spring, after heavy rains or snow melt, the gorges can flood. Some adventurous hikers like to "creek stomp" then, but it can be dangerous due to fast water and slippery rocks.
Park Geology: How the Land Was Formed
The main features of Turkey Run State Park were created by water eroding the Mansfield sandstone. This sandstone formed a very long time ago, during the Carboniferous period. It was once the mouth of an ancient river, where sand and mud collected and hardened. This area also had swamps that formed coal, which was mined here in the past. You can still see a collapsed entrance to an old coal mine in the park.
Later, during the Ice Age (called the Pleistocene Epoch), melting glaciers carved the sandstone into the unique shapes you see today. The park also has other signs of glaciers, like large rocks left behind (called glacial erratics) and smooth canyons carved by the ice and water.
Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve
The Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve is a special area with many canyons cut into the sandstone. Rocky Hollow is the longest canyon. Falls Canyon has the park's only waterfall, which flows during wet seasons. There are six trails through this preserve, each with its own unique environment. Some trails might be muddy or impassable depending on the weather.
The park's suspension bridge, built in 1917–18, leads to this nature preserve. Rocky Hollow starts high up at 680 feet (210 m) and drops down to Sugar Creek at 540 feet (160 m). This preserve was named a National Natural Landmark in 1974 because of its special natural features.
History of Turkey Run State Park
The area known as Turkey Run was once called Bloomingdale Glens. The name "Turkey Run" likely came from the many wild turkeys that hid in the warm gorges, making them easy for early settlers to find.
Early Settlers and Land Preservation Efforts
The first white family to live in this wooded area was the Salmon Lusk family. Captain Salmon Lusk fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 and received land at Turkey Run for his service. His son, John Lusk, later owned the property. John loved nature and refused to sell the land to lumber companies, even though they offered a lot of money. In 1882, he allowed a railroad company to open a summer resort on the land, which stayed open until he died in 1915.
Saving Turkey Run: A Community Effort
In April 1915, people learned that the beautiful forest at Turkey Run was going to be sold. A local newspaper writer named Juliet V. Strauss wrote a letter to Indiana Governor Samuel M. Ralston. She asked him to save the 2,382 acres (964 hectares) forest from being cut down. Her letter helped Governor Ralston decide to create a special group called the Turkey Run Commission to protect the forest.
Richard Lieber, who was in charge of a state parks committee, also wanted to save Turkey Run. He thought Indiana should have a system of state parks to celebrate its 100th birthday as a state. Governor Ralston agreed, and Lieber joined the Turkey Run Commission. They hoped to raise money from people to buy the land. Many people donated, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Association and auto racing fan Arthur C. Newby.
Becoming a State Park
Even with all the effort, the state didn't win the first auction for Turkey Run in May 1916. A lumber company bought the land instead. But Richard Lieber didn't give up! He talked to the lumber company and convinced them to sell the land to the state for $40,200 in November 1916.
Before Turkey Run was bought, Lieber and his committee bought McCormick's Creek Canyon. This became Indiana's first state park. When Turkey Run was finally purchased, it became Indiana's second state park. Turkey Run State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, recognizing its importance.
Historic Buildings and Sites
Turkey Run State Park is home to several historic buildings that tell stories of the past.
Lusk Home and Mill Site
The Lusk Home and Mill Site is a special place within the park that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park actually grew around the Lusk family home, which Salmon Lusk built in 1841. He also built a mill nearby in 1826. The Lusk home and mill site were added to the National Register in 1974.
Richard Lieber Log Cabin
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Richard Lieber Log Cabin
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Richard Lieber Cabin, September 2012
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 Location in Parke County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Marshall, Indiana |
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| Architect | Daniel Gay, Richard Lieber |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000403 |
| Added to NRHP | May 4, 2001 |
The Richard Lieber Log Cabin is another historic site in Turkey Run State Park. It was built in 1848 from tulip trees, making it one of the oldest cabins of its kind in Indiana. This cabin was added to the National Register in 2001.
The cabin is named after Colonel Richard Lieber. He was the first director of Indiana's state parks system and worked hard to create the parks. Lieber found the cabin in 1918 and convinced the owner to move it 3 miles (4.8 km) to the park. It then became the park's office building. Today, the cabin is a museum that honors Lieber and the Indiana state park system.
Park Facilities and Camping
Turkey Run State Park offers many facilities for visitors. Campsites were first built in 1964. The park also has the Turkey Run Inn and cabins where guests can stay overnight. The inn was built around 1919, with additions made later.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a group that helped build parks during the Great Depression, built several cabins near the inn in 1941. They also built a Nature Center in 1942, which was originally a store. The Nature Center's outside was updated in 1986.
Images for kids
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Cox Ford Covered Bridge at Turkey Run
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Rock Formations along Turkey Run
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Rocky Hollow, a gorge at Turkey Run
