Whitewater Memorial State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitewater Memorial |
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Entrance sign at Whitewater Memorial State Park
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| Type | State Park |
| Location | Indiana USA |
| Nearest city | Liberty, Indiana |
| Area | 1,710 acres (7 km2) |
| Created | 1949 |
| Operated by | Indiana DNR |
Whitewater Memorial is a fantastic state park in Indiana, USA. It's the sixteenth state park ever created in Indiana! This huge park is about 47 miles (76 km) southwest of Dayton, Ohio. It covers about 1,710 acres (6.9 km2) and is the third-largest state park in Indiana. The park stretches for 17 miles (27 km) between Brookville, Indiana, and Liberty, Indiana. You can find it right next to Indiana State Road 101.
The park was opened in 1949. It was created to honor American soldiers. These brave people gave their lives in World War I & II. The park is located in Union County.
Discover Whitewater Memorial State Park!
Whitewater Memorial State Park is a wonderful place to visit. It offers lots of fun activities for everyone. You can explore nature, enjoy the water, and learn about history.
Fun on the Water
One of the main attractions here is the Brookville Reservoir. This is a big, human-made lake. The United States Army Corps of Engineers created it in 1974. It covers a huge area of about 5,260 acres (21.3 km2)! A very tall dam helps create this lake. The dam is 181 feet (55 m) high and 2,800 feet (850 m) long. Inside the park, there is also a smaller lake called Whitewater Lake. This lake is about 200 acres (0.81 km2).
There are many cool things to do on the water:
- You can go on houseboats.
- Swimming is popular in the lake.
- If you like fishing, you can try to catch bass, bluegill, and other small fish.
Exploring Nature
Whitewater Memorial State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures.
- There are five different hiking trails to explore.
- If you like horses, there's a nine-mile (14 km) trail just for horseback riding.
- You can also find an archery range near the reservoir. This is a fun place to practice your bow and arrow skills.
- Sometimes, the park even offers fun hayrides!
The park is home to many animals. Hunters sometimes visit to find deer, rabbits, and raccoons. But there are also many animals you can just watch and enjoy. Look for woodpeckers and owls flying around!
Within the state park, there's a special place called the Hornbeam Nature Preserve. This preserve protects rare hornbeam trees. It's about 37 acres (150,000 m2) in size. It was set aside to protect these unique trees in 1974.
Special Events
Whitewater Memorial State Park sometimes hosts important events. For example, the park welcomed the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall from September 4 to 8, 2008. This was a special traveling monument. It was placed on the grassy area near the beach. During this event, veterans from the four nearby counties were honored.
