Indiana Dunes State Park

Transcript:

Greetings, today we visit Indiana Dunes State Park.

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, visitors to Indiana Dunes State Park may bask in the sun on the park’s beach, picnic along the lake, camp or access many trails in the park or at nearby Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The dunes region around the southern shore of Lake Michigan had suffered great damage during the construction of Chicago and the surrounding area. Dredging of sand to make concrete and other construction projects had destroyed much of the habitat of the sand dunes ecosystem. The Prairie Club in Chicago had spent considerable effort to awaken the area’s population to the value of the dunes. On June 3, 1917, the Prairie Club held a pageant in the area that is now Dunes State Park. The success of their pageant led to the creation of Indiana’s Dune State Park in 1925.

Formed in 1908, the Club played an active role in organizing hikes into the country for harried city people to get back to nature and enjoy the natural world. The Club saw the unique habitat of the dunes area in Indiana and organized many hikes into the area. As people became aware of the area, efforts began to try to preserve it. The organization built a beach house on the dunes at Tremont in 1913. That same year the organization hosted their first event there, a masque called “The Spirit of the Dunes.” The event grew in size and scope each year. The 1917 event helped turn the tide.

The Prairie Club hosted two performances at their beach house. Billed as an “historical pageant,” the event recounted the history of the dunes area, comprised of five episodes that covered the historical period of the Amerindians, French, British and American presence. The extravaganza included Amerindian songs, dance, and music from the various peoples that inhibitive the region. The event drew over 50,000 people over the two days it ran. Their ultimate goal was the establishment of a National Park along the lakeshore. In this, they did not succeed until 1966. However, the State of Indiana, seeing the ecological value of the area, established a state park along the Dunes in 1925.

Efforts to acquire land for a state park in the dunes area accelerated in the mid 1920’s. In June, 1925, Indiana Governor Ed Jackson visited the dunes area with Indiana State Parks founder Richard Lieber and came away favorably impressed. On August 29, 1925 the State of Indiana purchased the first parcel of 110 acres, which included the Mt. Tom and the surrounding area. In December the State purchased an additional 334 acres. The nucleus of what would become the 2182 acre Dunes State Park sprang into existance.

Hiking:
Hikers will find over 16 miles of trails of varying length and difficulty. Most are moderate trails, however there are easy and rugged ones as well. Dune State Park provides an access point for the longer Calumet Trail as well.

Swimming – Beach
Visitors may swim on the sandy beach that lies along the shore of Lake Michigan in specially designated areas when a lifeguard is on duty. Admission to the beach, which opens the Saturday before Memorial day through Labor Day, is free. Restrooms are available during those times. The historic Indiana Dunes State Park Pavilion is located at the beach.

Camping:
Electric – 140 Sites (all 50 amp service)
Youth Tent Area – Nissaki Youth Tent Area
Indiana Dunes State Park Pavilion

Picnic Areas and Shelters
Visitors will find picnic areas and shelters scattered around the park. Some of these shelters may be reserved for family reunions and other special events.

The only fishing allowed at Dune State Park is smelt fishing. Smelt is a small fish used as bait to catch larger fish like salmon, thoughs some like to fry them and eat the entire fish. Anglers use hand nets to catch them. The fish usually swim in huge schools along the shore.

Other Activities:
Nature Center
Cross-country Skiing
Birding – Bird Observation Platform
Wetland Observation Platform
Dunes Nature Preserve

Contact Information:
Indiana Dunes State Park
1600 N. 25 E.
Chesterton, IN 46304
(219) 926-1952

You will find complete information about Dunes State Park in my book, Indiana Dunes State Park. You can find the book on my website, www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is part of the series Indiana State Park Travel Guide Series. On the web site you will find links to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple as well as many other online book retailers in softbound, ebook and audio book formats. While you are on the web site, please subscribe by registering your email address in the subscribe button. When I post something, usually about 3 – 5 times weekly, you will receive an email. The posts include podcast episodes, You Tube videos as well as other content, including the publication of a new book. Residents of southeastern Indiana can find them at the Walnut Street Variety Shoppe on George Street in Batesville. This podcast will be available as a video in You tube on my Mossy Feet Books channel, which you can subscribe to. You can also follow me on Facebook at Indiana Places and History page. If you follow me on Facebook, you will be notified of when I publish a new book, usually about 10 new books a year. I also post tons of other content as well
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