Escape to the State Park

~by Bob Gustin

The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things about how people interact with each other. But in many ways, Brown County State Park—and our interaction with nature in general— remains a constant.

The park’s water fountains have been shut off and the outdoor swimming pool is closed. All park employees are wearing masks. The park honors Governor Eric Holcomb’s mandatory mask requirement for most indoor and certain outdoor activities.

Meanwhile, Brown County State Park is the quintessential site for social distancing. Patrick Haulter, interpretive naturalist at the park, noted that many people come to the park for some solitude, to take time for reflection, or simply enjoy the natural beauty. Most picnic tables scattered throughout the park are singles. Many parking spaces will only accommodate one vehicle.

If anything, the pandemic has resulted in an increase in visitors to the park, as people grow weary of staying at home and need an escape. Haulter likens it to an oasis.

“Through the park, we’ve learned how important outdoor spaces are,” he said. “They are a refuge for people.

“It has been challenging and rewarding. It’s amazing to see people come to the park who have never been here before and to watch them realize how important these natural resources are.”

Summer months have seen busy campgrounds and the usual activity on hiking and bicycle trails. For a short time in the spring, park gates were unmanned while campgrounds, park headquarters, and the Nature Center were closed. Open gates resulted in a downturn in revenue, Haulter said, but the state’s parks were never totally shut down.

And though the park’s outdoor pool is closed, the water park at Abe Martin Lodge remains open, but limited to guests at the lodge.

Some of the state’s nature programs have become virtual classrooms, including Facebook features with music and video. On Trail Tuesdays, video hikes of the park’s trails are featured. Other videos have focused on the Civilian Conservation Corps work during the 1930s, Weed Patch Hill, water features, wildlife, and wildflowers.

Haulter and his friend Don Glass have also developed a new and improved audio auto tour of the State Park that takes about an hour to enjoy. To hear the tour visit <www. soundcloud.com> or the SoundCloud app and search for “Brown County State Park Auto Tour.”

At the Nature Center, where Haulter sometimes hangs out, most programs are still open, though the sit-down lecture features and craft programs have been suspended. Those have been replaced with outdoor lectures, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Some programs have focused on campgrounds. The popular bird observation room has been closed, with feeders moved to an observation area outdoors. Nature Center exhibits, including the rare Timber Rattlesnake and other wildlife, remain open, but with ropes and one-way arrows leading visitors through the building.

Cleaning procedures at the Nature Center and elsewhere have been intensified, and hours shortened. The center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. That allows for staff members to feed animals and clean facilities more efficiently. Haulter said the facility’s later opening time has worked well because traffic was light during earlier hours and park employees learned it was the best time to clean and sanitize.

“We take it week by week,” Haulter said. “We’ve been following whatever (directives) come our way and being creative.”

Operated by the Department of Natural Resources, most state properties are open, including state parks, inns and restaurants, state forests, fish and wildlife areas, nature preserves, state recreation areas, and beaches, according to the DNR website. Exceptions include some guided cave tours; all public outdoor swimming pools; drinking fountains at all locations; and the Customer Service Center in downtown Indianapolis, which is accessible by telephone. Fishing tournaments are limited to 250 people or fewer with social distancing. Self-guided cave tours at some locations are open, but require permits as usual from the Indiana Karst Conservancy. Several DNR properties with heavy usage have reached parking capacity on busy weekends and gates have been closed or vehicles only admitted when others leave, the website states.

Brown County State Park has nearly 16,000 acres of forest land, formed when glaciers in the last Ice Age stopped just north of the park, but meltwaters formed a rugged terrain. It is the largest park in the state, well known for its autumn colors, nationally recognized bicycle trails, and scenic overlooks. A separate horseman’s campground has about 70 miles of horse trails. Other attractions include tennis courts, playgrounds, open fields, interpretive naturalist services, and a 90-foot fire tower which affords an expansive view of the park.

For more information: call (812) 988-6406, visit <www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2988.htm>, or follow Brown County State Park on Facebook. •