Millions of midwest families visit Brown County State Park each year. They camp, hike, swim, fish, ride horseback, picnic and enjoy the natural beauty of the park located in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, just one hour south of Indianapolis and twenty minutes from the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. Couples love to marry in Brown County (Indiana), honeymoon in cozy log cabins or hot tub honeymoon suites.
This nationally-known 16,000 acre facility first opened to the public in 1929. In the first few years as the park grew in popularity, several facilities were developed. Abe Martin Lodge, several cabins (= huts) and a saddle barn were built, as was a swimming pool which was recently replaced with an olympic-size pool. The roads, entrances and many trails were added and improved during this time.
For those who would rather see the park on foot or horseback, many miles of well-marked trails are available. About 70 miles of bridle trails and over 12 miles of hiking trails lead through the steep, forested hills. The roadless Southwestern and eastern parts of the park can be visited only by foot or horseback.
Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, within the park, contains an attractive self-guiding nature trail, which describes natural aspects of the park.
Picnickers have their choice of several picnic areas-some of which have shelters equipped with fireplaces. Several have comfort stations located nearby.
The park has a nature center in which a snake exhibit, bird-watching room and other displays are housed. Naturalist services are available year-round and are headquartered in the nature center, however, reduced hours are in effect for the winter season.
The wildlife that inhabits Brown County State Park includes a variety of species adapted to life in the forest and forest edges. Some mammals such as the white-tailed deer, raccoon, gray squirrel, and various birds including robin, white-breasted nut-hatch, bluejay, cardinal, junco and crow are seen by visitors. Wild turkey has also been sighted. An early history of Brown County records that deer, bear, wolves, and cougar (or panthers, as they were called then) were numerous, even in the mid-1800's. The bears that once lived here left evidence of their presence in the several bear wallows which remain such as Bear Wallow Hill located north of Nashville. Local people say that at least two bears once existed on Weed Patch Hill. Bears came from the surrounding hills to roll in the mud, probably for relief from heat, flies and external parasites.
Camping sites are available year-round. The campgrounds have electrical hook-ups and modern comfort stations and showers. Brown County also has a horseman's campground located in the extreme southern part of the park. For those visitors who prefer all of the comforts of home, Abe Martin Lodge contains 84 bedrooms(each with two beds and bathroom), as well as two large meeting rooms, a dining room and a snack bar. There are 24 sleeping cabins for rent with a total of 56 bedrooms. Twenty family housekeeping cabins, completely furnished, are available year-round.
The park offers a swimming pool, shelterhouses, playground equipment, fishing on two lakes and a country store for picnic supplies and souvenirs.
The varied facilities of Brown County State Park make possible enjoyable outdoor experiences for people with a wide range of tastes and preferences. Brown County State Park has not only attracted millions of individual tourists and families over the years, but has hosted many special events as well. Camping groups, horseman's organizations and archery tournaments are some of the past attractions. In 1987, Brown County served as the location of the Cycling Road Race for the 10th Pan American Games.
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