SPENCER — McCormick’s Creek State Park’s campground will be closed indefinitely due to the damage from violent storms that happened on March 31, 2023.
The aftermath of the EF-3 tornado that hit the park goes for miles. Hundreds of trees were destroyed.
In a Facebook post, the park says its campground will be closed indefinitely due to the damage.
Experiencing winds over 158 miles per hour, the vast majority of trees in the direct path of the tornado were blown down or broken. Structures such as the comfort stations experienced extensive damage as they withstood the wind and falling debris. Beyond damage to trees and structures, even the topography of the park experienced sudden and dramatic change.
Numerous pit-and-mound features were formed as blown-down trees tore their root balls from the ground. The formation of such features is typically over the life of a forest, often forming important habitats, yet the intensity with which they occurred during the storm greatly complicates efforts to reopen the campground. As the roots were pulled to the surface, they damaged critical infrastructure including roads, electricity, water, and sewer lines.
The campground remains closed indefinitely due to the extent of this damage; nearly all facets of the campground’s facilities will require evaluation, repair/reconstruction, and in some instances, redesign.
“While we’re saddened at the sudden impacts to our beloved campground and trails, we remain optimistic for the future,” officials wrote on Facebook. “This event offers us a chance to better understand the forces of nature, and an opportunity to rebuild a campground and trails that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
FACILITY STATUS:
- The Canyon Inn is open for lodging, dining, and group use. on.IN.gov/canyon-inn
- The Nature Center is open and interpretive programming has resumed. interpretiveservices.IN.gov
- The Saddle Barn is open and ready to welcome riders. on.IN.gov/saddlebarn
- Family cabins, Camp McCormick, and Camp NaWaKwa are open and available for rental. Those with reservations impacted by storm damage are being contacted. camp.IN.gov
- Shelters and recreation buildings are open except for Beech Grove Shelter and Friendly Recreation Building. camp.IN.gov
- The campground remains closed. For your safety and the safety of the park staff, please respect all closure signs.
- The park pool is open for the season.
TRAILS:
- Trail 1 (McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve): Trail 1 is open.
- Trail 2 (Statehouse Quarry): Trail 2 received significant damage and is closed. Please do not go past the closure signs.
- Trail 3 (McCormick’s Creek Waterfall): Trail 3 is accessible to view the waterfall, but the wooden trail structure is damaged. Please do not go past the closure signs.
- Trail 4 (Fire Tower): Trail 4 is open. The fire tower is undamaged and open.
- Trail 5 (Wolf Cave Nature Preserve): Trail 5 received significant damage and is closed. Please do not go past the closure signs.
- Trail 6 in the campground is closed.
- Trails 7 and 10 (Canyon Rim, Creek, and McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve): These trails received significant damage to trail structures. Please do not go past the closure signs.
- Trail 8 (Accessible Trail): A portion of this trail from the pool/nature center area is open, but it is closed beyond Pine Bluff Shelter where it leads to the campground and to Trail 5 and Wolf Cave.
- Trail 9 (Deer Run/Peden Farmstead): Trail 9 is open.
See all the things that McCormick’s Creek has to offer at on.IN.gov/mccormickscreek.
