Turkey Run state park Indiana

Dutch and Hammerboy I'm lucky that my folks camped so I've been at it for 60 years. While I can't say that I've camped at every state park in Indiana and Michigan I can say I have hit a huge percentage in both. Both states along with Ohio since I'm east central Indiana all offer some fantastic parks.

DutchmenSport wrote:

camperforlife wrote:

Hammerboy wrote:
...

Dan

...

Certainly enjoyed your area, glad you enjoyed mine.

If you remember about 10-15 years ago when the economy in this country tanked after the Sept 11 event, fuel prices skyrocketed, and things were just kind of nuts for a while.

Because long distance traveling was a VERY costly endeavor back then, we came to the conclusion that folks travel from all over the world to visit Indiana parks and attractions. And funny, we traveled all over the world to visit theirs. Because of the transportation cost factor, we were kind of forced to wake up and realize, if other folks from distant locations take the effort to visit Indiana attractions, there must be something right under our own feet we've simply not seen before (or maybe because we lived here all our lives, just take it for granted).

It was then and there my wife and I decided we wanted to visit and camp if possible in every State Park and recreation area in Indiana and look what's in our own back yard with new eyes. So for the next several years, we started checking off the Indiana State Parks we camped at, and visited the few that did not have camping facilities. We've now camped at every state park and state recreation area maintained by the DNR in Indiana and I will have to admit, we had an eye opener just how nice and great these parks are.

Each park is so different, has their own uniqueness, and each one has local culture surround it, attractions, festivals, events, that we could spend the rest of our lives continuing to explore.

We are now making it goal to visit every city/county "Festival" in the state now too (of course, camping in the area for easy access), along with all the various places in the book series called "Weird US"... or in my case, "Weird Indiana"... Weird, click here!

We still do December Florida or South Carolina trip over Christmas week and the 2nd week in March. So it's not like we are stuck exclusively in Indiana.

So, just wanted to pass along an idea if you've never considered it. Check what's in your own back yard. You might be astonished at what's actually buried there.

I wish I could (we can if we tried) do the same and visit every state park in Michigan, problem is with the shape of Michigan it goes very far north and very far west. One of the parks I would love to visit is Fort Wilkens state park in Copper Harbor, problem is its 9.5 hrs according to google maps (longer with trailer in tow) which means it the same drive time as say Pigeon Forge TN. So if I'm going to spend that kind of time on the road I would at this time I'd rather go to the Smoky mountains.

As far as looking in your backyard, Indiana is more in my backyard than most of Michigan LOL. Turkey run was very nice because it was a different trip than what we typically do in Michigan. It was rural/country/covered bridges. In Michigan, for us, we "head up north" as in the UP (Wilderness and lots of it) or the straits area (which we love). The Up is like a totally different state from where I live (Indiana is more like home than the UP) or "to the beach" which usually means sand/lots of water/lighthouses/etc. at any of the great state parks along Lake Michigan. There is definitely a lot to explore yet in Michigan, but Indiana is just as close.

Dan

camperforlife wrote:

Hammerboy wrote:
...

Dan

...

Certainly enjoyed your area, glad you enjoyed mine.

If you remember about 10-15 years ago when the economy in this country tanked after the Sept 11 event, fuel prices skyrocketed, and things were just kind of nuts for a while.

Because long distance traveling was a VERY costly endeavor back then, we came to the conclusion that folks travel from all over the world to visit Indiana parks and attractions. And funny, we traveled all over the world to visit theirs. Because of the transportation cost factor, we were kind of forced to wake up and realize, if other folks from distant locations take the effort to visit Indiana attractions, there must be something right under our own feet we've simply not seen before (or maybe because we lived here all our lives, just take it for granted).

It was then and there my wife and I decided we wanted to visit and camp if possible in every State Park and recreation area in Indiana and look what's in our own back yard with new eyes. So for the next several years, we started checking off the Indiana State Parks we camped at, and visited the few that did not have camping facilities. We've now camped at every state park and state recreation area maintained by the DNR in Indiana and I will have to admit, we had an eye opener just how nice and great these parks are.

Each park is so different, has their own uniqueness, and each one has local culture surround it, attractions, festivals, events, that we could spend the rest of our lives continuing to explore.

We are now making it goal to visit every city/county "Festival" in the state now too (of course, camping in the area for easy access), along with all the various places in the book series called "Weird US"... or in my case, "Weird Indiana"... Weird, click here!

We still do December Florida or South Carolina trip over Christmas week and the 2nd week in March. So it's not like we are stuck exclusively in Indiana.

So, just wanted to pass along an idea if you've never considered it. Check what's in your own back yard. You might be astonished at what's actually buried there.

Hammerboy wrote:
OP here, here right now and we leave in the morning. We stayed for a 4 day weekend and I must say this is an awsome state park. Campground is nice and the trails are awsome as well. A couple of afternoons we followed the covered bridge guide and toured maybe 20 of those. The bridges are pretty much on seldom used back/dirt roads which is cool because I can stop in the middle of the road or bridge to take pictures. Love traveling back roads, that's how I like to see this country. Lots to do in the area, next time we will canoe or kayak the Sugar creek as well

Dan

Had to chuckle, this Indiana boy who has spent a lot of time at Turkey Run just got back from the Zeeland area (Holland). Certainly enjoyed your area, glad you enjoyed mine.

We were there a couple weeks ago for 5 days, we kayaked the river and the grandkids floated it, we hiked maybe half the trails, went to Mansfield. Bridgton, and Rockville, we had never been without the festival going on " it is alot different " in a good way.

It is a really nice park and we will go back.

Hammerboy wrote:
OP here, here right now ...

I'm so glad you had a great time! You've just barely scratched the surface what's available in that park of Indiana. There are many other state parks and state recreation areas with great camping and you'll discover those back country towns and Amish pockets that are just wonderful experiences!

Hope you are able to return again someday!

OP here, here right now and we leave in the morning. We stayed for a 4 day weekend and I must say this is an awsome state park. Campground is nice and the trails are awsome as well. A couple of afternoons we followed the covered bridge guide and toured maybe 20 of those. The bridges are pretty much on seldom used back/dirt roads which is cool because I can stop in the middle of the road or bridge to take pictures. Love traveling back roads, that's how I like to see this country. Lots to do in the area, next time we will canoe or kayak the Sugar creek as well

Dan

Get a trail map online or at the visitor center. The trails are rated with descriptions. Beautiful trails. Some have many stairs or ladders. You walk on ledges and in creek beds. You may get your feet wet. Keep that in mind if you have small children or pets.

I had to search through my photos, but finally found these. Here's some photos from the night we slept in the Old Jail Inn in Rockville. We slept in the "Harley" room. The jail has quite a history, including guests who had the privilege of staying there, like John Dillinger.

Since we've been there, they've beefed it up even more: Web site: Click here.





Our "room" for the night, called the "Harley" room:



The famous "drunk tank" (my lovely wife)

Turkey Run State Park is near Rockville, Indiana, which is in Park County, Indiana.

Park County is noted for the Covered Bridge Festival, that is a county wide event, in early October. In order to get a campsite anywhere in that entire area of Indiana, you have to reserve it months and months in advance.

There is sooooo much to see and do in Park County.

Here's a link to CoveredBridges.com which will give you more information than you ever wanted to know.

In addition, Turkey Run is right smackly located in Amish Country. Just North of Rockville is the second strongest Amish community in Indiana. If you can find it, there's a little Amish run country store, that's 100% pure Amish called, "Peachey's". I doubt you'll find it on the internet, and there's no advertisement for it. But someone in the area may be able to direct you there. It's on a gravel road. Once we found it, we put the coordinates in our Tom Tom so we'd be able to find it again.

In addition to Peachey's, the various driving tour routes of the covered bridges, there is also Mansfield, and Bridgeton that have grist mills, and of course their own covered bridge, and little shops here and there.

Sugar Creek is a great place for canoe rentals. There are several golf courses in the area, museums, Art Gallery, and nature center. Pay a visit to the old jail in Rockville, which is now a Bed and Breakfast, get a tour, and go to the basement, which use to be the drunk tank and get a beer. They say the old jail is haunted, but when we spent the night there several years ago, we never heard or saw any ghosts though.

You'll find Amish road side stands along the road.

There is just so much to do in area. Raccoon State Recreation area is right there too, which has a great campground too, and it's own attractions too.

2005 - October, Mansfield: Covered Bridge Festival, Mansfield Bridge:



Near Rockville:





Raccoon lake on my Father-in-laws pontoon boat. Yea, that's me.



OK, yes! I really did catch that fish!... um ... it's stuffed. My Father-in-law threw it at me and I did INDEED catch it! (Racoon lake)



Mansfield (not during the festival)



My wife and me at the Bridgton grist mill. When this photo was taken, I still had hair on my head!



One of the many bridges you can visit:





I've not even scratched the surface what you can do in the area. I've lived in Indiana most of my life, and still find new things to do and see in that area. All of the state parks in that area are great! Each one is well worth visiting too!