Published: June 13, 2009 09:12 pm         

Camping, bike trails, boating among activities at northeast Indiana’s Pokagon State Park

EDITOR’S NOTE: With the economy sputtering and people tightening their belts, families are looking for cost-effective ways to vacation this summer. In Indiana, inexpensive adventures may be closer than you think. Hoosiers are fortunate to live in a state with excellent state parks. Many feature rustic inns and are located in regions that offer attractions to satisfy a variety of recreational tastes. Beginning today, this newspaper is presenting a four-part series featuring Indiana’s outstanding state parks and other regional attractions. The articles will run every other Sunday through the end of the July. Adventures in Indiana is presented through the collaboration of four Indiana newspapers — the Herald Republican of Angola, The Republic of Columbus, the Evening News of Jeffersonville, and the Tribune-Star of Terre Haute.The publication schedule is as follows: Today — Pokagon State Park, Angola (Herald Republican, Angola); June 28 — Brown County State Park, Nashville (Republic, Columbus); July 12 — Clifty Falls State Park, Madison (Evening News, Jeffersonville); July 26 — Turkey Run State Park, Parke County (Tribune-Star, Terre Haute)

Angola — LAKE JAMES — Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials are expecting a great season this year as Hoosiers and visitors from nearby states stay close to home this summer.

“I’m very hopeful that if we have great weather for the recreation season, our numbers will be up,” said Terry Coleman, north region manager for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs.

Through the early part of this year, Coleman said camping reservations at Indiana’s state parks were up from 3.5 percent to 6 percent, depending on the weekend.

“Historically this is what we have seen. When there are tough times, people take advantage of the gems and jewels around them,” Coleman said.

One of those jewels is Pokagon State Park in extreme northeast Indiana.

Pokagon, situated on Lake James in Steuben County, offers 273 camping sites and a family group camp that accommodates up to 120 people in 13 cabins.

“We look forward to the public coming,” said park property manager Ted Bohman. With the warming weather, more campers are starting to take advantage of what Pokagon has to offer.

The Potawatomi Inn at the park provides indoor lodging as well as some cabins.

“It’s a restaurant facility,” said Bohman. The Inn features a pool, workout room and other amenities specifically for those who rent rooms, but other facilities are available to all Pokagon visitors. There is a restaurant and a deli, a store and a deck overlooking the lake.

From the Potawatomi Inn lawn, park guests can access rowboat, pontoon and paddleboat rental. The Lonidaw, a historic wooden tour boat, also embarks from there.

“We’ll rent the boat from the boat rental and then they can dock it at the group camp pier … then they can drop it off at the end of the rental,” said Bohman. The group camp includes a beach and the cabins have full kitchens. Church groups, Boy Scouts, families and other large assemblies.

A beach is located below the Inn, near Lake James’ popular sandbar, which brings boats off the five-lake chain to dock, swim and mingle. There is a larger beach with bath house, showers and a concession stand. Both beaches have attendants but not lifeguards, and are roped off to safely separate swimmers from the boat and personal watercraft traffic.

A paved bike trail winds through the park, the first completed section of a countywide trail that will start in Angola and end at Pokagon. Hiking paths crisscross through the woods and shorelines, passing camping areas, playgrounds, the beach and the nature center.

Pokagon’s nature center is staffed with trained naturalists and offers programs throughout the summer months. Interpretive naturalist Fred Wooley and his staff lead wildflower hikes, teach animal lessons and offer slide shows. There are general events as well as age-specific programs for children.

Numerous waterfowl, including great blue herons, swans, Canada geese and ducks swim on the calmer areas of the lake. Big and smallmouth bass, bluegill, walleye, crappie and other fish swim beneath the surface.

Deer and raccoon are a common sight. Campers are urged not to feed them or leave food items unlocked at night, because the crafty coons can find their way into just about any cooler or bag.

A horse barn offers regular trail rides as well as a bicycle rental.

“They also do a hay ride,” said Bohman. People can pile on the wagon on Friday and Saturday nights for a country custom. Rides could also be scheduled in accordance with demand, said Bohman.

The trails, the animals and all the Pokagon facilities are ready for visitors as the spring moves toward summer. Last week, Bohman said he was walking a trail and admiring the many wildflowers that are blooming throughout the park.

During the winter months, there are ski rentals and Indiana’s only toboggan slide — a popular draw from throughout the region during the snowy season.



Amy Oberlin is a reporter and editor for The Herald Republican in Angola. She can be reached at

amyo@kpcnews.net.



Pokagon State Park events

• Fort Wayne Philharmonic Patriotic Pops Concert, July 1, 7 p.m., front lawn of Potawatomi Inn. Features 70-piece orchestra performing classical and popular patriotic music. Concert can be viewed by boat on the first basin of Lake James.

• Lake James fireworks, July 3, 10 p.m., Potawatomi Inn front lawn. May be viewed by boat throughout the first and second basins of Lake James.

• All-Night Star Spectacular, Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Pokagon Civilian Conservation Corps Shelter. Astronomical Society of Hillsdale County, Mich., and Pokagon Interpretive Services host all-night deep sky viewing through telescopes, plus regular star viewing, legends and lore.

• Steuben County Cardboard Regatta, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. Potawatomi Inn beach. Sponsored by Steuben County United Way and Breeden YMCA, watch sailors race in cardboard boats. To participate, call the United Way at (260) 665-6196.

• Indiana Seaplane Pilots Association Lake James Splash In, Sept. 20, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. View dozens of seaplanes in front of Potawatomi Inn. Planes take off and land in the first basin of Lake James. Call (260) 466-3961 for information.

• Ghost Tales and other Stories of the Season, Oct. 31, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., CCC Shelter. Parents with younger children are encouraged to attend the 6:30 p.m. session.

• Pokagon Toboggan Time Trials, Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m. Friendly team competition against a radar gun.

Unless specified, for information, call (260) 833-2012.



Steuben County attractions

• Lakes. Steuben County bills itself as the land of 101 lakes. There are numerous lakes carved out by glaciers ranging from the largest, Lake James at over 1,100 acres, to many lakes that are an acre or two in size. About a dozen of Steuben County’s lakes are large enough to allow high speed boating for such activities as skiing. There are numerous small lakes with public access sites where speeds are limited to less than 10 mph or do not allow boats with gas-powered motors.

• Winery: Satek Winery, 6208 N. Van Guilder Road, Fremont. Offers locally made wines, including dry, sweet and dessert wines. Free wine sampling. Open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., including Sundays. Take Indiana. 120, east of I-69, to Van Guilder Road, north about 1/4-mile. (260) 495-WINE. www.satekwinery.com.

• Buffalo farm: Wild Winds Buffalo Farm, 6975 Ray-Clear Lake Road, Fremont. Bison and nature preserve set on 400 acres, offering guided buffalo tours, gift shop, café, meat sales and bed and breakfast. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Take S.R. 120 to Fremont, on east end of town, take Ray-Clear Lake Road, north approximately 2 miles. (260) 495-0137. www.wildwindsbuffalo.com.

• Refrigerated toboggan slide. Located in Pokagon State Park, this is Indiana’s only refrigerated toboggan slide. It operates from Thanksgiving Day to March 1, weather permitting (extreme cold, heavy snow and warm temperatures prevent the slide from operating). Park sleds must be rented at a cost of $10 per hour. Up to four people may ride a sled. Speeds reach up to 40 mph. A warming facility with concessions and restrooms is available. For hours of operation, call (260) 833-2012 or see

www.tobogganrun.com.

• Rapid Raceway, indoor and outdoor go-kart tracks, 2175 West C.R. 175N, Angola. Take exit 150 off I-69, north to C.R. 175N, turn west. (260) 833-1095. www.rapidraceway.com.

n Conaway’s Rollerway, roller rink, 2160 West C.R. 175N, Angola. Take exit 150 off I-69, north to C.R. 175N, turn west. (260) 833-3550. www.conawaysrollerway.com.

Golf courses

• Country Meadows Golf Course, 102 W. S.R. 120, Fremont. (260) 495-4525.

• Glendarin Hills Golf Club, 3333 Glendarin Way, Angola. (260) 624-3550.

• Hidden Valley Golf Course, 5370 Metz Road, Angola. (260) 665-6064.

• Lake James Golf Club, 1445 C.R. 275N, Angola. (260) 833-3967.

• Lake View Golf Course, 60 Lane 470 Lake James, Angola. (260) 833-2240.

• Zollner Golf Course, 300 W. Park Ave., Angola. (260) 665-4269.

Information: For information on events, historic sites, public access sites, activities and other attractions, contact the Steuben County Tourism Bureau at (800) LAKE-101, (260) 665-5386 or online at www.lakes101.org.