IN the Parks

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, IN, may be the smallest state park, but the history and impact of this land is enormous! Come with me on a journey through time as we learn about the stories of the fossils, George Rogers Clark, the Underground Railroad, and more. You'll also learn what's going on with the park today as well as hear more rock puns than you wanted! Be sure to visit Falls...

Hear about the State of the State Parks from Indiana's director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dan Bortner. This governor-appointed position gets to shape and guide the priorities of the administration, which means for the past four years, Dan has had a front row seat to exciting initiatives like the Unity Blaze, Next Level Trails, planting one million trees, building a new lodge at Potat...

In nearly every episode, you've heard from the state park's interpretive naturalist. But what exactly is that job? In a word, they're storytellers. Listen to find out why I think this may be THE most important job in the state parks! You'll get to hear about the woman who started it all, why white tennis shoes are important, who was the state's top interpretive naturalist in 2024 (hint: we met her...

Travel to Versailles State Park in southeast Indiana where you'll learn about the incredibly supportive family culture the staff has that extends to everyone who visits the park. And this place is an outdoorsy person's dream! You've got mountain biking, hiking, and horse trails plus a lake for boating, kayaking, and fishing! There's also camping, history, and a supportive community that welcomes g...

It's a special Holidays IN the Parks episode! Your shopping list, wish list, and holiday events are all taken care of! Listen now and you'll be in the know for the best gifts, events, and family traditions. Holiday Gifts 1. Buy a vintage-style state park, national park, or any poster from Recollection Project and get one free with the code INTHEPARKS 2. Purchase a 2025 state parks pass 3. Subscrib...

Let's visit an Indiana State Parks fan favorite: Clifty Falls State Park! Clifty Falls is another beauty and is well-loved for its history, hiking, and waterfalls. Oh, and the bats! In this episode, you'll see what it means to be a good neighbor thanks to the actions of the city of Madison and the Friends of Clifty Falls volunteer group. From battling invasive plants to finding new ways to offer a...

Come back to Prophetstown State Park with me and enjoy time at The Farm, a non-profit in the park that tells the story of Indiana farm life in the 1920s. The Farm at Prophetstown is an ideal spot for a Third Place. Never heard of the term "Third Place" before? That’s okay; neither had I! So listen and learn along with me. You’ll also hear about their farm-to-table dinners, all the animals, the far...

Fall in love with the prairie, farms, and Indiana history at Prophetstown State Park. While most Indiana state parks have ravines, woods, and maybe even a waterfall, Prophetstown is all about the expansive prairie full of wildflowers, tall grasses, birds, rivers, and farms. This land has been loved and developed for thousands of years and been shaped by ice, water, fire, and human hands. Be sure y...

In this “side trail” episode, we metaphorically take a hike down another path and go birding! My first time birdwatching was a blast, even though my ignorance was on full display. Thankfully, I had experts to guide me! I’m joined by special guests Rob Ripma of Sabrewing Nature Tours (check out his international tours), Whitney Yoerger from Indiana Audubon (becoming a member is affordable and suppo...

Indiana’s first state park set the bar for all the rest. In this episode, I get into all the awesome park features like the Canyon Inn, trails, the legend of Wolf Cave, Stone Arch Bridge, and the waterfall. I also share about finding the place where my grandparents took a picture on a date in 1952! (Check out the Instagram page to see me in the same spot.) But you’ll also hear about the impact of...

Bonus Mini-Episode Alert! In this side trail, I dive a little deeper into the M20CW with museum president Christopher Schneider. We get into WWI and pickelhelms, Chris shares about why you might need math in life, about the WWII German Panther tank turret in the museum, and much more. We finish up in the chapel and learn about the ultimate sacrifice of 4 chaplains in 1943. You can learn more about...

The Fort Benjamin Harrison historic district is a familiar area in Indianapolis, but have you spent time in the Fort Harrison State Park? It has something for everyone! In this episode, I cover the reasons why animal lovers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and people interested in the military should visit Fort Harrison. And I didn’t even have time to get into trail running, birding, and hiking! It’s...

Ouabache was a new park for me, but I fell in love right away! This episode covers all the park’s best features like the bison and the fire tower. But I start out by making sure I know how to pronounce the park’s name! Ouabache is a living “how-to” in developing a legacy. I go back in time to learn about Virgil Simmons and Kenneth Kunkle who had a vision for the property and the Civilian Conservat...

Our first episode starts at Mounds State Park and connects the Bronnenberg family to the Native American mounds on the park property. You may be surprised to learn there are supernatural connections all around at Mounds! You’ll also hear about plans for the property, get introduced to the Friends of Mounds volunteer group and hear about their Christmas lights event, and learn about a roller coaste...

IN the Parks is a new podcast about Indiana's state parks. I'll take you on an adventure through Indiana's favorites and hidden gems. Each episode will share the story of a different park -- its history, features, and all the people who make it special. Plus, we'll take some side trails to learn about park-related activities like birding and fire towers. The episodes will start airing after Labor...