Feb 28, 2016
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all exploring will be to arrive where we started...and know the place for the first time. - T.S. Eliot
With the cold, bleak, and dark days of winter growing shorter like the long mid-winter shadows that were once cast by the trees. As temperatures warmed like the fires that kept us company on December nights, Beth and I journeyed out for our first real adventure of the year.
Our destination- Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana. While it wasn't far or exotic, it definitely has the things needed to satisfy the adventurous outdoor spirit that has been confined all winter. So we grabbed a pullover, packed up the car, and drove an hour south to one of the gems of southern Indiana.
Upon arrival you can feel yourself leaving modern civilization behind for more primitive things. As you drive through the park you wind down twisting roads, rolling hills, and dense forests of trees making you feel like you've entered a remote part of the Midwest long forgotten.
As you arrive in the valley in what is the heart of Spring Mill, you are greeted by a large lake on the right and a quick moving stream on your left. Once parked, you cross over the stream and follow a path back to the Pioneer Village, which is the main attraction of the park.
When walking into the village, many houses and buildings from the 1800s can be seen scattered about. However, the building that towers over the rest is the 3 story grist mill that is still operable to this day! In the open season, the mill and all the buildings are open with people in time period clothing doing demonstrations. There are even people working in the mill grinding up corn to make corn meal, some of which you can buy to take home and eat like the pioneers did!
The many buildings of the village include: The Grist Mill, Leather Shop, Mercantile, Hat Shop, Blacksmith, and houses from the time period. Exploring these places will bring you back to the 1800s with looms, old printing presses, stone fireplaces, the smell of burning wood, and much more.
While the Pioneer Village is the main attraction, there are also many trails that wind along creeks (one of which feeds the mill and was rapidly flowing from the heavy rains there this week). These trails provide you with a sense of being off the beaten path as you cross creeks, springs, rocky outcrops, hike around lakes, and even to one of several caves at the park. This is all while you have the comfort of knowing all roads do lead home.
While there are plenty of things to do on a normal day at Spring Mill, there are many events that they host through the year. From a night time candle walk exploring the more "unexplained" side of the park, to the haunted village attraction in October, to some of the pioneer festivals held. So no matter what you enjoy, there is something for everyone!
Overall, it's a beautiful park with so much to do! So, if you live in Indiana or even if you don’t, make sure to keep Spring Mill Park in mind this year as the weather turns warmer and your spring fever gets worse. So while it may be a short drive from home, remember, you don't have to go to the ends of the earth to adventure, explore, and find something new.
Location: Spring Mill State Park (Mitchell, Indiana)
Service: Hiking, Demonstrations, a Working Mill, Muesum, and more!
Price: $7 per car (In-Season) Off-Season is FREE