Pokagon State Park is an Indiana state park in the northeastern part of the state, near the village of Fremont and north of Angola. It was named for the 19th-century Potawatomi chief, Leopold Pokagon, and his widely known son, Simon Pokagon, at Richard Lieber's suggestion. The park has an inn, camping facilities, and a staff of full-time naturalists. Pokagon receives nearly 640,000 visitors annually. In 1934, Pokagon Boy's Camp opened in what is now the State Park's group camping area; many of the camp's buildings have been repurposed for their current uses.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. During the ensuing eight years, the CCC constructed many of the best-known buildings at Pokagon including the Gate House, the Spring Shelter, the Saddle Barn, the first three incarnations of the toboggan run, and, not least, the CCC Shelter, a National Register of Historic Places site. Behind the Beach House, the land quickly rises to a bluff overlooking the lake.

The CCC also planted trees—sometimes in precise lines—and created roads and trails. They even published their own newsletter, the Pokagon Chieftain. The CCC was instrumental in transforming Pokagon into the rustic park it is today. In the 1960s additional rooms were added to the west. The original rooms were equipped with bathrooms and the long porch on the south was enclosed to create a sunny area overlooking the lake.

Beechwood Nature Preserve

Located outside the park on its northeastern corner, the preserve is accessible from Trail 8. A loop trail covers the old meadows. The area is become covered by gray dogwood and other pioneer woody plants. The area features yellow birch, red maple, blue beech, and skunk cabbage. The remnants of an old apple orchard may still be visible. Access is also available from State Road 127.

right|300px|thumb|The Beach House, on the western edge of Pokagon, as seen from Lake James. Behind the Beach House, the land quickly rises to a bluff overlooking the lake.

Beavers, coyotes, and foxes can be found in this park.

Pokagon and its surrounding lakes are the home for a variety of birds. Common birds such as ducks, geese, gulls, and purple martins can be found when the lake is not frozen. Migrating birds such as loons, grebes, and double-crested cormorants can also be observed by visitors, typically during autumn. Hawks and red-headed woodpeckers can be seen year around, as can barred and great horned owls. Several bald eagles were sighted on the lake in 2006. Other birds that can be observed by visitors including brown creepers, veeries, several types of warblers, bluebirds, Carolina wrens, Baltimore orioles, and pileated woodpeckers.

Amphibians include mud puppies, salamanders, and frogs. The common reptiles include the garter snake, the eastern massasauga, the hognose snake, the northern water snake, plus the painted turtle, snapping turtle, and the soft shell turtle. All of which are available to see at the nature center.

Facilities and activities

  • Bicycle trail
  • Hiking trails (including Hell's Point Challenge)
  • Pokagon Interpretive Center
  • Picnicking
  • Playground equipment
  • Swimming / beach
  • Sand volleyball court
  • Saddle barn
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Potawatomi Inn
  • Cabins
  • Meeting and conference facilities
  • Reservable shelters
  • Camping - reservations recommended
  • Electric hookup 200 sites
  • Non-electric 73 sites
  • Youth tent areas
  • Group camp
  • General store
  • Dumping station
  • Winter activities
  • Toboggan run
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Ice fishing

Equipment rentals

  • Pontoon boats
  • Paddleboats
  • Rowboats
  • Toboggan (weekends only, in season)
  • Ski rental (winter)
  • Horse-back riding (seasonal)

See also

  • List of Indiana state parks

References

  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources' official Web page
  • Pokagon Google Map
  • Potawatomi Inn - State Park Features - Local Attractions