Episode 7.13: Haunted State Parks

Indiana's state parks are known for their beautiful forests, winding trails, and historic landmarks. But what happens when the sun goes down and the parks grow quiet?

From the abandoned amusement park at Rose Island and the historic village at Spring Mill to the mysterious happenings at Canyon Inn and the eerie legend of a crying child near Worcester Lake, these parks may hold more than just history.

Sources:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “Charlestown State Park.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/charlestown-state-park/.

Indiana Historical Bureau. “Fern Grove and Rose Island Resorts.” Indiana State Historical Markers. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/fern-grove-and-rose-island-resorts/.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “Spring Mill State Park.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/spring-mill-state-park/.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “Indiana's Pioneers and the Early Days of Statehood.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/cultural-resources-and-history/indianas-pioneers/.

Indiana State Library. “Spring Mill State Park Collection, 1864–1938.” Manuscript Collection L225. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/library/fa_index/fa_by_letter/s/l225.html.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “McCormick's Creek State Park.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/mccormicks-creek-state-park/.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “McCormick's Creek State Park Property History.” PDF. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/mccormicks_creek_trail.pdf.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “The Beginning of Indiana State Parks.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://secure.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/cultural-resources-and-history/the-beginning-of-indiana-state-parks.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “Porter Rea Cemetery.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/cultural-resources-and-history/hoosier-history-and-indiana-state-parks/african-americans-in-state-parks/porter-rea-cemetery/.

Indiana Historical Bureau. “Porter (Rea) Cemetery.” Indiana State Historical Markers. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/porter-rea-cemetery/.

GhostQuest.net. “Haunted Locations: Indiana.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.ghostquest.net/haunted-places-indiana-usa.html.