You are STRICTLY PROHIBITED from walking or driving into areas where barricades and/or “closed” signs are in place. These barriers and signs are in place for your safety.
McCormick’s Creek State Park, Indiana’s oldest state park, was directly and seriously impacted by an EF-3 tornado late Friday, March 31, 2023. After an initial week-long closure for evaluation, the campground and some trails remain closed, but Canyon Inn, the nature center, most cabins, and some trails are OPEN, and guests are welcome in the park.
The physical structures and natural resources of parts of McCormick’s Creek are forever changed. Guests and staff will remember how the campground, nature preserves, and trails looked before the storm, and treasure our memories of experiences there. Nature is resilient. So are we. We look to the future to embrace and watch the changes – both natural and physical – as they happen.
Visitors to McCormick’s Creek State Park can help the DNR divisions of State Parks and Nature Preserves monitor the recovery of Wolf Cave Nature Preserve. All that’s needed is a smartphone camera. Take a photo at the photo station on Trail 5, then upload the photo to Chronolog by following the QR code or sending it to the email listed on the sign. The website creates a timelapse video that will help monitor the area. Those who submit a photo will be emailed a link to access the video. View the current timelapse video.
Videos
Recovery
July 2024
FAQs
Approximately 282 acres of the 1,961-acre park were seriously impacted. The actual path of the tornado was approximately 400 yards wide at its widest, or about the width of four football fields.
The tornado followed a path from the southwestern boundary of the park near the White River to the northeast through the edge of McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve, directly through the campground, and across the center of Wolf Cave Nature Preserve.
It is estimated that the actual time it took for the tornado to pass through was 30 – 40 seconds. With wind speeds near 150 miles per hour, thousands of trees were uprooted or knocked down, and many more were damaged beyond the point of recovery. More than 90% of the sites in Loop B and Loop A of the campground sustained irreparable damage. All three shower houses received extensive damage to their roofs, walls, and foundations and must be demolished and replaced. The primitive campground and Beech Grove Shelter received little to no damage.
Significant Storm and Tornado Canopy Disturbance Area, March 31, 2023
- Canyon Inn is OPEN for dining and overnight lodging.
- The saddle barn will be closed during the 2025 season for pasture restoration and barn maintenance.
- The nature center is open normal summer hours.
- Public programs are offered daily, and school/group programs can be scheduled. Ask for a calendar of events at the nature center or gate or view programs online.
- The public pool is open. Please contact park office for pool hours.
- All family cabins are open. Reserve cabins at camp.IN.gov.
- All recreation buildings are open.
- All shelters are open and rentable except Beech Grove.
- • Both Nawakwa and Camp McCormick group camps are open.
Fully Open Trails:
- Trail 1 - McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve
- Trail 2 – Statehouse Quarry
- Trail 3 – McCormick’s Creek waterfall and Echo Canyon
- Trail 4 - Fire Tower
- Trail 9 - Deer Run, Peden Farmstead
- Bridle Trail – Now open for hiking
- Echo Canyon- ADA Waterfall Overlooks
Partially Open Trails:
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Trail 5- Wolf Cave Nature Preserve trail loop is by starting from Nature Center and taking trail 8 to the connection of Trail 5. Wolf Cave parking lot is closed.
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Trail 8 - A portion of this trail is closed from Trail 5 connection where it leads to the campground.
Trails Currently Closed:
- Trails 6, 7 and 10 – work continues to clear the trail surfaces and assess structures on these trails.
DNR looks forward to welcoming campers back to McCormick’s Creek. However, right now there is no specific timeline for reopening. Everything, from the foundational infrastructure like water lines and roads to comfort stations, must be repaired or replaced. Cleanup continues and the design process has begun, but because of the scope of the devastation, it will likely be several years before the campground reopens. The campground will remain closed until we can safely welcome campers back.
Although most of the campground roads have been cleared, there are still many damaged trees in dangerous positions with the potential to fall. You can view video and photos of the campground’s sustained damage on this page. Park staff in the Nature Center are also available to answer your questions.
McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve and Wolf Cave Nature Preserve were both impacted. Wolf Cave Nature Preserve is one of the finest examples of mesic hardwood forest in central Indiana. The tornado cut across its center, and in that path, at least 90% of all trees are down. In some locations downed trees are stacked 6 to 8 feet high across the preserve. There are no plans to remove these trees. Natural disturbance is a part of the landscape, and research plots have been established to evaluate the impact of the change in sunlight and weather conditions on wildlife, plant species, and invasives in these locations. We have observed an increased presence of tree-of-heaven and multiflora rose and are working to limit the spread of those highly invasive species through the work of DNR staff now and with a contractor later this year. Wolf Cave itself is undamaged, so it will open once trail access is restored.
Birds and mammals in the direct path of the storm experienced the storm’s incredible force. For example, several turkey vultures were roosting and unable to take off before the tornado hit. On the other hand, natural disturbances create forest openings, which are important in supporting wildlife diversity. Successional species such as the blue-winged warbler, Carolina wren, American woodcock, whippoorwill, common yellowthroat, and prairie warbler may benefit from this disturbance. The reduced canopy will also permit sun-loving herbaceous plants to flourish, along with an increase in the presence of invertebrate decomposers such as beetles. We look forward to witnessing the natural changes in species composition in the coming months and years.
DNR has removed and cleared debris from the tornado damage to allow a clean slate for the new larger designed campground. Campground construction is expected to begin by Spring of 2027.
While many trails are currently open to the public, trails 6, 7, and 10 remain closed due to structural repairs and trail rerouting to help with the new larger campground design. Trail 5 recently received a new bridge opening the loop through Wolf Cave Nature Preserve. Trail 7 had new board walk installed through the sycamore tree flood plain area. Work is continuing to help improve trail systems. Trails 6, 7, and 10 will remain closed to the public until campground construction is completed.
After extensive debris removal and site cleanup, the campground is now prepared for construction. The new campground design includes 191 modern campsites across 65 acres, each with full hookup to electricity, water, and sewer. The campsites will measure approximately 32 by 40 feet, offering more space than the original sites and providing room for larger recreational vehicles, along with parking for two cars, a picnic table, and a fire ring.
In addition, 32 primitive campsites will remain available for tent camping, and the existing youth camps will continue to be available to rent.
As part of the project, a new gatehouse and camp store will be constructed, along with three new comfort stations and playgrounds. The plan also includes substantial tree planting and landscaping to help restore the natural character of the campground area.
Thousands of trees were damaged – many more than DNR staff alone could remove quickly and safely. This amount of damage required a salvage harvest. Downed, damaged, and hazardous timber was removed through a sale to a private contractor. This harvest was based on a resource management guide developed for the site. Removal of the massive quantity of uprooted tree root masses and limbs that are on the ground will be underway during the summer and fall of 2024.
We have already removed a number of trees that will be used for other DNR projects. For example, 220 tulip trees were removed to be dried, milled and used in repairing the flume that carries water to the gristmill wheel in the Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park.
The resource management guide noted above was posted for public comment for 30 days on DNR Division of Forestry’s webpage. No comments were received. Bid documents and requirements were posted online for tree removal from the campground. The bid for the salvage harvest was awarded to Kinser Timber Products, and tree removal has been completed. The last two minutes of the video on this page provide a look at the work in progress.
Any funds generated by this work will be dedicated to restoration of the campground and the park’s natural resources.
We are already looking at how portions of the campground might be altered or redesigned to accommodate changes in camping preferences of our guests for the future.
DNR will most likely plant new native hardwood trees in the campground that will, in time, provide shade. How many will be determined by the amount of regrowth we see from the existing seed bank in campground soil.
The construction of the new campground, including buildings, electrical systems, water lines, and sewer infrastructure, is expected to cost $25 million. The Indiana DNR Division of Forestry will provide timber for the gatehouse and camp store.
The current campground was built in the late 1960s. Campers may see some updates that will provide an improved experience. However, the regrowth of trees is a long process that we will continue to follow for decades. This regrowth is in progress at a number of DNR properties with campgrounds located on reclaimed agricultural lands. For example, the amount of shade at Prophetstown and Potato Creek state park campgrounds increases each year.
Many of the memorial benches that were along now-damaged trails have been impacted, but we have not completed an assessment yet due to the downed trees. When we have more information regarding these benches and any process for replacement, we will be in touch with donors.
Follow McCormick’s Creek State Park’s Facebook page for regular posts about progress or visit this page.
Due to more serve weather patterns expanding over central Indiana, tornado impacts have caused significant damage to DNR properties over the past three years. The impact on built structures at McCormick’s Creek has caused long-term rebuilding projects. McCormick’s Creek has completed and is continuing to move forward on repairs. Brown County State Park experienced more than 1,000 acres of damage on May 16, 2025, that impacted their Horse Camp. Most recently, Morgan Monroe State Forest was hit on June 18, 2026, causing damage to Scout Ridge Campground, Bryan Creek Shelter, and many trail systems.
Monetary donations are expected to help fund tornado recovery projects. If you would like to donate, your financial gifts can go to the Friends of McCormick’s Creek or the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. Due to unsafe conditions in the campground, we do not have any volunteer opportunities. However, if you would like to volunteer for other areas of the park, let us know by completing the volunteer form linked below.
We also ask that you continue to support ALL of Indiana’s state park properties with your enthusiastic presence. More than 90% of our day-to-day operations are funded by the fees you pay when you visit. We are here to conserve, manage, and interpret our resources, while creating memorable experiences for everyone, and we will continue to do that across Indiana with your support and assistance!
