Have you ever heard of the abandoned Rose Island in Charlestown? Considering this popular Hoosier theme park closed in 1937, it’s not surprising that many residents of Indiana have never heard of this park, nor been to see the splendor of its ruins.
Rose Island was a thriving amusement park built on a peninsula in Charlestown, called The Devil’s Backbone. It was purchased by David Rose in the early 1920s and turned into an amusement park, hotel, and large public swimming pool.
The rides in the amusement park included a Ferris wheel, wooden roller coaster, and a racing derby. Animals included wolves, monkeys, and a black bear dubbed Teddy Roosevelt. To reach the park, visitors had to travel by steamboat or footbridge, adding to the quaintness of this experience. The bridge, above, has since been rebuilt.
While the park thrived for years, the 1937 flood demolished the park, and the damage was too severe to consider rebuilding. While this tragedy shut the doors on Rose Island, the remnants are amazingly beautiful, and worth checking out if you ever visit the nearby Charleston State Park.
If there's any earth science that Indiana seems to excel at being amazing at, it's archaeology. Amazingly, there are several notable archaeological sites in Indiana, and as a result, there's quite a vibrant "scene" here, so to speak. That's where September comes in: here, we celebrate our archaeological wonders for the entire month, and it's a great time every time.
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So, what does this ultimately mean? It means that geeks like ourselves have the perfect reason(s) to hit as many museums, state parks, and archaeological sites as possible, and it's encouraged (you can even get a poster to commemorate your adventures; pick one up at the DNR Central Office lobby in the Indiana Government Center South complex in Indianapolis from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays).
So, where should we go? Here are some ideas:
Mounds State Park
Mounds State Park (pictured below) is an amazing place to visit for anyone interested in history - particularly Indiana's history. With ten incredible earthworks built by the Adena-Hopewell people around 160 B.C. (making them nearly 2,000 years old!), one could get completely lost in this beautiful place and learn all about the folks who once called it home. The Great Mound is one of the more notable of the group, measuring 390 feet across and consisting of a circular outer embankment nine feet high and 63 feet wide. To say it's impressive is to downplay it a bit. Archaeology lovers will be intrigued from start to finish, as these mounds were once used for religious ceremonies and for viewing the stars and astronomical alignments.
Falls of the Ohio State Park is easily one of the most underrated state parks in Indiana, and the entire thing is an archaeologist's dream come true. Nestled, perhaps predictably, on the banks of the Ohio River, this amazing set of 390 million-year-old fossil beds is incredible enough to turn even the sourest of science-stuff haters into at least intrigued onlookers.
The fossil beds are among the oldest Devonian-era fossil beds in the world. While fossil-picking is not allowed in most of the park, you'll be pleased to learn there's a picking pile behind the interpretive center from which one can, well, pick out fossils and rocks. It's awesome, and it's all about Indiana archaeology.
Wyandotte Caves
The awesome Wyandotte Caves (pictured below) are a set of twin caves located also on the Ohio River and are the fifth-largest limestone caves of their kind in Indiana. Though they're considered "twin" caves thanks to their proximity to one another, both caves are quite different, though both were formed thanks to water moving through the limestone, dissolving it over time and carving out beautiful caverns worthy of exploration even when it isn't Indiana Archaeology Month.
These caves were utilized by Native American peoples approximately 4,000 years before European colonizers arrived. Some artifacts found in the cave are thought to be about 8,000 years old, which is extraordinary. Today, you can take tours that specifically showcase the Native American mining operations that went on here back then, and it makes for a fabulously fun and educational stop during this special month.
2024 marks the 100th year of the first published survey reports (which were for Washington and Lawrence Counties), which were a major stepping stone along the way to preserving important archaeological sites for generations to come. If you're planning to come out and discover all the most amazing archaeological sites in Indiana, wonderful! Check out all the coolest places to stay from our friends at VRBO.
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If you can't make it in person to the DNR Central Office lobby to grab a complimentary map, you can request up to five by emailing [email protected].
What Indiana archaeological sites amaze you the most? Tell me about them in the comments.
Indiana is full of historical sites - and with history comes rumors and legends, particularly of paranormal activity. The Hoosier state has its fair share of believed haunted buildings and land, but there's an Indiana hotel that easily takes the cake as not only one of the most haunted places in Indiana but one of the most haunted places in the country. Is the French Lick Resort haunted? Maybe... but we'll let you decide.
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Nestled in the small resort town of French Lick sits the massive French Lick Springs Hotel. Constructed in 1845, this legendary hotel is the crown jewel of this southern Indiana town.
The French Lick Springs Hotel manages to mix history with modern elegance, keeping the vision for this resort suite the same as it was when Thomas Taggart first opened the hotel's doors.
But there's more to this resort than meets the eye.
Taggart died in 1916, but that hasn't stopped rumors of sightings of this famous hotel owner. Guests and hotel employees frequently encounter strange and paranormal activity that they believe is caused by Taggart himself.
Stories range from person to person, but there are two main places where you can expect to see signs of Taggart. Many spot him near the service elevator where they pick up a strong scent of pipe tobacco or sometimes even encounter his ghost. He's also been rumored to use the service elevator when the hotel is particularly busy.
Others claim they witnessed his spirit riding down the hallway on horseback and making noise (as if throwing a party) inside of the ballroom. Some hear noises and others encounter his ghost, though usually both don't occur at the same time.
In addition to the strong belief in Taggart's ghost, there are also rumors of a former bellhop lingering around the hotel. Many believed he was a current employee until they saw old photos of him hanging on the wall or were told no bell-hops were on duty when they encountered him.
It's difficult not to encounter strange, haunted stories about buildings as historic as the French Lick Springs Hotel. The vast accounts of paranormal sightings are why it's often considered the most haunted place in Indiana and one of the most haunted places in the country.
You can find the French Lick Springs Hotel at 8670 IN-56, French Lick, IN, 47432.
Have you ever stayed at the French Lick Springs Hotel? If so, did you experience any weird activity at this haunted Indiana icon? What do you think -- do you agree that it's the most haunted hotel in Indiana? Share your creepy stories in the comments section!
For more haunted spots throughout the Hoosier state, check out this epic paranormal road trip of the most haunted places in Indiana. Be sure to stock up on some of our favorite road trip snacks to help ward off those ghosts.
