There’s No Other Natural Landmark In Indiana Quite Like This 150+ Year Old Forest
Indiana is a state filled with intriguing wonders, both natural and man-made. Today, we’re going to take a moment to appreciate one of the most historically significant natural landmarks the Hoosier State has to offer; it’s the majestic and incredibly impressive Meltzer Woods, which isn’t your average forest. What makes this 60-acre slice of paradise so unique? Easy: it’s one of Indiana’s last remaining old-growth forests, and some of the trees that call this place home have been alive longer than your great-great-grandparents. Come check out this spellbinding natural wonder in Indiana if you’re a fan of nature – especially the ancient stuff. Forests tell stories, and the ones this one has to tell are no doubt intriguing. Head to Shelbyville and check out the amazing Meltzer Woods – you won’t regret it!
...of course, it would totally shatter the image of a 400-year-old-and-wise tree if trees ended up being, say, petty and dramatic, but we digress. Personally, we like to envision our trees as old and wise sages, thank you very much.
Meltzer Woods is one of the last remaining old-growth forests in Indiana.
Interestingly, this forest is what most of Indiana looked like a long, long time ago, before settlers and colonizers arrived and deforestation began (pretty much as soon as the railroads started). In fact, at one time in history, Indiana was one of the top states for its lumber production.
Nowadays, though, you will never see deforestation occur here.
It is heavily protected land, having been placed in Indiana's own Classified Forest Program in the late 1920s. It wasn't actually officially "protected", however, until as recently as 2014, when the woods were officially purchased by the Central Indiana Land Trust.
Today, these woods are a humbling reminder of the tremendous beauty of the Hoosier State, as well as the world we live in.
It's open year-round and it's one of the most beautiful places in Indiana. There's something intensely awe-inspiring about feeling so small among these ancient giants, but their size only makes us appreciate them more. Trees do not die of old age (plant cells don't age); these ones are more than four centuries old now, and are still going strong.
We recommend visiting in the spring, when wildflowers are bursting forth among the trees, and in autumn, when the entire forest is ablaze with color.
To learn more about the long (very long) history of Meltzer Woods, be sure to visit the official Central Indiana Land Trust website. As always, we encourage our readers to go out and appreciate the amazing outdoors that is Indiana (and the rest of the nation, too).
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Address: Meltzer Woods, 1522 S 600 E, Shelbyville, IN 46176, USA
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
