Indiana Ag Connection - O'Bannon Woods to Dedicate Group Camp

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O'Bannon Woods to Dedicate Group Camp
Indiana Ag Connection - 09/30/2016

O'Bannon Woods State Park is celebrating 100 years of Indiana state parks by dedicating a renovated group camp on Oct. 7.

The renovation is the ninth Centennial Legacy Project in Indiana state parks in 2016.

The dedication will be at 11 a.m. DNR director Cam Clark will speak, and refreshments will be served. Those planning to attend should RSVP to hkintner@dnr.IN.gov by Oct. 5.

The group camp is located on the original site of Camp Wyandotte, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp where Company 517, an African-American CCC unit, was stationed from 1934-37. The group camp, built in the 1970s and 1980s during the formation of Wyandotte State Recreation Area, has four dorms, a recreation hall, dining hall and kitchen, shower house and outdoor shelter. It can house 100-150 people.

The group camp is a destination for local school groups, overnight camping trips, weddings, reunions and retreats.

In 2010, the park closed the camp because of guano that had accumulated from a colony of big and little brown bats roosting in dorm walls.

All dorms have been cleaned and renovated, including new insulation and siding, roofing, windows, doors, bunks and decks. The restrooms have new fixtures and shower partitions. A new kitchen was built, and restrooms were added to the dining hall. Some kitchen equipment is still needed, but the facility is approved and ready for use as a catering kitchen.

Groups have been renting it for about a month. Reservations can be made at camp.IN.gov.

Funding for the restoration was provided by the Harrison County Community Foundation.

Much of the work was completed by park staff, Department of Correction crews from the Branchville Correctional Facility and volunteers from groups who frequented the camp before it closed. Those groups include the local Dayspring Emmaus Community, the Louisville District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several scout troops.

O'Bannon Woods State Park (stateparks.IN.gov/2976.htm) is at 7234 Old Forest Road, Corydon.

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