It's my 50th episode! Hooray! To celebrate, we're hearing from Brandt Baughman, the Indiana State Parks Director. Brandt grew up going to Spring Mill and spent time working there, at Ouabache, and at Indiana Dunes before moving into management roles. After 36 years, he's now the director of all Indiana's state parks.

I loved learning about his deep family connections to Spring Mill, what he's excited about next for parks, and what his favorite things are. (Is Brandt on Team Cave or Team Fire Tower? And what animal would he still love to see in Indiana?)

This interview has been edited less than my typical episodes, but has still been edited for clarity. We also talked a while about the Indiana state fair, but I did not include that here as it didn’t fit within the larger flow of the episode. However, I learned the theme is baseball and the DNR building will still be a fun spot for families and park lovers!

Podcast Listener Feedback Wanted! I'd love to hear from YOU! What's your favorite state park? What topics & places do you want to hear about next? How can I make the pod better? Let me know!

Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!

Any mistakes are my own.

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Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is an intimate, beautiful property where it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture! The lake perfectly reflects the trees and rolling knobstone escarpments. The lakefront camp sites are highly sought after, and the trails and access to neighboring Jackson-Washington State Forest offer exciting challenges for hikers.

What's really special about this park and surrounding properties is that it's the mother to the state. At first, the property was used as a tree nursery and hatchery, supplying seedlings and fish to forest, ponds, and properties across the state. DNR still provides these essential services to the state, just down the road from the recreation area. Starve Hollow is still home to several tree plantations that provide seeds for the nursery, which you can visit any time.

If you want to learn more about the Vallonia Nursery or the Jasper-Pulaski Nursery, visit the DNR’s forestry site.

Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!

Any mistakes are my own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with me to Tippecanoe River State Park where there is so much to discover! Hear about the history, fire tower, diverse ecosystems, wildlife, camping, generous community, and activities at this beautiful park.

I learned about the Works Progress Administration (later renamed Works Projects Administration) on several sites: Britannica, PBS, the state of North Dakota, Indiana DNR.

Go for a ride or run on the Panhandle Pathway.

Learn more about black oak savannas and their importance from the National Park Service.

Watch this video of a glass lizard! They’re really cool!

If you want to help out with the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park and stay up to date with events and the WPA cabin project, be sure to follow them on Facebook.

Check out the website and follow on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast! Be sure to join the thousands of Hoosiers keeping up with the latest and greatest happenings at GetIndiana.com.

Any mistakes are my own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.