Charlestown State Park

I met up with some friends who were camp hosts at Charlestown State Park located in Charlestown, Indiana, along the Ohio River.  It was nice to have someone to hike with!  

This park was established in 1996.  According to Wikipedia, "The main feature of the park is various scenic trails overlooking Fourteen Mile Creek, noted for being one of the oldest unglaciated stream valleys in the state. On the peninsula the creek forms where it meets the Ohio River stands an isolated bedrock ridge called the Devil's Backbone. According to legend, the Devil's Backbone forms part of the remains of an ancient stone fortress built by Welsh adventurers who traveled to the Ohio Valley in the 12th century, though the story is unsubstantiated. The Backbone is restricted, however park staff offer limited tours in the winter. Over 14 miles of hiking trails are available for use, with many great views of the Ohio River, Fourteen Mile Creek and more."

This park is picturesque with the many views overlooking the Ohio River.  Did you know that there used to be an amusement park here?!  Visit Indiana.com says this:  "On the north bank of the Ohio River in Charlestown State Park, the remains of the Rose Island Abandoned Amusement Park serve as a ghostly reminder of outdoor amusements from a century ago. Today, the park lies in ruin – peeking through the dense southern Indiana woods as a spooky testament to an era gone by. Visitors can explore the ruins in the state park on a hiking path (Trail #7) with helpful signs identifying the remains of what once was. Given the peninsula’s bucolic nature along the river, its popularity with tourists, and its proximity to Madison, Cincinnati, Louisville, and the other Ohio River towns – the Louisville and Jeffersonville Ferry Company purchased the land in 1881 as a stopping point for leisure passengers. Visitors would disembark and spend the day picnicking on the peninsula and frolicking amongst the ferns. The Great Depression slowed business, but the epic flood of 1937 pretty much ruined the park and the whole effort was abandoned."

An archway path to the amusement park area.

There are reminders all over Rose Island showing where amusement park buildings had been located (like the inn), and just how high the flood waters got.  It was crazy to see just how high the water had been. Here is a picture of one of the markers (not mine):

You can't really tell by this picture, but the Ohio River was at least 20-30 feet below the highest levels we saw.  It's incredible to think about just how much water would have been present to flood at these heights!

We saw so many pretty flowers, and a hummingbird moth!

Do you see the hummingbird moth?

There is a bridge that crosses over to Rose Island, and overlooks Fourteen Mile Creek.  

That's my friend Barkley in the blue shirt.

A view of Fourteen Mile Creek from the bridge lattice.

  Pam and I with Jovie on the bridge.

What a great experience this was!  After we looked around Rose Island we walked up a very long and high hill to get back.  Yikes!  We had to stop a couple of times on the way up.  No worries if you can't do this; they have a shuttle that will take you up and down if you book in advance.

I want to go back here sometime and hike the trail that goes along the Ohio River.  I didn't have time to do that on this day, but I would definitely go back.