ABOUT POTAWATOMI WILDLIFE PARK

Quick overview: Our mission is to connect people with nature, local history and community through low-impact recreation and educational programming. Our vision is to become a thriving community hub that fosters connections through nature, history and recreational opportunities for all. It all started with Vernon Romine, a local landowner who had a vision to create a park that would be accessible for free to the public – especially for children and those who faced financial struggles. When Vernon Romine passed away on July 2, 1979, he left his estate of 151 acres to be managed by a board of directors. In his will, he entrusted the development of the land to five service clubs in the area: the Lions Clubs of Bourbon, Etna Green and Mentone, and the Kiwanis Clubs of Bremen and Bourbon. Today the Park has grown to over 300 acres, and the board has been expanded to include community members from Marshall and surrounding counties. We are not a county or state park – we are just an amazing private park open to the public for FREE! We rely primarily on donations to fund our monthly community events, field trips, trail maintenance, repairs, staffing and conservation initiatives. The annual cost of operating this amazing park is $130,000. You can support us by donating through our trail entrance box, mailing a check or visiting our website to donate online.

THE PARKS STORY (MOST RECENT - OLDEST)

  • Potawatomi Wildlife Park Hosts 3rd Annual Luminaria Hike and Wagon Ride

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  • Cathy Olson Shares Her Experience at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • Jill Reichert's Top 10 Reasons to Love Potawatomi Park

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  • Micheal Hensley: Rooted in Community, Growing in Nature

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  • Kylee Hall’s Story: Rooted in Community, Growing in Nature

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  • Holly Sellers story: Rooted in Community, Growing in Nature

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  • 10/30/2024 Upcoming Events: Glow-in-the-Dark, Star Party, & Luminary Hike and Wagon Ride

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  • 10/5/2024 Chili, Pumpkins, and Family Fun: Potawatomi Wildlife Park Fall Event Recap

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  • 10/3/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Partners with Kosciusko Soil and Water for Educational Field Trip

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  • 9/22/2024 Triton Students Volunteer at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • 9/7/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Hosted 31st Annual Fishing Derby

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  • 9/6-9/8 A Weekend of Learning, Volunteering, and Outdoor Adventure at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • 8/24/2024 Family Summer Camp Night Recap at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • 7/22/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Empowers Youth Leadership with Board Position

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  • 7/22/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Empowers Youth Leadership with Board Position

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  • 7/8/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Hosts Marshall County Mini 4-H Camp

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  • 6/23/2024 Potawatomi Wildlife Park Announces New Officers for 2024-2025

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  • 6/18/2024 Local boy scout completes project at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • 4/10/2020 Lions Magazine: Visitors find peace in this refuge for endangered Plants and animals

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  • 2/25/2006 Intertwined bucks found dead in northern Indiana pond

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  • May 2022 - Present Lacey Pfeiffer becomes park Manager

  • 2022 Sharon Stephan park coordinator passes away after a long battle with cancer.

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  • 2020-2022 Sharon Stephan becomes coordinator of Potawatomi Wildlife Park

  • May 2020 Long time park Manager Michael Stephan passes away

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  • 2014 Approximately 100 people attended Potawatomi Park’s 1st annual banquet, February 22nd at the Back Forty Banquet Hall. Musical entertainment was provided by cellist Robert Hudson during the initial social hour while hors d'oeuvres were served. Attendees then enjoyed a catered dinner while Michael Stephan, Executive Director of Potawatomi Park, Inc. presented an informative review of 2013 and an update on plans for 2014. A silent auction raised funds for the park and included art prints, park packages, bird houses decorated by park board members, and various other items.

  • October 15, 2011 Received Daniel McDonald Heritage Award from Wythougan Valley Preservation Council, Inc. for Bootes cabin restoration project.

  • October 8, 2011 Benack Historical Marker dedicated.

  • July 18, 2010 Large pavilion grand opening. Dr. Dane Miller given naming rights and names it Wayne K. Bessinger Pavilion. Raised over $200,000 in three years during a recession to fund it.

  • Fall 2009 Sign is erected on CCC property naming the property “The Wall” Historic Park in recognition of its original purpose as a community park. Potawatomi Park, Inc. now operates two parks in its “park system”.

  • February 2008 Dr. Dane & Mary Louise Miller Foundation: $50K + $25K pledge for large pavilion

  • December 2007: Creighton Brothers, Inc donates 10 acre “New Deal/CCC property” to park. Park now totals 317.

  • July 2007 “Hike Into History URL Registered

  • June 2007 Four Pastports installed to promote Park’s historical features

  • June 2007 “Tippecanoe and Lunch Too” Canoe float event conducted to promote the Tippecanoe river

  • Spring 2007 Second limited edition Klinefelter Print sales kicked off to benefit park

  • March 2007 “Hike Into History” tagline adopted

  • May 2007 10 acre Prairie Plot planted on north sand ridge

  • 2004 1834 Bootes Cabin donated to Park-Oldest Structure in Marshall County is moved to the park in 8 hours.

  • July 2004 $100,000 Fites dollar-for-dollar match challenge started & met by June 30, 2005

  • 2004 86 acres donated after completion of Business and Master Plan

  • Spring/Summer 2004 Park announces limited canoe rental

  • Fall 2006 Final Bout Locked Bucks Display unveiled

  • December 2006 Dollars-for-Acres challenge completed. 30 acres donated

  • March 28, 2006 Museumcroft-cultural assessment & Attraction viability study

  • February 1, 2005 Shori House closing - House @ end of lane-Proposed future entrance upgrade

  • 2003 Andy Kelley from Troop 251 moved Fire-Ring to south lot for Eagle Scout project

  • 2003 Director earns executive Director Award from the International Dark-Sky Association for work on creating Indiana’s First Dark-Sky Preserve and promotion of Dark Skies.

  • April 2003 Board expanded to allow additional board representation permitting a total of up to 20 board members representing the counties of Kosciusko, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Fulton, and Marshall

  • March 2003 PWP recognized as Indiana’s first Dark-Sky Preserve by Indiana State Senate Resolution #7

  • 2003 Park forms Advisory Council to serve as sentinels over the park

  • 2003 Eppley Institute of Parks & Public Lands creates master plan. This plan is a requirement in order to get an 86 acres donation from the Erwin Family that was held by the M.C.C.F. temporarily while the plan was created.

  • October 2002 First “Get Into Nature” Fall Fest held

  • 2002 Park changes website to new Getintonature.com URL

  • Fall 1999 Park initiates first limited edition Klinefelter print to raise funds for a memorial for former board member William Price

  • 1999 Notre Dame Dept. of Anthropology Summer field class Field survey: investigations were concentrated at the northern end of the site in an area known as the "Scout camp" because historic artifacts from the Bennac era were most abundant in this area.

  • Winter/Spring 1999 M.C.C.F. creates Potawatomi Task Force to aid the park in investing, capitol fund raising, grant writing, and implementation of a long-term financial plan

  • 1998 Notre Dame Dept. of Anthropology Summer field class Field survey: completed the geophysical surveys of the south field, performed additional geophysical surveys in food plots (small fields that feed the wildlife), and placed four test units in the vicinity of a scatter of historic artifacts dating to the Bennac era.

  • Spring 1998 Herpetology survey conducted to develop baseline populations. Endangered/threatened species Northern Leopard Frog and Blandings Turtle discovered.

  • 1997 Notre Dame Dept. of Anthropology Summer field class Field survey: consisted of magnetic and resistively surveys of most of the south field, surface surveys of wildlife food plots, and the excavation of four units to test geophysical anomalies identified during the geophysical survey of the south field.

  • 1997 Goose Pond Taxidermy donates several thousand dollars worth of taxidermy items to the nature center.

  • 1997 Potawatomi Wildlife Park opens a permanent fund with the M.C.C.F. with a $1,100 contribution from Wayne Bessinger. Will & June Erwin contributed $5,000 on the condition that the park matched it. The Park offers to match all contributions to the fund.

  • 1997 Potawatomi Wildlife Park goes on line with its first website

  • Fall 1996 Wildlife Viewing Windows installed in Nature Center via a donation from Reynolds Metals Co. and North American Glass Industries of South Bend

  • 1996 Bald Eagle Sighted on Park. Recently released River Otter sightings also occurred

  • 1996 Notre Dame Dept. of Anthropology Summer field class Field survey: included mapping, shovel probing, magnetic surveys, and test excavations.

  • 1995 Potawatomi Wildlife Park announces partnership with the Warsaw Astronomical Society to conduct public astronomical programming.

  • 1995 $26,000 Restroom/office addition added. Old office turned into a nature center

  • Summer/Fall 1994 Newsletter renamed “The FireKeeper”

  • September 1993 First Annual Family Fishing Derby held

  • Fall 1993 “Friends of Potawatomi” created to recognize donors

  • Fall 1992 Parks first “News & Views” newsletter

  • 1992 56x24 equipment pole shed erected

  • Summer 1991 Park hours change to Dawn to Dusk year round

  • July 1991 Michael Stephan- Second Park Manager hired

  • 1989 Managers residence built

  • 1987 Shop built

  • June 1987 Park Grand Opening

  • 984-1987 Ponds Built (Pond #1, 2, 3, 4)

  • May 1984 - June 1991 Roger Sill- Park Manager

  • May 1984 Became a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation in May of 1984.

  • 1983-1984 Property squared off to equal 200 acres (Purchase 4.48 acres from Pealy Heckaman- , 6.9 acres from John Jennings, Rex Fites-6.2 acres, Larry Koontz-est. 20 acres, Larry Fretz-8-10 acres

  • November 29, 1982 The property and assets were incorporated with 151 acres and $425,000 in assets and a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from the five clubs: Lions-Bourbon, Mentone, & Etna Green Kiwanis Bourbon & Bremen.

  • July 2, 1979 Vernon Romine passes away and left an estate of 151 of the current 317 acre park property and an endowment fund to be administered by a board of directors. In his will, Vernon Romine left the task of developing the property to five service clubs in the area. These five service clubs are the Lions Clubs of Bourbon, Etna Green, and Mentone and the Kiwanis Clubs of Bremen and Bourbon.

  • October 1977 Vernon Romine signs Last Will and Testament. Vernon Romine was a local land owner who visualized a park open free of charge to the public. His vision was to have an area where visitors, especially children and the poor and deprived, could enjoy recreation without being concerned with financial burden.

  • 1834-1848 Osheakkebe, also known as Stephen Benack, was an ogimaa (leader) whose village was near here (Potawatomi Wildlife Park), 1834-1848. Born circa 1780 of Potawatomi and French-Canadian heritage, Benack resisted United States’ taking of lands long inhabited by Indians and sided with Great Britain in War of 1812. He and allied Indian leaders signed 1815 peace treaty at Spring Wells near Detroit. From the October 27, 1832 treaty, Benack received three sections of land in Marshall County in the area where the Potawatomi Wildlife Park is located today. In 1834, U.S. surveyors noted on their map an Indian Village on the north side of a bend in the Tippecanoe River on the boundary between sections seven and eighteen in township thirty-two north range four east. On an 1834 journey along the Tippecanoe River from the Potawatomi Mills (near Rochester) to Turkey Creek prairie, Sandford Cox was informed that the only “house” between the mill and Turkey Creek was “that of Bennack, a half breed, and one of the head men among the Pottowattomies, at the crossing of Tippecanoe River.” Cox noted “Bennack’s Ford on Tippecanoe River” located “about one half mile below Bennack’s village.” Sanford Cox, Recollections of the Early Settlement of the Wabash Valley (Lafayette, 1860), [135]-139 (B061510). In October 1839, William Polke traveling up the Tippecanoe River, stopped at “Benacks village.” On this trip, to notify the Potawatomi Indians about another removal attempt to lands west of the Mississippi River, Polke found the Indians unwilling to move because of the lateness of the season. In 1840, Stephen Benack is listed in Marshall County, Indiana Census. Benack appears to have moved off of his Marshall County land by July 1848. Benack was described as living in Kosciusko County where he owned 320 acres of land, with 80 acres cultivated at that time. The report also listed a small number of Indians under his care at this location. In 1849, Benack sold a large portion of his Marshall County lands to his daughter, Mary Ann [Benack] Peashy [Peashway]. This included all of Section 7 (where the village was located). Charles H. Faulkner, An Archaeological Survey of Marshall County conducted the original archaeological survey of Marshall County and claimed that he “easily found” the “historic Ben-ak village.” The site, MR-231, is located in section seven, township thirty-two north, range four east on the Tippecanoe River. Archaeologist Dr. Mark Schurr conducted excavations for the Notre Dame Archaeological Field School at the Benack Village site in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 and confirmed the location of the village. The site has been highly disturbed by farming, but the 1999 field school was able to locate the general vicinity of the 19th century Benack cabin. “The Ben-ack Village site, (12MR231)… is now located in the Potawatomi Wildlife Park.” SOURCE for above information: https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/find-historical-markers-by-county/indiana-historical-markers-by-county/benacks-village/