 © Brent M. Lacy
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Swimming Beach, feet | yes | | | Nature Center | yes | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | Camping | Electric Sites, # | 273 | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Camp Commissary | yes | | | Camper Cabins, # | yes | | | Youth Group Camp, capacity | yes | | Winter | Sledding | yes | | | Cross-Country Skiing | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes | | Accommodations | Lodge Rooms, # | 134 | | | Game Room | yes | | | Restaurant | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Marsh Lake Wetlands State Fish and Wildlife Area
Cedar Lake Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area
Gene Stratton Porter State Memorial
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Pokagon State Park is located near Angola off I-69. Natural lakes abound in this area and the park borders on Lake James and Snow Lake which offer abundant opportunities for boating, swimming and fishing.
What a thrill! That's what you'll say once you've experienced the quarter mile toboggan track at speeds of 35-40 miles per hour! The toboggan operates weekends from the Friday after Thanksgiving through February, with extended holiday hours. The toboggan is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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camping is great here!
our family has camped here for the past ten years.now our small grandchildren come too.we all love POKAGON!!!!!!!
Written by NANCY
4-May-2008
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camping is fun
our family comes here every year. great food, swimmng, horseback riding, hiking, & relaxing
Written by JIM
7-May-2008
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Favorite place
Been camping here for at least 20 years, my parents used to bring us here, now I bring my children. We never get bored here.
(name not given)
15-May-2008
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GREAT PLACE!!!
My grandparents, all my aunts, uncles, and cousins come here for three days around Christmastime. Christmas of 2007 was our 16th year here, including my entire life. SO MUCH FUN!!! I look forward to it every year! :)
Written by K. Sternberg
19-May-2008
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Alot of fun!!!!
I went to Pokagon as a young boy. I remember the fishing most. Now as an adult and father myself, we went last year to the park and we had a great time. This year, we are planning a camping/pontoon boat trip.
Written by John Campos
25-May-2008
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So much to offer
Pokagon State Park has so much to offer... scenic hiking trails, bike trails, a WONDERFUL Nature Center with very knowledgeable and friendly staff, two beaches, fast/fun toboggan (winter of course), great camping, cabins,and an Inn.
Written by Been there
19-Jun-2008
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Family Oriented
This is one of my favorite state parks. It ranks up there with Meramec state park in Missouri. Plenty to see and do for all ages.
Written by Stacey
25-Jun-2008
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| History of the Area: |
| Legend says that Leopold Pokagon was the son of a Chippawa father and Ottawa mother, born around the year 1775. He was abducted from his Chippawa village by a Potawatomi chief and given to Chief Topenebee of the Potawatomi. He was given the name Pokagon because he was wearing a headdress which contained a human rib. The word Pokagon means "rib". However, books later written by his son, Simon, tend to refute this legend.
Simon Pokagon, son of Leopold, was born in an old Potawatomi village. When Simon was eleven years old, his father died and area settlers took the task of educating him. He eventually attended four years at Notre Dame, one year at Oberlin, and two years at Twinsburg College in Ohio. During his college career, Simon met and married a Potawatomi Indian girl name Lonidaw. They built a wigwam home of bark and poles in a stately wood near a crystal lake somewhere in Northern Indiana. Lake Lonidaw, in Pokagon State Park, got its name because it is said to resemble this legendary lake.
In treaties of 1826 and 1830, the Potawatomi tribe sold all their land which made up a large part of Northern Indiana and included the present site of Chicago. They were compensated with three cents an acre, which even at that time was considered an extremely small amount. It would be 70 years before they would be fully paid for the land. Following the treaty of 1830, the Potawatomi were evicted from the area and were relocated west of the Mississippi River to what is now Kansas. Leopold's band moved on their own to an area north of South Bend near Dowagiac, Michigan. In 1893, Simon Pokagon and his family attended the World's Fair in Chicago. It was there that Chief Pokagon transferred the deeds for the land. The occasion was a formality that was long overdue.
In 1925, after careful planning and negotiating, the residents of Steuben County purchased 580 acres along the shores of Lake James and Snow Lake. The land was tendered as a Christmas gift from the residents of Steuben County to the State of Indiana. Another additional 127 acres were added by the State to make a total of 707 acres.
1926 was the actual starting point of park construction. The park at that time consisted of 707 acres and was the third largest park in the state. After approximately two years, the twenty unit hotel (Potawatomi Inn) was completed, costing $3500.00 per unit. On February 23, 1927, Colonel Richard Lieber, State Conservation Commissioner suggested the name Pokagon after the Chief. By unanimous agreement, the park was officially named Pokagon State Park.
Most of the park construction was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC) between 1934 and 1942. They constructed the roads, trails, camping units, walks, gate house, cabins, beach house, shelter house, Spring Shelter, Saddle Barn, and the first toboggan slide. In addition, they planted thousands of young trees.
The park presently has 1,203 acres of woods and shoreline. People come from all over the Midwest to enjoy the park and recreational activities offered all four seasons of the year. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Our Hoosier State beneath us: Geomorphology: Pokagon State Park: Ice Age Legacy - Pokagon State Park: Ice Age Legacy (GM-30) On the shores of ... Lake James and Snow Lake in Indiana's lake country lies Pokagon State Park, named for a famous Potawatomi chief. Pokagon State Park is. | | Pokagon State Park, IN - Pokagon State Park, Angola. Directions: Right on I69 Trail Information: Many trails leading all over this wonderful Park. You can run on hills, or flat grounds. There are many 5 mile loops too.... | | Sycamore Hill -- Area attractions -- Duesenberg Museum, Pokagon State Park - Pokagon State Park Hiking trails, swimming, fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, Mushroom Hunting (10 min.) Pidgeon River Wildlife Area Hiking trails, hunting,... | | Pokagon State Park - Pokagon State Park Located in Steuben County 450 Lane 100 Lake James - Angola, IN 46703 219-833-2012. Pokagon State Park is located near Angola off I-69. Natural lakes abound in this area and... | | Pokagon State Park - Indiana Birding Guide - A birders' guide to visiting Indiana's Pokagon State Park. This page is part of a comprehensive guide to Indiana birding. | | Area Campgrounds | | Pentecostal Church of God Campgrounds
1251 W Camden Rd
Camden, MI
(517) 254-4549
| Camp Sack-In
8740 E 40 S
Angola, IN
(260) 665-5166
| Lime Lake Campground
9660 Reading Rd
Reading, MI
(517) 283-3602
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Ultimate Warrior Sporting Goods & More Inc
1385 N 200 W
Angola, IN
(260) 665-5522
| Corner Landing The
3945 N 300 W
Angola, IN
(260) 833-2112
| Long Lake Grocery
9651 Bankers Rd
Reading, MI
(517) 283-2932
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Cold Springs Resort
260 Lane 120F Hamilton Lk
Hamilton, IN
(260) 488-2920
| Potawatomi Inn
6 Lane 100A Lake James
Angola, IN
(260) 833-1077
| Narrows Resort & Campgrounds
193 Narrows Rd
Coldwater, MI
(517) 279-7225
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