THE PARK’S STORY (News & History) *Most Recent to oldest

  • Photos from an award ceremony at a conference for the Potawatomi Wildlife Park and conservation. The top photo shows a presentation slide with the park's name, the bottom left shows a person speaking at a podium with two women receiving awards, and the bottom right shows two women standing together on stage, one holding an award.

    Awarded 2024 Friends of Conservation Award

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  • A flyer for Potawatomi Wildlife Park's board members. It includes sections for appointed, elected, and junior board members, with photos and titles for each role. There are placeholder images labeled 'Open Position' for some openings.

    Welcome New Board Members Holly & Tommy

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  • Six photos featuring young women and a young man engaged in various activities. The first girl sits at a table drawing or painting, the second girl and young man sit in a shed with laundry, the third girl holds a sheep at a farm, the fourth group of women sit on a bench with Christmas decorations, the fifth girl serves cookies at a table, and the sixth girl plays piano. The last two images show outdoor scenes: a field with glowing lanterns and a girl playing piano indoors.

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

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  • Photos of children and adults at Potawatomi Wildlife Park, engaging in educational activities and riding a utility vehicle during the fall.

    Cathy Olson Shares Her Experience at Potawatomi Wildlife Park

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  • Collage of photos from Potawatomi Wildlife Park. The top left features three generations sitting on a bench, with a large Potawatomi sign behind them. The top right shows a group of seven people smiling and hugging in front of trees. The middle left displays a family outdoors with colorful fall foliage. The middle right features a group of people sitting in front of a decorated wall with a Potawatomi sign surrounded by Christmas lights. The bottom row shows children and adults fishing by a lake, with some in chairs and others standing.

    Jill Reichert's Top 10 Reasons to Love Potawatomi Park

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  • Collage with three images: Top shows a sunset sky and outdoor astronomy setup with telescopes and chairs, featuring a logo for Potawatomi Wildlife Park's 2024 end-of-year campaign and a tree with roots. Bottom left displays a person smiling and pointing at a large telescope outdoors, and bottom right shows a person standing in a forested area with a backpack, wearing sunglasses and casual outdoor clothing.

    Micheal Hensley: Rooted in Community, Growing in Nature

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  • Children participating in an outdoor community gardening activity at Potawatomi Wildlife Park during the 2024 End of Year Campaign, planting trees or shrubs in a soil bed with watering cans.

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

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  • Collage of five photos: Top photo shows a large group of children and adults outdoors on a grassy field in front of trees; middle left shows an elderly man in black and white focused on a small device outdoors; middle right shows a family of five in casual clothes standing on a small bridge with trees in the background; bottom left shows two people, one adult and one child, fishing by a river with greenery around; bottom right shows an elderly man in a hooded jacket with two young girls outdoors.

    Holly Sellers story: Rooted in Community, Growing in Nature

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  • The image contains multiple event flyers. The first advertises a Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt at Potawatomi Wildlife Park on November 1, 2024, at 8 PM, with instructions to bring friends and a flashlight. It features photos of children and adults participating in nighttime activities. The second flyer promotes a Public Star Party at Potawatomi Wildlife Park on the same date from 8 PM to 10 PM, encouraging stargazing and social media updates. The third flyer details a Luminary Hike & Wagon Ride at the same location on December 14, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, describing a silent night hike with live nativity, cookies, hot chocolate, and a bonfire. It shows images of lit candles in trees, a person reading a story by firelight, and a wagon ride, emphasizing holiday festivities and community events.

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

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  • A collage of images from a fall festival or community event featuring activities like hayrides, contests, live music, pumpkin picking, a fun run, a game area, and people enjoying the outdoors.

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

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  • Group of children and adults engaging in outdoor activities and crafts in a park-like setting, including fishing, painting, and playing games.

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

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  • Images show groups of children and adults participating in outdoor environmental activities. Top left: children listening to instructions from adults in a grassy area with trees. Top right: children and adults hiking or exploring a wooded area. Bottom left: children with gloves and tools in a forest, working on a project. Bottom right: group walking through a wooded trail, some wearing gloves and backpacks.

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

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  • Collage of people fishing and attending outdoor social events by a lake, including children and adults, some holding fishing rods and certificates, with grassy fields and trees in the background.

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

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  • A young boy wearing a life jacket and outdoor gear standing outdoors near a wooden fence with a red truck and trees in the background.

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

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  • A collage of outdoor activities featuring children and adults. The top two images show people kayaking on a river, one adult and child in an orange kayak, and a man and girl in a red kayak. The middle row shows children preparing and cooking food over a campfire. The bottom image depicts a large group of children and adults on a tour bus, smiling and posing for the camera.

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

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  • Collage of five photos depicting outdoor summer activities including camping, children playing and socializing, and family games.

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

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  • A person crouching on grass, wearing sunglasses, a cap, hoodie, jeans, and gloves, planting a tree sapling outdoors on a sunny day with trees and a dirt road in the background.

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

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  • A group of children and adults outdoors on a sunny day, sitting and standing on a grassy area with trees in the background. Some children are holding ice pops, and one child in the bottom right is holding a fishing pole by a river. Other children are participating in arts and crafts activities.

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

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  • Board of Directors for Potawatomi Wildlife Park for 2024-2025, including president Wyatt Stephan, vice president JH Northrop, treasurer Tana Beeson, and secretary River Watson, with photos and titles.

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

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  • Group of men, including children, standing inside a building under construction with exposed wood framing and large windows, in a snowy outdoor setting.

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

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  • An elderly man wearing a black cap and dark jacket, smiling and looking upwards, standing outdoors near water with leafless trees in the background.

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

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  • Two dead deer locked in combat with their antlers tangled, lying on the ground in a wooded area.

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

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  • A family of four standing on a wooded trail outdoors, smiling at the camera. The father is holding a baby girl, and a young boy stands in front of the mother.

    5/21/2022 - Present Lacey Pfeiffer becomes park Manager

  • Four people, a young woman, an older woman, and two young men, standing outdoors and smiling at the camera, dressed casually on a fall day.

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

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  • Family of six outdoor on a grassy field at sunset, with trees in the background. The elderly woman is seated in front, wearing a red and white dress and a denim jacket. The five younger adults, three women and two men, stand behind her, smiling and embracing.

    2020-2022 Sharon Stephan becomes coordinator of Potawatomi Wildlife Park

  • A man with glasses on his head, wearing a black polo shirt with suspenders, standing outdoors in front of a wooden wall.

    May 2020 Long time park Manager Michael Stephan passes away

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  • A large indoor event with round tables decorated with tablecloths and centerpieces, with many guests seated and socializing. The venue has wooden beams, upstairs balcony with festive lighting, and a staircase on the right side.

    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.

  • An old, weathered wooden house with a small front porch and a chimney, situated in a grassy yard with trees and a wooden fence in the background.

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

  • Historical marker about Osheakbe, also known as Stephen Benack, a Potawatomi leader who resisted British and American forces, with details of his history and signing of peace treaty in Detroit.

    October 8, 2011 Benack Historical Marker dedicated.

  • A park pavilion with a green metal roof and concrete floor, surrounded by picnic tables and grills, set in an open grassy area with some trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

    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.

  • A black and white photo of five people in an office: three men and one woman standing in a row, with two men in the middle holding a document. They are smiling. The background shows a cabinet with model planes and a framed painting on the wall.

    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”.

  • A smiling woman with short red hair and a man with glasses and gray hair posing outdoors among trees.

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

  • Graphic with text 'Creighton Brothers' in blue, yellow, and white on a black background.

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

  • Icon of a document with the word 'URL' on it, indicating a web link or address.

    July 2007 “Hike Into History URL Registered

  • Placeholder image with a drawing of two Polaroid pictures and the text 'PHOTO COMING SOON' underneath.

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

  • A peaceful river scene with clear blue sky, surrounded by lush green trees and a dirt path along the water's edge.

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

  • Smiling man painting a picture of birds on a canvas inside an art studio.

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

  • Text overlay on scenic mountain landscape reading 'Hike Into History'.

    March 2007 “Hike Into History” tagline adopted

  • A grassy dirt trail running through a field with shrubs and trees, under a sunny sky with a bright sun.

    May 2007 10 acre Prairie Plot planted on north sand ridge

  • A series of black-and-white photos showing the construction and dismantling of a wooden cabin, including roof removal, log wall work, a lunch break, site cleanup, moving the cabin on a trailer, and storage of logs and unloaded cabin

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

  • Placeholder sign with two stylized photographs and the text "Photo Coming Soon" on a black background.

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

  • Placeholder image with a black background and white icons of two photographs, one with a sun and the other with a moon. Text reads 'PHOTO COMING SOON'.

    2004 86 acres donated after completion of Business and Master Plan

  • View from a kayak on a calm river surrounded by green trees on both sides.

    Spring/Summer 2004 Park announces limited canoe rental

  • An elderly man holding the antlers of two buck deer with a plain white wall in the background.

    Fall 2006 Final Bout Locked Bucks Display unveiled

  • Placeholder sign with a photo icon and the text 'PHOTO COMING SOON' indicating an image will be added later.

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

  • Placeholder image with a black background and white text that says 'Photo Coming Soon' along with an icon of two Polaroid-style photographs.

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

  • Placeholder image with a black background and white text that reads "PHOTO COMING SOON". It features an icon of two Polaroid photos with a sun and a moon.

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

  • A yellow background with partial white text reading 'THE E..S T...E..E R...'.

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

  • Yellow background with white text that says 'The future is bright'.

    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.

  • A yellow background with faint white text that is difficult to read.

    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

  • Light yellow background with faded white text that says 'The Doer's Dictionary'.

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

  • Text on a yellow background that is difficult to read due to low contrast.

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

  • A yellow sticky note with the words 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' written in white.

    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.

  • Yellow background with faint white text that is not clearly readable

    October 2002 First “Get Into Nature” Fall Fest held

  • A yellow poster with faded white text that is not clearly readable.

    2002 Park changes website to new Getintonature.com URL

  • Pink text on a yellow background reading 'The Best Day Ever'.

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

  • A yellow background with text that is difficult to read.

    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.

  • Yellow background with faded white text that says "DEREKH ADOM"

    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

  • Logo of the University of Notre Dame with navy blue letters outlined in gold.

    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.

  • Yellow background with white text that is difficult to read.

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

  • Notre Dame students listening to Professor Schur's interpretation of an archaeological feature that appears to be a fire pit.

    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.

  • Yellow background with faint, barely visible text in the center.

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

  • A yellow background with a white text that says 'The beginning of your story'.

    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.

  • Bold yellow background with white blurred text that is difficult to read.

    1997 Potawatomi Wildlife Park goes on line with its first website

  • Yellow background with faint white text reading 'I Hope This Helps'.

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

  • Close-up of a bald eagle with its beak open, showing white head and dark brown body.

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

  • The Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo with a gold outline on a white background.

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

  • Logo of Warsaw Astronomical Society with symbols of astronomy and space exploration on a red background.

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

  • Yellow background with faint, partially visible text that is blurred and unreadable.

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

  • A yellow background with faint white text that is not clearly readable.

    Summer/Fall 1994 Newsletter renamed “The FireKeeper”

  • A person holding a fishing rod over a body of water, ready to fish.

    September 1993 First Annual Family Fishing Derby held

  • Yellow background with faint white text that reads 'The better the experience, the better the results.'

    Fall 1993 “Friends of Potawatomi” created to recognize donors

  • The image shows the year 1992 written twice, once in white on a light background and once in black on a dark background. The numbers have a striped, layered design.

    Fall 1992 Parks first “News & Views” newsletter

  • Placeholder image with a black background, white outline of two Polaroid photos, and text reading "PHOTO COMING SOON"

    1992 56x24 equipment pole shed erected

  • Sunset with vibrant orange and red clouds over a silhouette of trees and open field.

    Summer 1991 Park hours change to Dawn to Dusk year round

  • A man with short red hair and a beard, wearing a black polo shirt with an embroidered logo, standing outdoors in front of a wooden fence.

    July 1991 Michael Stephan- Second Park Manager hired

  • Placeholder image with a black background, a white icon of two photos, and text that reads 'PHOTO COMING SOON'.

    1989 Managers residence built

  • Two flagpoles, one with the American flag, in front of a green-roofed building with parked cars nearby. There is a historical marker sign and benches on a grassy area.

    1987 Shop built

  • People participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a front gate, standing outdoors with trees in the background, some wearing hats and holding a ribbon.

    June 1987 Park Grand Opening

  • A scenic lakeside view with tall grasses and reeds in the foreground, a calm water body, and a dense green forest in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

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

  • Silhouette of a person's head and shoulders against a light background.

    May 1984 - June 1991 Roger Sill- Park Manager

  • A document from the Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service with a large red "APPROVED" stamp and a red "APPROVED" overlay, indicating approval status.

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

  • A dirt trail running through open fields with vegetation on both sides under a bright sunny sky.

    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

  • A long conference table with empty black chairs around it, viewed from one end with a bright light source at the far end.

    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.

  • Vintage sepia portrait of Vernon Romine in military uniform with crossed arms, wearing a cap, with his name and dates 1893-1979 below.

    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.

  • A close-up of a last will and testament document with a black pen resting on it.

    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.

  • Historical marker for Benack's Village detailing its history and significance.

    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/