Fall Into Geocaching: McCormick's Creek State Park Traditional Cache

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Pokagon Nature Center: Thanks everyone. Happy caching in the Indiana State Parks in 2007.

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Hidden : 8/31/2006
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Fall Into Geocaching: McCormick's Creek State Park:
"A Centennial Celebration For Future Generations!"

This cache was created by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs to promote geocaching in the Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs this fall. It is part of a larger contest. Each cache in this series (search "fall into geocaching") has a special word(s) in bold on the top of the log sheet. There are a total of 22 different caches located in 22 different state parks, recreation areas, or reservoirs. Though not needed to log the cache, the first teams to successfully find (and log online) 10 of these caches and email to the profile above the 10 words (with their corresponding park) will win. All other teams completing it will also go into a drawing for other prizes. The contest period goes from Labor Day until Dec 31, 2006.

Participants can look for caches anytime during the contest period; however, the first geocacher who finds ten of the 22 caches, reports to the contest coordinator and is verified as a winner will be awarded a $100 gift certificate to Indiana State Park inns. Only one gift certificate will be awarded. All other prizes (annual passes, campnights, daily entrance admissions) will be awarded at the end of the contest in a drawing for participants who have located at least 10 of the 22 caches. One hundred free “Fall into Geocaching” t-shirts will be also be awarded in a drawing for anyone who participates and reports finding at least one cache. The usual State Park admission is required ($1.00 bicycle, $4.00 in-state weekday, $5.00 weekend, or $7.00 out of state vehicles).
Whether you visit our great State Parks and Reservoirs for a day or an entire weekend, we hope you get out and see all that Indiana has to offer. Be sure to also check out some of the geocaching events going on at various State Parks this fall! Good Luck!!!

You can find other "Fall Into Geocaching" caches at:
· Brookville Lake: GCY8VY
· Brown County State Park: GCY5NA
· Fort Harrison State Park: GCY1VM
· Indiana Dunes State Park: GCXYQ7
· J. Edward Roush Reservoir: GCY5XR
· Mansfield Mill: GCY5FP
· McCormick’s Creek State Park: GCY29G
· Mississinewa Reservoir: GCY31P
· Mounds State Park: GCY8VD
· Ouabache State Park: GCY24C
· Pokagon State Park: GCXWHP
· Potato Creek State Park: GCXZYK
· Prophetstown State Park: GCY5WR
· Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area: GCY5F0
· Salamonie Reservoir: GCY5DP
· Shades State Park: GCY16E
· Shakamak State Park: GCY22T
· Spring Mill State Park: GCY6T4
· Summit Lake State Park: GCXYR2
· Tippecanoe River State Park: GCY2TZ
· Turkey Run State Park: GCY13M
· Whitewater Memorial State Park: GCY8W1


Welcome to McCormick's Creek State Park! You won't find an Indiana State Park with a richer history. Namely, because it's the state's first!

Long before pioneers entered the area now known as McCormick's Creek the Miami Indians roamed the land. It wasn't until 1816 that the first settler laid claim to the area, when John McCormick homesteaded nearly one hundred acres along the canyon by the waterfalls. In those days it was common practice to name physical landmarks after the people who owned them, and thus McCormick's Creek received its name. The turning point in the McCormick's Creek history came in 1888 when part of the area was purchased by Frederick Denkewalter, a physician who was interested in the scenic and restful qualities of the site. Dr. Denkewalter felt the tranquil peace of the canyon and its surrounding cliffs would be the perfect location to build a sanitarium, a place for the wealthy and the weary to 'get away from it all' and recuperate. The original sanitarium, built on the present-day Canyon Inn site.

With the death of Dr. Denkewalter in 1914, his estate went up for sale at a land auction. Both Owen County and the State of Indiana were interested in maintaining McCormick's Creek in its park-like setting, and so the land was purchased. McCormick's Creek State Park was dedicated as Indiana's first state park on July 4, 1916, as part of the state's centennial celebration. Canyon Inn opened its doors in the old sanitarium building. A few years later, in the early 1920s, the building was remodeled and new brick siding was added.

Much of the park's building improvements came in the 1930s when CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) Company 589 was in the park. Between November 1933 and July 1935 the CCC men completed amazing amounts of construction, including most of the shelter houses, the old stone bridge, and the firetower. Three of these structures have been honored by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the CCC Recreation Hall, the stone arch bridge over Echo Canyon and the Park Gatehouse. CCC achievements can be seen throughout the property, some big, some small. Some small enough to hide a micro geocache that's still easy to find if you try! Park near the Canyon Inn (and take a peak inside!) and you won't have to walk too far. Enjoy!

The "Fall Into Geocaching" series meets all guidelines set forth in the IDNR Geocaching Policy. If you are interested in placing a geocache in an Indiana State Park or Reservoir, please review our policy at: Link

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gurl pnyy vg gur Urnq-Xabpxre!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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