Hiking, history and photography Traditional Cache
GCP&T: Caches placed in Greene County parks are only allowed to remain for one year. This one is now archived.
Hiking, history and photography
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We hope that you enjoy the park and all of its natural and historical gifts. Please remember to take only trash and leave treasures only in the cache box. No night caching permitted.
Indian Mound Reserve is a perfect location for Hiking, History and Photography. The park is 166 acres with over 3 miles of hiking trails. Massie’s Creek gorge, created by the Wisconsin glacier over 12,000 years ago, runs through the middle of the park. Arbor Vitae or White Cedar is a very slow growing tree, which prefers rocky cliff edges. Found only in a few places in Ohio, this endangered plant species grows at the top of the gorge. If you wander under the large rock overhang be sure to look up, you will see this specular plant.
Over 2 thousand years ago the Adena Indians hunted, fished and grew crops in this area. An Adena Mound standing some 35 ft. high and 140+ feet in diameter is located in the northern end of the park. It is not known if this mound is a burial mound or was used as a lookout.
The Pollock Works located along the south edge of Massie’s Creek is somewhat younger in age but still very old. Built by the Hopewell Indians between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D., this earthen enclosure is an architectural marvel. Built from logs, dirt and rocks the enclosure encompasses approximately 10 acres, in some sections it stood over two stories high and is hundreds of feet long. It is still very unclear as to why the enclosure was built but we do know the area was used for trading. Artifacts such as shark teeth, obsidian rock, copper and much more have been found
The Pollock Works is also the best location for wildflowers in the spring. Over 125 species of flowers have been documented throughout the park. Beginning in late March through July flowers are in continuous bloom.
Along with glacial and Native American history, Indian Mound Reserve as also part of Ohio’s Underground Railroad history. During the mid-1800’s slaves found many abolitionists in the area that were willing to help them find freedom.
Imagine horses pulling large slabs of limestone up Massie Creek, the slabs were then put into place using a pulley system, creating the waterfall. This waterfall provided power for the Harbison Paper Mill. Straw was used to create a stiff paper called cardboard.
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Treasures
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