Indiana Reveals $25M McCormick's Creek Campground Plan

More than three years after a devastating tornado destroyed the campground at McCormick's Creek State Park, Indiana has unveiled plans to bring camping back, and the new campground will be considerably different from the one that was lost.

Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have announced plans for a $25 million campground project at McCormick's Creek State Park.

The campground has remained closed since the March 31, 2023, tornado, although the park itself, Canyon Inn, cabins, nature center, and many of its trails are currently open.

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New Campground Will Include More Than 200 Sites

Plans call for the new campground to cover approximately 65 acres and include 224 campsites.

Of those, 192 will be full-hookup campsites, while another 32 will offer primitive camping.

The project will also include a new gatehouse and camp store, comfort stations, playgrounds, landscaping, and new trees planted throughout the campground.

McCormick’s Creek State Park holds a special place in the hearts of so many Hoosiers, and the loss of the campground in the 2023 tornado was felt across our entire state. Our team has worked thoughtfully and carefully to design a new campground that honors the park’s history while creating space for future generations to explore, connect, and make memories. We’re grateful for the support that has made this progress possible, and we look forward to welcoming campers back once this beautiful new space is complete. - Brandt Baughman, director of Indiana State Parks

When Will McCormick's Creek Campground Reopen?

There is still a wait ahead before campers can return.

According to Indiana DNR, construction bids are scheduled to open October 20, 2026, with the new campground expected to welcome its first campers in summer 2028.

Until then, visitors can still enjoy much of McCormick's Creek State Park while campground reconstruction continues.

It has been a long road back after the 2023 tornado, but these new plans finally give campers something they've been waiting more than three years to see: a path toward camping at McCormick's Creek again.