Ouabache State Park

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Ouabache State Park The official Indiana DNR page for Ouabache State Park. Ouabache became a State Recreation Area in the 1960s, then a State Park in the 1980s.

Ouabache, pronounced "oh-bah-chee" was originally operated as the Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve from the 1930s to 1960s. Many historical features of the beginnings of the property can still be seen along roads and trails. Visitors to this state park can find many recreational activities including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, swimming, camping, playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts as well as picnicking, a nature center and a 20-acre American bison exhibit with live bison in a natural setting. Please review our commenting guidelines at https://on.IN.gov/dnrsocial. This property is in the Eastern time zone.

The c***r press was so imPRESSive last weekend that we are bringing it back for a second round! Participate and watch h...
10/22/2026

The c***r press was so imPRESSive last weekend that we are bringing it back for a second round! Participate and watch how apples are made into c***r and then sample the results! 12:30 on Saturday, the 24th, at Campview shelter.
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

There are a lot of fun activities planned for this weekend, Oct. 24th and 25th. All are free with paid gate entry fee. ...
10/21/2026

There are a lot of fun activities planned for this weekend, Oct. 24th and 25th. All are free with paid gate entry fee. We hope you join us!

Halloween Campsite Decoration Contest! Our campers are so creative!
Saturday, October 24, 2026
10 a.m. Bison Feeding
Meet at the Bison Feeding shed to learn about our National Mammal and watch them eat a sweet treat!
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Co****le Tournament
Join us near the bocce ball court to play co****le and win prizes. Register by 11 a.m. then teams of 2 will be drawn. There will be separate age categories for 19 and under and 20 and over. Hosted by Friends of Ouabache State Park.
12:30 P.M- Apple C***r Press Demonstration.
Come to Campview Shelter to see how apple c***r is made and get the opportunity to taste test the fresh made c***r.
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Trick-or-Treat
Ghouls, Goblins, and Ghosts Galore! Walk around the campground to collect sweet treats

Sunday, October 25, 2026
10 a.m. Batty Bingo
Come to Trails End Shelter to play bingo, learn about bats, and win a prize!
1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Bison Trivia Hike
Meet the Naturalist at the front of the Bison Enclosure to get a closer look at our bison. Then go on a self-guided hike around the 20-acre enclosure to learn more about the fluffy cows.
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

We have 7 new, amazing Tailblazers! These pups are serious about State Park dog etiquette. Stop in the bark office, that...
10/20/2026

We have 7 new, amazing Tailblazers! These pups are serious about State Park dog etiquette. Stop in the bark office, that is PARK office, and find out how to get your 4-legged best friend signed up! Here are fun facts for each pup:
Bonnie is a 2 yr old Aussie mix. She is a rescue and talks to her person on the phone!
Spartin loves his little stuffed toys! He is a 4 yr old Red Australian Cattle Dog.
Frankie has a big smile and is a 4 yr old chow mix. Frankie has to be suspended to have his nails trimmed!
Fritz ( Aka Sir Fritz A Lot) is a 1 yr old dachshund/rottweiler mix. He likes to howl at ambulances and fire trucks!
Moxie is well-traveled and has been to almost all of the state parks! Moxie is a 9 yr old boxer.
Reina is a 2 1/2 yr old Shepherd mix that has hiked “hundreds of miles”!
Roxy loves water and kayaking! She is a 6 yr old Labradoodle.

on.IN.gov/ouabache

The Dekay's Brownsnake is a harmless, short thick-bodied snake that is gray or light brown in color and is marked with ...
10/18/2026

The Dekay's Brownsnake is a harmless, short thick-bodied snake that is gray or light brown in color and is marked with a light mid-dorsal stripe bordered by two rows of small dark spots. The underside is white or light pink with dark pencil-point spots along the edges of the belly scales. They live in the surface litter in many habitats. The snakes favorite food are small invertebrates, including slugs, earthworms and snails.
Many are seen on the roads in the park as they sun themselves.
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp
Photo Kevin Butts

Let the decorating begin! Our campers are getting geared up for a fun Fall Festival weekend, which includes a campsite ...
10/16/2026

Let the decorating begin! Our campers are getting geared up for a fun Fall Festival weekend, which includes a campsite decorating contest! Come and check it out. The schedule of events is on the Ouabache website: on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

It's Fall Festival time! We have lot's of fun activities for this week-end. All are FREE with paid gate entry fee. Hal...
10/15/2026

It's Fall Festival time! We have lot's of fun activities for this week-end. All are FREE with paid gate entry fee.

Halloween Campsite Decoration Contest. Our campers know how to make the campground festive!
Saturday, October 17, 2026
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
Make your way over to Trails End Shelter for breakfast hosted by Friends of Ouabache! Freewill donations.
12 p.m. Apple C***r Press Demonstration
Come to Campview Shelter to see how apple c***r is made and get the opportunity to taste test the fresh made c***r.
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Pumpkin Painting
Come to Campview Shelter to unleash your creativity and paint a pumpkin. While supplies last.
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Trick-or-Treat
Ghouls, Goblins, and Ghosts Galore! Walk around the campground to collect sweet treats.
6:30 p.m. Campsite Decoration Contest Awards
Meet at the Campground Host site to congratulate the campsite decoration winners.
7 p.m. Star Party: Hosted by the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society
Can't sleep? Meet at the tennis court parking lot to learn some constellations and have fun looking at the sky through telescopes and binoculars. *Subject to cancellation due to weather

Sunday, October 18, 2026
10 a.m. Bison Feeding
Meet at the Bison Feeding shed to learn about our National Mammal and see them eat.
1 p.m. Batty Bingo
Come to Trails End Shelter to play bingo, learn about bats, and win a prize!
https://ow.ly/UCsC50ZXEnU

The Wild Walkers group from Ft. Wayne visited Ouabache last week and made a trek to the explosives shed. Have you visite...
10/14/2026

The Wild Walkers group from Ft. Wayne visited Ouabache last week and made a trek to the explosives shed. Have you visited it yet? Come and see us soon!
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

Need a new hike destination? Try the CCC Dynamite Shed. In order to get the stones to build the beautiful buildings arou...
10/11/2026

Need a new hike destination? Try the CCC Dynamite Shed. In order to get the stones to build the beautiful buildings around the park, the CCC boys of camp 1592 had to use explosives to quarry the stones from the Wabash River. Before they could use the explosives they had to attend a class called “Stone Blasting”.
A quarry blasting explanation was written decades ago by the boys of Co. 1592.
“The drilling crew, consisting of six C.C.C. boys, is first to put in an appearance. Compressed air for the drills is supplied by a ‘Chicago’ pneumatic air compressor. Holes are drilled to an average depth of six feet and spaced about six feet apart, and placed so as to most advantageously utilize the force exerted by the explosive. Fifty holes is usually the maximum number drilled for one blasting. The holes are then ‘loaded’ with dynamite by the three boys of the ‘Dynamite Crew.’ One-half to three pounds of dynamite per hole are used, depending upon the position and depth of hole, and the purpose for which the rock is used. A heavy charge is used when the rock is to be put thru the crusher. When it is desirable to obtain building stone, a light charge sufficient to merely crack the stone is used. The dynamite is exploded by means of electric timing caps.”

The CCC Dynamite Shed stands as a reminder of the hard work these young men did to build the park. Very few of these buildings still exist in the United States. Ouabache is proud to have one! The shed is located along trail 4. Take trail 5 from the gravel parking lot (dam parking) hike toward the entrance of the park. Then turn on trail 4 and it is only about a 5 minute walk.

Big Thanks to the Friends of Ouabache for heading up the site restoration project.

Learn more about the Friends of Ouabache at https://friendsofouabache.wixsite.com/park or email at [email protected]

Fall photo booth is up! Located near Lakeside shelter. Be sure to share your pictures! on.IN.gov/ouabachesp
10/09/2026

Fall photo booth is up! Located near Lakeside shelter. Be sure to share your pictures!
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

That’s a wrap! Our final monthly lunch and learn was today with guest speaker, Kristin Werling, from Werling Wildlife Re...
10/08/2026

That’s a wrap! Our final monthly lunch and learn was today with guest speaker, Kristin Werling, from Werling Wildlife Rehabilitation. Thanks to all participants this season and thank you Friends of Ouabache and Corner Depot Catering for sponsoring these programs!

Address

4930 E State Road 201
Bluffton, IN
46714

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 11pm
Tuesday 7am - 11pm
Wednesday 7am - 11pm
Thursday 7am - 11pm
Friday 7am - 11pm
Saturday 7am - 11pm
Sunday 7am - 11pm

Telephone

+12608240926

Website

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