Indiana officials have announced plans to rebuild the campground at McCormick’s Creek State Park, more than three years after an EF-3 tornado destroyed the previous campground and killed two campers.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released details of the planned campground on Monday, Sept. 21. The $25 million project is expected to create a larger camping area with expanded sites and new visitor facilities, with construction bids scheduled to open Oct. 20.
The previous campground was severely damaged when an EF-3 tornado struck McCormick’s Creek State Park in March 2023. Brett and Wendy Kincaid, who were camping in a trailer at the park, were killed in the storm. Officials also reported that it took more than two days to clear roads leading to the campground following the tornado.
“As Indiana’s first state park, McCormick’s Creek has been a place where families and friends have gathered and created memories for more than a century,” Braun told Fox59.
“The tornado in 2023 was a heartbreaking moment in the park’s history, but we are now ready to rebuild this campground stronger, more resilient, and better suited for today’s visitors. We look forward to welcoming campers back to camp once construction is complete.”
The new campground is planned across 65 acres and will include 192 campsites. Each site is expected to measure approximately 32 by 40 feet and will have electric, water, and sewer hookups. An additional 32 campsites will be designated for tent camping, while the park’s existing group camps will remain available for rental.
The development will also include a new gatehouse and camp store, three comfort stations, and playgrounds near each of the comfort station buildings. Plans call for tree planting and additional landscaping as part of the site work.
“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,” Brandt Baughman, director of Indiana State Parks, said in the release.
“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.”
According to the state, the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry will supply timber for the gatehouse and camp store. Construction bids are scheduled to open on Oct. 20, 2026, marking the next major step in the project.
The campground is currently expected to open in late summer 2028. For outdoor hospitality professionals, the project provides an example of how a public campground redevelopment can incorporate a mix of full-service sites, tent camping, group accommodations, guest amenities, landscaping, and expanded infrastructure following the loss of an existing campground.
The inclusion of electric, water, and sewer hookups across the 192 primary sites also indicates a shift toward more comprehensive site services as Indiana rebuilds one of its long-standing camping destinations.
