City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (317) 591-0904

Address: 5753 Glenn Rd.

Description: Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Indy, Fort Harrison State Park features 1,700 acres chock-full of activities and history. A former Citizen’s Military Training Camp, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and World War II prisoner of war camp is preserved at the park headquarters location. Opened in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Fort Benjamin Harrison was named in honor of President Benjamin Harrison, who came from Indianapolis. After Fort Harrison was decommissioned in 1991, the government decided to give 1,700 acres for use as a state park in 1995. Unlike most state parks in Indiana, Fort Harrison is a day-use park; its only overnight facilities are at the inn of the Fort Golf Resort, which used to be the officers’ club. The fort’s golf course, redesigned by Pete Dye, is a popular golfing spot. The park also offers three hiking trails and a horseback-riding trail with horse rentals available. One of the hiking trails, Harrison Trace Trail, is paved and used by bikers and in-line skaters. Other recreation includes fishing, hayrides, picnicking, and a nature center. Naturalists offer guided walks and hikes.