Spring Mill State Park

Spring Mill State Park covers karst limestone terrain featuring caves, sinkholes, and natural springs throughout its grounds. The property includes a restored pioneer village with historic structures from the early 1800s.

An industrial settlement developed starting in 1814 with a gristmill, sawmill, wool mill, and distillery powered by spring water. The reliable water source from caves allowed multiple operations to function simultaneously.

The Grissom Memorial houses space artifacts including the Gemini 3 capsule and personal items from astronaut Virgil Grissom, who grew up in the area. The site connects local heritage to a chapter of American space exploration.

The grounds offer camping, hiking trails, and seasonal cave boat tours for visitors to explore at their own pace. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and note that caves remain cool year-round.

A limestone gristmill from 1817 remains operational and produces cornmeal using water power with nineteenth-century techniques. The mill stands as one of the few surviving examples of this water-powered technology in the region.

Location: Lawrence County

Operator: Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Website: https://in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/spring-mill-state-park

GPS coordinates: 38.73333,-86.42000

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02