Curl up with a good book, or enjoy big lake fun, at the Potawatomi Inn along the shores of Lake James at Pokagon State Park.
story by GLENDA WINDERS
Could there be a better place to surround yourself than the lush green trees of an Indiana State Park? And could anything feel more rejuvenating and restorative than a relaxing stay at the park’s inn?
Probably not, and one of the best places you can do both is the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park.
The inn has a northern fishing atmosphere, fitting in with its Steuben County home, where glaciers melted and created more natural lakes than anywhere else in Indiana some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. The inn sits at the edge of one of the largest, Lake James, so you’re right where you need to be for swimming, fishing, boating or just relaxing on the sandy beach to watch the sun go down. The inn rents pontoon boats for a spin on the lake and bicycles you can ride on newly installed trails into the nearby town of Angola.
While you’ll certainly want to be outside while you’re there, you don’t have to leave the building to enjoy your visit. Inside you’ll find an exercise room—or if you’d rather curl up with a good book, stop by the charming library to make a selection. Enjoy it there or find a spot to cozy up to by one of multiple fireplaces. Save a little time for browsing in the gift shop, too. Open 24 hours a day, it’s filled with local souvenirs, thoughtful gifts, and amenities for your stay.
Family-friendly activities include a game room and craft room that will help keep everyone entertained. Inside the stocked and supervised craft room, you can create a handmade memento of your stay.
For overnight accommodations, take your pick of 126 historic-but-elegant rooms inside the main lodge, including some with private patios. Or you can choose one of 12 cabins onsite that sleep up to six. Multiple rooms are ADA accessible, and the inn also has pet friendly rooms where your furry family members are always welcome.
Stay where you are for good food, too. The Lakeview Restaurant serves three fresh, homemade meals each day. Breakfast might include the Ranger Hearty Omelet, the Happy Camper (eggs your way with potatoes and toast), or pancakes and waffles hot off the griddle. Daily lunch and dinner specials include comfort food such as chicken and noodles, pot pie and meatloaf. When you just want a snack, head to the Courtyard Café for sandwiches, pizza and ice cream.
An added plus to the ambience is that both the park and its buildings are rich with history. When the idea for a fifth state park was conceived in 1925, its founders planned to call it Lake James State Park. Later they changed the name to Pokagon to honor Leopold and Simon Pokagon, a father and son who were the last most notable leaders of the Potawatomi tribe and who made their homes in the area. More history arrived when the Civilian Conservation Corps came to live and work between 1934 and 1942. They added the stone and log structures that enhance the park’s wooded hills, wetlands and meadows.
Can’t get away until winter? You’re in luck! Wintertime activities include cross- country skiing, sledding, or ice-fishing. You won’t want to miss the quarter-mile refrigerated toboggan run where you can hit speeds of 35 or 40 miles per hour, either. Your experience will be different from the summer, but you can count on the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park to be packed with fun for everyone.
Make your reservations now and join us for all season fun!
For more information visit: IndianaInns.com.
