Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the origin of yellowwood trees in Indiana. The species of tree that lives in Indiana is genetically distinct from any other species.
An Indiana public forest is a little bigger thanks to the state’s purchase of a 122-acre plot of land about an hour outside Indianapolis.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced the $860,000 purchase in Yellowwood State Forest on April 21. The money came from the department’s Next Level Conservation Trust, which has spent more than $21 million to purchase about 3,600 acres since 2022.
The newly acquired land comes from the Girl Scouts of America’s property known as Camp Gallahue. The land sits just north of Bear Lake and fills in a gap of existing state forest boundaries.
Derrick Potts, assistant property manager at Yellowwood State Forest, said the new land comprises hardwood forests and successional habitat where tulip poplar trees dominate the landscape after the previous owners harvested timber.
Filling in the boundary gaps helps create a continuous landscape that benefits visitors and wildlife alike, Potts said.
Gov. Mike Braun said in an April 21 news release that the forest expansion represents Indiana’s commitment to preserving the state’s natural heritage.
“Adding this land to Yellowwood State Forest ensures its permanent protection while opening new opportunities for Hoosiers to enjoy the outdoors,” Braun said in the release.
Yellowwood State Forest attracts a wide variety of visitors, Potts said, including mushroom foragers, bird watchers and hunters.
“It’s unique in the DNR portfolio because of the access we provide to so many unique users. We’ve even had people that pan for gold,” Potts said.
While gold panning requires proper permits, Hoosiers can immediately access the newly acquired land to explore the hardwood stands. Once the deed was signed, DNR opened the acreage up to the public.
Yellowwood State Forest stretches across more than 24,000 acres and includes lakes and rugged hikes. The state established the forest in 1940.
The property gets its name from a species of tree known as yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea. Potts said the yellowwood trees in the state forest have distinct genetics that distinguish them from other yellowwoods found outside of Indiana.
DNR plans to begin marking out the boundary lines in the newly acquired acreage. Potts said visitors should look out for vertical orange paint on trees that alert people they are about to leave the property and step onto privately owned land.
The Yellowwood State Forest last expanded in 2021 when a parcel was added to the property south of Owl Creek Road, Potts said.
DNR Director Alan Morrison said in the news release that protecting lands is fundamental to the department’s work.
“The simplest way for all Hoosiers to help support projects like this at Yellowwood State Forest and across Indiana is to choose the blue environmental license plate for your vehicle,” Morrison said. “All funds DNR receives from your plate renewal support land conservation.”
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social.
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana state forest expands with newly acquired land
Reporting by Karl Schneider, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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