Long before pioneers entered the area now known as McCormick's Creek the Miami Indians roamed the land. The Indians had camps along the banks of the White River to the north and south, but what is now state park land was far too rugged, filled with canyons and ravines, to invite settlement. Instead, it became a hunting ground, offering deer, squirrel, grouse, and fish from its deep woods and clear streams. It wasn't until 1816 that the first settler laid claim to the area, when John McCormick homesteaded nearly one hundred acres along the canyon by the waterfalls. In those days it was common practice to name physical landmarks after the people who owned them, and thus McCormick's Creek received its name. With the death of Dr. Denkewalter in 1914, his estate went up for sale at a land auction. Both Owen County and the State of Indiana were interested in maintaining McCormick's Creek in its park-like setting, and so the land was purchased. McCormick's Creek State Park was dedicated as Indiana's first state park on July 4, 1916, as part of the state's centennial celebration. You can explore the park by 10+ miles of well-marked hiking trails, taking you past unique features like Wolf Cave, Twin Bridges, and the Falls on McCormick's Creek. If you enjoy horseback riding you can take guided trail rides or pony rides at the Saddle Barn. It is located at 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460.