Visitors to McCormick’s Creek State Park have a new lodging option thanks to the generosity of a family with a 70-year tradition of vacationing there.
The Department of Natural Resources dedicated the Centennial Cabin during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday that honored the Luetkemeier family.
“This cabin represents 70 years of memories made naturally by the Luetkemeier family,” said DNR director Cameron Clark. “But it also represents the importance of partnerships for us.”
The 1,400-square-foot, two-story log cabin is surrounded by forest and overlooks McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve. It sleeps eight, features a fully accessible entrance and first floor, and is air-conditioned and heated. The cabin will become available to the public on Labor Day weekend. The public can begin making reservations on Aug. 15 at camp.IN.gov or by calling 866-622-6746.
The cabin was the idea of brothers Jim, Glenn and Maurie Luetkemeier, who together provided much of the funding. The brothers wanted to honor their late parents, Oscar and Louise Luetkemeier, of West Lafayette. Oscar and Louise spent their first vacation as a married couple at the park in 1948. The vacation became an annual tradition spanning four generations.
Luetkemeier family members attended the dedication, traveling from Michigan and North Carolina. Glenn and Maurie addressed the audience of about 200 people, stressing their desire to help other families develop the sort of traditions and memories that they have enjoyed.
“My dad referred to this park as the best kept secret in Indiana,” Glenn Luetkemeier said.
An interpretive sign at the cabin will tell the Luetkemeier family story and honor their generosity.
Other contributors included the Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park group and Indiana Hardwood Specialists, who donated material.
The cabin is called Centennial Cabin in recognition of the recent 100th anniversary of Indiana’s system of state parks. McCormick’s Creek is the state’s first park. It opened in 1916.
McCormick’s Creek State Park is located at 250 McCormick’s Creek Park Road in Spencer.