WAYNEDALE OUTDOORS Q & A

WHERE CAN I GO CAMPING

THAT’S CLOSE BY?

(I don’t like to rough it)

I would suggest you head to Ouabache (pronounced Wabash) State Recreation Area with your air-conditioned motor home, tent camper, or hard side camper:

•it’s close – it’s just east of Bluffton, Indiana

•it has a dumping station

•it has electrical hookups

•it has showers

•it has playgrounds for the kids

•it has picnic areas

•it has boat rentals

•it has canoe rentals

•it has paddle boat rentals

•it has a wild life exhibit (buffalo and deer)

•it has a 100-foot fire tower you can climb on

•it has picnic shelters

•it has an Olympic-size swimming pool with slides

•it has several different length hiking trails

•it has an interpretive service

•they sell bait and firewood and they have fire rings for campfires

•the campground is a long walk or a short car drive away from Kunkle Lake where they do have some good fishing for bluegill, bass, and lots of catfish

They also have some primitive campsites for the braver ones but even they have electricity although the youth campground has only pit toilets and picnic tables.

 

WHERE CAN I GO CAMPING

THAT’S CLOSE BY?

(I like to rough it; I’m no wussy)

I would suggest you head up north on Highway 3 to a little town called Mongo (no kidding, and it has nothing to do with the movie Blazing Saddles). Turn right (east) and go about a mile and turn right again at the sign that says Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area. Go to the campground and pick a site. Go back to the main office (barn) and fill out the information on the envelope, put your money in for how many nights you will be staying, take your receipt and go back to the campground and pitch your tent, sleep in your car, or sleep on the ground.

Pigeon River FWA:

*it’ close (about 40 miles north of Fort Wayne)

*it’s very primitive

*it’s a small area – 44 campsites with a fire ring and a picnic table at each site

*there are 3 modern pit toilets (wheelchair accessible)

*there are maybe 4 water faucets in the campground

*they have an archery range

*they have a rifle/pistol range

*they have a small boat ramp

*it’s right on the Pigeon River (Mongo mill pond) so it’s good fishing – they have trout, bass, bluegill, and lots of carp

*the campground is patrolled by the Mongo police, the sheriff department, and the state police, besides the DNR, so it’s a safe area to camp in my opinion

They have no playground, no showers, no store, no electricity, and young people can get bored out of their minds unless they bring their electronic toys with them. It’s perfect for people who want to get away from ‘EVERYTHING’ and it’s cheap.

There is a canoe rental just west of Mongo if you get the urge to paddle. There are three dams to portage on the Pigeon River between Mongo and Ontario, Indiana – Mongo Dam, Nysby Dam, and Ontario Dam.

The town of Mongo has a one-pump filling station/general store and a fire department. The last time I was there they had one restaurant open and a beer joint so I would stock up on food before heading up there to camp.