A state park in Northern Indiana continues to offer visitors an exhilarating winter experience on the Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park, an attraction that has been in place for more than 80 years.
“In the past few years, we have seen 90,000-100,000 riders per season,” said Nicky Ball, Interpretive Naturalist, for the Pokagon State Park and Trine State Recreation Area.
Attendance has picked up, in part, because of social media promotions. Ball said some of the park’s Facebook posts have reached over 1 million people.
“The Steuben County Tourism Bureau has created some awesome videos to help publicize the toboggan as well,” she said.
Pokagon State Park is located near Angola, just off I-69 in Steuben County.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, the park was originally called Lake James State Park when proposed to be the fifth Indiana State Park in 1925. The name was changed to Pokagon State Park to acknowledge the Native American heritage of the state and region.
It is home to two lakes – Lake James and Snow Lake – which were both created by the melting of glaciers more than 10,000 years ago. According to the Indiana DNR, Steuben County has more of these naturally formed lakes than any other county in Indiana.
Among the features unique to Pokagon is the stone and log structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1934 to 1942. It was the CCC members who are credited with creating the toboggan run. According to park information, in 1935 Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556 built a wooden toboggan run for their own fun.
This first run had a large curve halfway down and then a second curve near the bottom. The following year, the track was straightened to increase speed. In 1938, Company 556 erected a taller tower of about 20 feet. A second track was added in 1940.
Refrigeration was added in 1971. The current 30-foot tower and track were upgraded in 1974 and both tracks completely renovated in 1984. This renovation included the addition of a rental and warming center, opening again to the public in 1986. Other work was completed in 1998.
View from the top of the Pokagon State Park's refrigerated Toboggan Run near Angola, Indiana. [Photo/Jerry Byard]
In 1971, the slide became refrigerated. The design at that time now seems a little primitive compared to today. The old wooden tower and concrete began to deteriorate and the current 30-foot tower and track were added in 1974. In 1984, work started on renovating the two tracks. At the same time, a new rental and warming center was built.
The toboggan run at the park operates on a twin track. It is a quarter-mile in length and is refrigerated to keep operating conditions at the most opportune. Top speed recorded on the run is 42 miles per hour. And the drop is 90-feet from the top of the tower to the lower track.
“The toboggan seats up to 4 people,” Ball explained. “You typically have a 20-30 second ride. Sleds typically reach an average speed of 35 mph.
“When you reach the bottom, you grab your sled and make the trek back up to the top of the hill for another run,” she said. “I have experienced the toboggan and it is exhilarating! It’s like riding a roller coaster in the middle of winter.”
There are limitations to experiencing the toboggan run, Ball said. In order to ride the sled, riders have to be able to climb the stairs up to the top of the tower and need to be able to follow all rules and hold on to the sled.
While it is open during the late fall and winter, the toboggan run is known as a place to make memories.
“We have many families who make riding the toboggan an annual tradition,” Ball said. “Many people stop in the Nature Center and tell us how many years they have been coming to Pokagon. Some family groups meet at the Potawatomi Inn to celebrate the holidays together, and the toboggan is one of the fun things they do while they are here.”
The refrigerated toboggan run is maintained on a daily basis as it requires a lot of care, Ball said. Staff clears debris, which includes both fallen leaves and snow, from the track using leaf blowers.
“Over time the ice can become uneven, so every few weeks, they remove the ice and use hoses to put on a new layer of ice,” Ball explained. “If it rains, they need to remove any standing water that builds up on the track.”
With an activity that is designated a winter sport, track maintenance is crucial, especially after snowfalls. It seems, for this activity, snow is not the toboggan run’s friend. Snow accumulation on the track slows down the sleds.
“On really snowy days, they will close one track at a time for snow removal, while one track stays open for riders,” Ball said.
The process for taking a run or two or more down the hill is easy enough and technology makes waiting more efficient.
“Riders need to rent a toboggan in the rental room, which is located on the lower level of the warming center,” Ball explained. “There can sometimes be a wait to get a sled. Park staff can send you a text message when your sled is ready. Therefore, you can go out and enjoy the rest of the park while you wait. Sleds are rented by the hour.”
The toboggan run operates on weekends from 10:30 a.m. November 29 through March 1 for the 2019-2020 season. Hours of rental are 5:30 – 9 p.m. on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sundays. Extended hours are available during winter breaks and the run is open on holidays during the winter, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day and Presidents’ Day.
The cost to rent a sled is $13 and riders are assured of at least one ride downhill per hour during peak times. There are specials advertised on the park webpage.
Pokagon State Park also has other winter outdoor adventures that are available to park visitors. These include cross country ski rental, sledding, and ice fishing.
“Guests can visit the Nature Center where we host weekend interpretive programs,” Ball suggested. “There are 13.7 miles of hiking trails which are beautiful in the winter. On weekends with 6 inches+ of snow, Pokagon offers cross country ski rental.
“If there is not enough snow, guests can rent snowshoes from the Nature Center,” she continued.
Campground 3 is open all year for camping, Ball said. The Potawatomi Inn and on-site cabins are also available.