Hi, I'm Jeff Rea, your host for Economic Outlook.

Thanks for joining us.

As we dive into the trends, the people, the projects shaping our region's economy.

On today's episode, we're heading into the heart of nature and talking about a major development set to transform one of Indiana's most beloved state parks.

The Lodge of Potato Creek is now under construction, and we'll explore what it means for tourism, economic impact, and the visitor experience.

That conversation is coming up next.

Potato Creek State Park has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts in northern Indiana, but now a new chapter is being written with the construction of a full service lodge, only the seventh of its kind in the state, with plans for 120 guest rooms, full service dining and aquatic center, and amenities designed to immerse guests in nature.

The larger Potato Creek will bring Year-Round tourism and new economic opportunities to the region.

Joining me today to discuss the project and its broader impact are Marie Laudeman Eriks the Interpretive Naturalist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Jeff Jarnecke, the executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka.

Marie Jeff, thank you.

I appreciate you guys being here, but we're excited about this project.

You know, some neat things happening down at Potato Creek.

And so we'll dive a little bit deeper into that for our viewers.

But Marie, let's start with you.

Talk to us a little bit about just sort of your role, what you do down at Potato Creek.

Yeah, I'm the interpretive naturalist.

I'm based out of the Nature Center, which is a Year-Round nature center in the park.

I wear many different hats.

But my favorite hat is probably that I get to connect our visitors hearts to the resources of our park and all the opportunities that it offers.

But I also manage volunteers, help with natural resources and, manage our educational programing.

So, Marie, what was it that excited about this career path?

How did you get into this?

Spiders.

Actually, I really love spiders, so I probably was interpreting them as a four year old, to all of my friends and my Barbie house and, really trying to capture their hearts that spiders aren't scary.

They're our friends, and they do a lot of great things for us in our basements.

All right, I love it.

Thank you.

All right.

We'll come back to you for a second.

We've had you before.

Thanks for coming back.

But.

So talk to you about, your role in business up in Mishawaka.

Yeah.

I guess we're hoping to promote spiders these days, which we don't use as our league point, but, nonetheless.

So our team, is part of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce works to promote into all the great stories about, Saint Joseph County.

And so we're really proud to have helped.

Welcome about 5.7 million visitors last year.

Which was just an incredible year.

And that, success and excitement continues through this year.

So through the first quarter of this year, we're up about 25% in terms of visitation numbers.

So just an incredible start to what we have going on in Saint Joseph County.

And so whether it's the construction projects in New Carlisle to the number one attraction that's the University of Notre Dame to now, an incredible addition to the south part of the county at Potato Creek.

There's a lot to see and do, and there's even more on the horizon here in the in the county as well.

Great.

Thank you.

Jeff will come back of your way.

So Marie let's talk first.

I think most folks have probably had a chance to experience Potato Creek, but if they haven't, how would you describe to a, to a stranger what what Potato Creek State Park is?

I would say it's very peaceful.

Tranquil, you know, spot where they can come and enjoy anything from mountain biking to fishing, to nature programing.

And just kind of have that peaceful relaxation immersed in, nature.

But there's all kinds of different opportunities for anybody there.

Yeah.

So it's let's talk about just about sort of facilities, you know, kind of what's there, what are some of the different things people would experience if they came down there.

Yeah.

So we have over 200 campsites.

We also have 17 all year round cabins.

We have a three mile paved bike trail, which is good for bikes, but it's also more multi-use, for wheelchairs etc.. We have a seven mile mountain bike trail which gets a lot of adventure adventures into our park.

And then a whole, square mile of our park is actually designated as horse trails and a horse camp.

So we have over 70 campsites over in our horse campground as well.

So all different kinds of audiences can really come and experience the park, and all different areas.

And you can be there because it's so large, six square miles and feel like sometimes you're the only one there on the trail or on the horse trail.

Maria gonna stick with you for a second.

So.

So you've had a chance to work at some of the give us a feel for, just state parks as a whole.

Indiana.

You work for the DNR?

The DNR operates obviously, a number of state parks.

Give us some some highlights of the state park system.

Yeah.

So I've fortunate I've gotten to work at four of our state parks.

And I really feel like Indiana, has all these hidden gems.

And our founding father of state parks, in 1916, he started them.

And McCormick's Creek was the first one.

And one of his goals was that every Hoosier could access a state park within an hour.

And, so we're so grateful.

Potato Creek is one of our, three northern parks up here and accessible, to even to people from Michigan come over the border to experience everything Potato Creek has to offer.

And so I've gotten to see a lot of different stories and, a lot of different audiences that come through the park.

But Potato Creek is home, so I'm probably biased, obviously, to Potato Creek.

It's just you touched on just kind of the different amenities, if you will, available to visitors and such that come to the area.

Potato Creek has been here for a long time.

Just talk about the, the variety and why that's important, to bringing tourists here to enjoy what's going on.

Yeah, hugely important, because what we see within Saint Joseph County, it might actually shock some folks to to know that our lowest visitation is actually, you know, this might be the shocking part is in the winter months, as compared to June, July and August is when we see the heaviest peaks.

So you might have otherwise thought that it was football season.

And certainly the hotel rooms are full of those 6 or 7 weekends out of the fall.

But really June, July and August is where we see that high level of visitation.

And Potato Creek is actually the number two most visited attraction within Saint Joseph County, behind the University of Notre Dame.

And so the idea and the ability to have a lodge that's going to have, an aquatic center as part of it and dining hall and all these amenities, plus then the campsite that's already there.

Those are the parts that are really going to differentiate us.

So when we see those lulls in visitation in November through March, and the idea that we have this new attraction that's set in this absolutely beautiful setting, as Marie was describing, that's just so serene and so peaceful.

And then you put 120 rooms in there that's going to bring a different kind of, life and energy on a year round basis is really going to be transformative in our most need time within, the county that we have today.

Great.

So, Maria, come your way.

So obviously, from the launch of state parks in 1916 through 1939, there were a number of lodges built at the different state parks, but not one, a new one since 1939.

So we've long, fantasized about having one at Potato Creek.

And there's been a lot of discussion probably over the last 25 or 30 years about, can we get one?

Some days and we have one moving forward.

Talk to us a little bit about just, what's being planned at Potato Creek right now.

Yeah.

So Jeff mentioned, the draw, having 120 rooms is awesome.

We can have big groups.

As far as the conference center, it can provide for large groups, even to small groups to be there.

The year round aspect, having that indoor aquatic center is going to reach a lot of audiences in the wintertime.

They don't want to travel to a warm beach.

But they can still experience, an aquatic center, in the area will be a huge, huge hit.

And then also thinking about those lake view rooms that are going to be created, people want to go to a lodge that is immersed in nature and has those really scenic views.

So thinking similar to our Potawatomi Inn and over at Pokagon State Park, right there on Lake James, it has really great Vista views, but also having kind of that lodge cabin feel similar to the a Martin Lodge down in Brown County State Park.

So bringing that, modern elegance to both of those types of inns and putting that right here in Saint Joe County is exciting.

So so I, like I said, plans for it, but it's actually under construction right now.

So so first, maybe a mention of funding and sort of where, where that came from.

And then a little bit of, you know, what people can see today happening and when this might be done.

Yeah.

So when I was a small child and joined Potato Creek, there was talk about, the Potato Creek Inn and so, thinking about how funding was set aside for this, from a capital funding project.

And we are just so appreciative to the legislators at the time that appropriated the millions of dollars to go towards the construction of the lodge.

Now, so it's happening and, we're just excited to open Potato Creek up to new visitors to that, might not feel comfortable camping, but are excited to come and enjoy a hotel environment great in our park.

Great, guys.

We're gonna take a quick break here in the studio.

We're going to go out to Potato Creek, give our viewers a chance to see what's going on out there.

George Lepeniotis my co-host is out there.

George, let me toss it to you.

Thanks, Jeff.

I'm really in one of my favorite places in northern Indiana.

Potato Creek State Park.

And I'm joined today by Jim Webb.

Jim, thanks for being with us.

Thank you.

Jim, you are largely responsible for the park, right?

I mean, I see your job titles.

Property manager.

Yes.

So tell me a little bit about what that entails.

Being the property manager at such a great place like Potato Creek State Park Creek is six square miles or over 3000 acres.

Split management.

So my job is pretty much sure all those activities, from hiring people to training people to dealing with the public, offering great guest services, that type of thing.

So behind us is our viewers can see is probably something that doesn't look quite that natural.

It's a construction site.

Let's talk about what is going to be the lodge at Potato Creek State Park.

Let's start with some basics.

What made you and your team decide that a lodge was necessary here at Potato Creek Lodge?

A creek, there's only one lodge in northern Indiana that's Pottawatomie, and which is over in Angola.

The other six, are down south.

So there was a need or a call at, say, for a possible additional lodge.

And this is a great setting for it.

Yeah.

And one of the things I've always felt about Potato Creek is that it's remote location, makes it a great state park, but it also makes it off the beaten path.

So there isn't really a lot of support services around here.

This project is going to bring all of those support services.

Sure.

It's going to offer, you know, a lot of, guest amenities, you know, from housekeeping into cooks to.

Yeah, administrators, that type of thing.

You know, a really a boost to the economy.

Yeah.

And, you know, that's really what our show is about is the economy.

So as we think about it, I think before we went on camera, we said that, you bugged the politicians enough and they gave you a pretty good budget.

This is a $90 million project.

It's going to involve a lodge and banquet facility behind us.

It's going to involve a four story hotel tower.

Also above here, overlooking the lake.

And, there's some other amenities.

So operations here are going to greatly increase, aren't they?

Oh, sure.

Sure.

They'll be hosted by the Indiana Jones Party, which is a classic group of Indiana state parks.

And so manage the actual facility.

Oh, I see, but in conjunction with your team and local providers, will be part of Indiana State Park.

Yeah, yeah.

So when we look at construction, Skillman is the general contractor.

They're out of Indianapolis and have experienced these types of projects.

But there's also a local labor force here to build the project.

One, do you anticipate that this construction will be completed?

That's million.

Oh, okay.

All right.

Well, then I won't hold you to it.

You know, we we hope that construction could be wrapped up by the fall of 2007.

Okay, so for the next couple of years at least, this is going to be a great place to work.

I feel like I believe so.

All right.

So then when it is completed and you're up and running, do you anticipate that a park like this will I mean, this is going to significantly increase the amount of administrative staff that you need to keep up with the park.

Isn't it true?

And help me part of that Indiana n's authority that staffs so to speak to us administrative that you know, hopefully that will draw in jobs and opportunities to the local community.

Yeah, yeah.

The other thing I noticed as I was driving in, and this is something that I knew about before you even started construction, is that a building like this, a facility like this needs municipal utilities.

And in this case, I actually saw a new water tower.

Is that right?

Yeah, it's a new water tower.

Yeah.

One, in conjunction with the lodge was another project hand-in-hand with the lodge, and it was the utilities they brought in.

Water and were shipped out for waste wastewater as well.

Yeah.

And then that's in partnership with local communities in partnership with, with North.

That's on the a handshake with them.

Yeah.

And that's been great for both of you right.

I mean there's just a symbiosis there in allowing their utility service to grow and you to grow as well by utilizing those utilities.

Correct.

That's awesome.

So as we think about the project and we think about what it will bring to this facility, what are you most excited about?

What is it the lodging, is it the additional opportunities?

Is it the banquet center?

What is it that you think?

Man, I have wanted to see that here for years.

I tell you, what excites me personally would basically be that one thing.

I thought the creek never really offered some type of activity for what I call a pass rec greeter.

Yeah, somebody that wants come in, they maybe don't like being outside as much, but they want to, you know, I mean, look out the window.

Take in the great view.

Maybe take a short hike around, maybe chaos a few times and then go back in the aquatic center.

So I think going to meet that needs, so to speak, of meeting the passive rec creator foul term.

Jim, we're looking forward to it.

Thanks again for having us here today.

Thanks for showing us around and thanks for the information.

Can't wait to come back in 2027 and see this thing completed.

Look forward to seeing you then.

Jeff, back to you in the studio where I'm sure you got more to talk about on how Indiana and our state and local representatives are helping to create better destinations and increase our economic footprint.

George and Jim thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate the chance to see what's going on out at the park itself.

What a great, sort of snapshot and chance to get people excited about what's what's going on there.

So, like any construction project, asking folks to be patient, that these things take time, talk a little bit, just sort of what's happening out there right now.

Yeah.

So they're actively working on it.

You can see you out at the site, or what's going on.

It changes daily.

But as with any major construction project, weather can sometimes be a setback.

And so the thing with this construction project people need to understand is it is a major construction project.

So we've had to increase our park utilities, hook up to North Liberty sewer and water, just to have this large of a facility to accommodate, 100 and, 20 rooms and the, the audiences that are going to come out there.

So, we're hopeful 2026.

But it's too early to say a definite date.

No, I think it's exciting.

So so if somebody hasn't been out there for a remind them about where this is or what was there before construction, it's over.

So right after you come through the gate, if you turn left, it's going to be your second.

Right.

And that's an area where there's a really long fishing pier and there's a fish cleaning station, and a boat launch.

And there also is, nice shelter, in the Deer Meadows picnic area.

So it was a perfect, ideal location right there on the water.

Beautiful scenery for it.

And, it's going to be awesome right there.

Yeah, definitely come your way.

But maybe more general tourism.

Just talk about the maybe the inventory or the offerings for folks.

I think of, you know, the 5000 or whatever hotel rooms, the different types, speak to what we have available for a visitor who's watching, who might want to come stay here in addition to the state picks?

Yeah.

52 hotels today.

And on any given night, about 1100 private residences through their short term rentals.

So think Vrbo, think, Airbnb along the way.

And so to add this 53rd property is something really special because it's a different kind of property.

It's so unique in the sense of what it is and what it's going to bring to our community and what it brings and what it's bringing today.

In terms of the visitation, it's Potato Creek, our visitors out of Chicago and out of Fort Wayne, and now to Indianapolis as the top three referral cities of folks that are coming to the park today.

They're spending about 17 hours there, whether they're but they're also exploring and experiencing the quaint towns of North Liberty and of Lakeville.

But they're coming up to South Bend and they're going to University of Notre Dame.

And so, you know, we do draw out of Chicago and do a draw out of Indianapolis as our top two referral cities across the entire visitation.

There's 5.7 million visitors that I referenced along the way.

But we do think that this product will not only change when they come and the frequency that they come, but they'll come for this specific purpose.

And so with, you know, 62% of the visitation coming because of the University of Notre Dame, I think having a property like this and the setting that it is and the 300 some acre, it's not a pond, it's a lake.

And it's just a beautiful setting at Potato Creek.

We're going to be able to offer something to the visitation to the community, as well as the local residents that can come in and enjoy something really, really special, something unique, and something that we don't offer today in Saint Joseph County.

But we're going to come back your way and build a little bit on your position.

You're an interpretive naturalist position.

So obviously we talk about the amenities, whether the bike and walk or canoe or those kind of things.

But, but, but obviously, it's a state park and people come there to see nature talk a little bit about just sort of the nature.

What are some of the things that people will be able to see and experience as they're walking around Potato Creek?

Yeah, Potato Creek really celebrates a lot of diverse habitats.

And when you have wetlands and prairies and forests, that brings in all different kinds of wildlife.

So I would say the wildlife watching is, top one of the top in the state, for all of our state parks, at Potato Creek because of that diversity.

So we have people that are coming to enjoy fishing and right next to them, as they're fishing off the pier or off the shore, they're going to have, Osprey, which is, fish hawk and it's going to come down and grab a fish right next to, and so, currently we have sandhill cranes nesting in the park, Eagle's nest there as well.

So lots of bird watchers come to Potato Creek and it actually, became designated as an Important Bird Area a few years ago because of this.

So, so the, because I think people worry about progress sometimes new new additions.

But but to put people's minds at ease, you still are going to have the beauty of of nature.

Just some enhanced views of it.

Yeah.

Potato Creek, six square miles.

So, the inn is, the southern section.

You can definitely venture up to trails four and two, which border our nature preserve, corner of the park, which is a protected part of the park that will never, never be developed, and enjoy all different kinds of plants and, and wildlife viewings as well.

Great.

I love it.

Just my experience with some of the other state parks.

I've been there for conferences or group meetings or some of this stuff.

You mentioned the, the many different offerings there.

Any, observations based on what you've seen at the other parks?

On further how that might benefit our community here.

Yeah, I think it's going to be a destination.

I think it's not only a shift and maybe some local business that will want to go down there and explore it.

The beauty of it is it's 20 minutes from South Bend and a little bit further from Mishawaka.

But the idea that now, within a short drive within your own community, you can come and experience something that you can't.

And too many other places within Saint Joseph County, let alone having to drive and then I think with meeting facilities totaling maybe 300, 350, in terms of the capacity of them, I think there is additional opportunity for us to market and promote something again, that we don't have today in that sort of environment.

And so whether those are our purpose driven conferences, meetings and events that we can lure in or if it's a special event, and I think this is going to be a popular spot for weekend activities.

And whether those reunions, whether those are weddings, whether those are other sorts of gatherings in and of themselves, I think Potato Creek is going to start to really, switch that lull where they seem about like Saint Joseph County, those slower times in the winter months.

I think it's going to be a destination on those Thursdays to Sundays throughout the winter.

Potato Creek is going to make a bigger difference in Saint Joseph County, and it's going to be a welcome addition, for sure.

And Maria, having worked at a few other state parks, you know, what excites you most about now having a an in when you didn't have when you've been at other parks and seeing them experience what what what excites you most?

I think I'm most excited about the new audiences that will come, because I know so many people are like, oh, I don't want to travel all the way to Potato Creek if I don't have a warm bed.

To stay in, I don't want to camp.

I don't want to stay in one of the cabins.

So I'm most excited about reaching those visitors and connecting them to the outdoors.

That feel comfortable staying a more in a lodge setting?

That's probably what I'm great.

I'm.

Stay with you for a second.

So.

So obviously working there, you have a chance to sort of see all the ins and outs of the whole six square mile area.

What's a favorite?

You know, just a sneak for a sneak peek for our viewers, something they should actually see or do when they're great?

Oh, we'll come to the nature center probably.

I would say that's the happiest place right there.

It's the nature center.

Yeah.

I, going back to my childhood, when my sister and I would quarrel, my parents would take us to Potato Creek State Park, and we would hike trail three.

And by the end of that one mile loop through the oldest trees in the park, our moods had changed and we were holding hands and happy with each other.

So, trail trail three as well is one of my favorite spots in the park.

Trails, people.

Mark it down.

We'll make sure we go.

Good.

Definitely come your way in our in our last couple of minutes that the, the mantra in recent years with, you know, kind of talent attraction, economic development, everything is quality of place and how critical, that is to attracting talent.

This is another, key investment in that, thanks to our friends at the state legislature who helped make this happen.

Just talk for a second about quality of place and how critical that is to our area.

Yeah, we're blessed with some incredible facilities, whether that's Rum Village and the city of South Bend, whether that's sink pads, County Park, certainly potato Creek, these are destinations and these are gems that when you experience them, maybe for the first time or the hundredth time, we're fortunate to have in Saint Joseph County.

And the idea that you don't have to drive to southern Indiana to see rolling hills, that you don't have to drive too far, especially coming across, State Road four.

And the trees are changing, and they're cutting beans and picking corn.

And this idyllic setting that you only see in photos oftentimes, that you can take in and see and experience firsthand.

And so, you know, with a robust workforce that we're looking to continue to grow within Saint Joseph County, having these sorts of amenities that, you know, you can get the big city feel and the incredible steak dinner in downtown, you can get the urban life and, and some of the new product that's coming into downtown from a living perspective and housing perspective.

But you can also just drive for 20 minutes, or Uber if you needed to, and come and experience something where you get that, that you're on feel whether you want the full on experience from camping perspective or if you want what's going to be a beautiful new property coming on line here in about a year and staying in a hotel environment, those things are so additive and so hugely important to what's going to continue to differentiate us in Saint Joseph County.

Marriage.

Just thank you so much for being here.

Really appreciate it.

We're excited to get down and see progress.

Thank you for to Jim and the team and your team for also, helping us give our viewers a look at that today.

We're excited for the progress, and we look forward to it being completed the next couple of years.

So that wraps up this edition of Economic Outlook.

A big thank you to Marie Laudeman Eriks and Jeff Jarnecke, for helping us understand how the lodge at Potato Creek is more than a building.

It's a long term investment in our natural resources and local economy.

Thanks for watching on PBS MIchiana WNIT or listening to the podcast.

You can find all of our past episodes at WNIT.org , on YouTube and on most major podcast platforms.

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter for updates and behind the scenes content.

I'm Jeff Rea I'll see you next time.

This WNIT local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.