O’Bannon Woods State Park’s Stagestop Campground will remain closed for this year’s camping season.

The 32-site campground is regularly closed for winter only. DNR officials decided not to reopen the campground this spring for several reasons.

Usage at Stagestop Campground has been declining as visitors have been migrating to another park campground that offers 263 sites and more amenities, including modern restrooms and closer access to trails and the park’s aquatic center.

Additionally, the cost of necessary improvements plus the cost of general operations and maintenance at Stagestop Campground far outweigh revenue generated there.

Finally, the planned closure of State Road 62 from Leavenworth east to the park will reduce access to the campground.

Park officials will evaluate the campground this summer to help determine what to do with it in the future.

Stagestop Campground has also served as a DNR public access site for canoeists and kayakers on the Blue River. River access at the campground will no longer be available; however, river access remains available a quarter-mile upstream at the DNR Blue River Chapel public access site, a quarter-mile downstream at Mill’s Crossing forest access roadway on S.R. 62, and farther downstream at the DNR Old Iron Bridge public access site on S.R. 62.

Blue River public access sites are managed by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife and are on  Harrison-Crawford State Forest lands.

O’Bannon Woods is at 7234 Old Forest Rd. Corydon, 47112.

Logo courtesy Indiana Department of Natural Resources