Deer Creek Park
Information Packet Now Available
Overview
Deer Creek Park is one of two parks owned by Carroll County. It is a 12.7-acre site located at 6336 East State Road 218, east of Camden, just west of SR 29 near the town of Deer Creek.
Its amenities include camping sites with electrical hook-ups, water, a large fishing pond, and picnic tables. There are a clubhouse, picnic pavilions, renovated playground equipment, paved basketball court, extensive lawn area for informal games, and modern restrooms with showers.
The clubhouse is a heated and cooled block facility with electricity, tables and chairs, and a refrigerator, and is available for family reunions and other activities.
Reservations, Usage and Fees, and Rules
History
The Deer Creek Conservation Club evolved from fish fries held in the Masonic Lodge building in nearby Deer Creek. About 1938 the Club was officially formed. The block building was built next to the pond just south of Deer Creek on State Road 218. All of the building materials and labor were supplied by the members.
The Conservation Club owned some of the biggest fish fryers in the county, using 100 pound LP gas tanks. The club put on many delicious fish fries. They also hosted one of the biggest trap shoots in the country on Labor Day each year with men coming from Logansport, Delphi, Monon, and Brookston to compete in it.
Softball games were held every week on the grounds for several years. The games were well attended and a highlight of the community. It is said that as many as 300 people at one time came out to watch the games. Euchre tournaments were another popular event.
The fishing pond was created when stone was quarried during the construction of State Road 29. Bass, bluegill, and catfish are plentiful in the pond. You do not need a fishing license to fish in the pond.
The playground equipment came from nearby North Central School when it was closed during school consolidation
In 1967 the Conservation Club was struggling and it was decided to turn the grounds and building over to the county to be used as a park. Presently, the Deer Creek Park is one of two county-owned parks; the other park is the French Post Park near Lockport.
In 2008 when county finances suffered significant problems, the County Council recommended selling Deer Creek Park. At that time local citizens banded together to form Friends of Carroll County Parks to maintain, renovate, and provide support to keep the parks open to the public.