Newton County: Prairie, Wildlife, and History

At Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area, waterways, marked trails, and a paved loop trail come together. Kankakee Sands adds prairie and wetlands to the natural landscape. Newton County can be explored through a range of travel interests, from walks and water sports to wildlife experiences and local history.

Prairie, Wetlands, and Birdlife

Kankakee Sands provides habitat for more than 240 bird species, including the grasshopper sparrow, northern harrier, and American bittern. The scale of the landscape is part of the picture, too: the Efroymson Prairie at Kankakee Sands covers 8,400 acres of prairie and wetlands. In this setting, a herd of 100 bison currently grazes on 1,100 acres of prairie.

At the Bison Viewing Area, informational signs provide context, and short walking paths lead to a viewing point on a sand dune. This combines a short walk with an overview of the landscape. The signs and viewing point are just as much a part of the visitor experience as the bison herd itself.

Trails of Different Lengths

Two loop trails in Kankakee Sands pass through different landscapes. The Grace Teninga Discovery Trail is 2 miles long and runs through the prairie. The Conrad Station Savanna Trail follows a 1.6-mile route through an oak savanna. Comparing the two trails, the Grace Teninga trail is the longer route, while the oak savanna is the focus of the Conrad Station trail.

Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area has five marked hiking trails, including a loop around J.C. Murphey Lake and loop trails through the restoration of an oak savanna. A 20-mile paved loop trail also runs around the area. The trail options therefore differ both in their described surroundings and in length.

On the Water and at Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area

Kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding are permitted on J.C. Murphey Lake. Fishing is another option: 1,000 acres are available for fishing at the lake and several ponds. The waterways can be enjoyed in different ways—from paddling on the lake to fishing in designated waters.

Other offerings at Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area include 25 basic campsites, available on a first-come, first-served basis. The shooting range has areas for pistols, rifles, shotguns, and archery. These options complement the hiking trails and water activities with camping and shooting sports.

Agricultural Experiences at Fair Oaks Farms

The Dairy Adventure Building houses a 15,000-square-foot interactive museum about dairy farming. The Calf Pen has themed slides and padded cow figures for small children to play with. Mooville features a train ride, a climbing wall made from milk crates, a giant jumping pillow, pedal tractors, and a children’s playground. At the Birthing Barn, visitors can watch live calf births every day.

The Dairy Tour travels by bus to an active dairy farm and lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The duration and route may change, so check the latest tour details before planning your trip. Operations at the Calf Pen may change. At the Pig Adventure, both access conditions for the ropes course and opportunities to see the animals may change; check the latest information when planning your visit.

The Pig Adventure includes a ropes course and the opportunity to see newborn piglets up close. The Pig Adventure Farm Tour is another bus tour: it lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes and visits a modern pig farm in the region. There, visitors tour areas overlooking the pig barns.

Guided tours are offered at Pollinator’s Garden, where visitors can watch bees pollinate different plants. These tours may run on a schedule or seasonally. Orchard Field Trips include a guided walk through the orchard; availability may vary by season.

Hazelden and Historic Memorials

Hazelden, the historic home of George Ade, stands in Brook and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ade had his estate built in 1904. His literary and Broadway success drew nationally known figures to Hazelden and made the estate a cultural center for the region.

Hazelden is also connected to political history: in 1908, Republican presidential candidate William Taft’s campaign tour began with a stop at the estate on September 23. Several thousand people attended the rally there. A historic marker in Kentland commemorates Warren T. McCray’s breeding of Hereford cattle at Orchard Lake Stock Farm in Newton County. In Morocco, a marker commemorates Baseball Hall of Famer Sam Rice, who was born near Morocco, Indiana.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Newton County, your trip’s focus can help guide your choice: Would you like to explore trails and waterways, plan wildlife and agricultural experiences, or follow traces of history?

Discover more destinations: Kentland, Clark, Boone County, Ripley, Huntington County, Benton County, Adams County, Parke.

For the broader travel overview: Indiana.