Potawatomi Wildlife Park

Establishment of the Park

Potawatomi Wildlife Park is owned and managed by Potawatomi Park, Inc., a not-for-profit private foundation. This Private foundation is an outgrowth of the proceeds from the estate of Vernon Romine.

Mr. Romine envisioned a park conveyed exclusivly for charitable, educational and recreational purposes. The park was to be for the use and benefit of the public and especially for the use and benefit of the poor, underprivileged, physically handicapped and mentally handicapped.

Having grown from its orignal established size of 151 acres, Potawatomi Wildlife Park is now a 317-acre complex that consists of fields, woodlands, ponds, and wetlands and is bordered by the Tippecanoe River.

the Park is located on State Road 331 in Marshall County, Indiana. Potawatomi Wildlife Park is managed as a natural sanctuary for plants and animals of northern Indiana and provides educational activities for schools in the area, as well as a site for recreational activities, such as hiking or bird watching.

FIGURE 1. Park basic trail map

Historical Significance

Potawatomi Wildlife Park preserves both a prehistorical and historical site of significance to the regions past. The Park preserves both prehistorical and historical indian encampments, the Steven Ben-nack Potawatomi village, a portion of the Goshen-Logansport trail, and the Tippecanoe River ford where several early indian trails crossed the river.

Logo and Name Source

FIGURE 2. Potawatomi Wildlife Park Logo

The Name "Potawatomi" and the present Potawatomi Wildlife Park fire logo (Figure 1.) is utilized with written permission obtained from the Citizen Band Potawatomi Indian Tribe (Shawnee, OK) during the parks formation. The fire is a well known symbol of the Potawatomi Indian Nation known as "Keepers of the fire" or "People of the Place of the Fire".

To the park, the fire symbol represents the historical significance of the Steven Ben-Nack Village site that Potawatomi Wildlife Park preserves.

Many sources refer to Steven Ben-Nack as "Chief". Others refer Ben-Nack as a "headman" which is the head or "leader" of a tribe or clan. The Potawatomi term is "Wkama" which they translate more generally as "leader."

The Ben-Nack village is one of only a few "post-removal villages" that existed and it therefore holds an important key to the lifestyle of those who remained here after the removal period.

Members of the Ben-Nack Village eventually dispersed. Some traveled west to the join the Citizen (Mission) and Prairie Bands in Kansas and Oklahoma, while others remained in Indiana and assimilated among the American settlers.
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Coming from the north, the Park entrance is located approximately 1/2 mile south of State Road 10 directly across from 17th Road. Coming from the south, the entrance is approximately 1/2 mile north of the Tippecanoe Bridge on State Road 331.

The Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset for you to walk the trails and observe or study wildlife. If you wish to arrange a guided tour for your group, you may write us at:

There is no charge to visit the park for individuals. However, your contributions help us meet operating expenses and are greatly appreciated. They also qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. Some special activities or facilities will require a small fee. Call or write for specific information.