Episode 3Travel & OutdoorsSouth Central

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area: The Mother of the State

IN the Parks·Allison Martin·May 12, 2026·35 min

Show Notes

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is an intimate, beautiful property where it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture! The lake perfectly reflects the trees and rolling knobstone escarpments. The lakefront camp sites are highly sought after, and the trails and access to neighboring Jackson-Washington State Forest offer exciting challenges for hikers.

What's really special about this park and surrounding properties is that it's the mother to the state. At first, the property was used as a tree nursery and hatchery, supplying seedlings and fish to forest, ponds, and properties across the state. DNR still provides these essential services to the state, just down the road from the recreation area. Starve Hollow is still home to several tree plantations that provide seeds for the nursery, which you can visit any time.

If you want to learn more about the Vallonia Nursery or the Jasper-Pulaski Nursery, visit the DNR’s forestry site

You are going to learn about:

  • How it got its unique name

  • Why Starve Hollow is the mother of the state thanks to a tree nursery and fish hatchery

  • The challenging trails and access to hiking at Jackson-Washington State Forest

  • A Sasquatch calling contest and other park events

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Episode Details
Show
IN the Parks
Category
Travel & Outdoors
Topic
IN the Parks
Region
South Central
Duration
00:35:00
Published
May 12, 2026
About the Host
Allison Martin
Allison Martin
Host · IN the Parks

Allison Martin tells the stories behind Indiana's state parks: the best trails, the campgrounds, the history and the corners worth the drive.

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Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro
  2. 00:45Park Overview
  3. 01:28Meet the Staff and Their Origin Stories
  4. 04:30The Park’s Name
  5. 09:00Becoming a State Property
  6. 09:30The Creation of the Tree Nursery
  7. 10:42Why Starve Hollow is the Mother of the State
  8. 11:45Tree Plantations at Starve Hollow
  9. 12:33DNR Properties Working Together & How to Visit Them All
  10. 16:23Driving Up Skyline Drive at Jackson-Washington State Forest
  11. 17:30Camping and Fishing at Starve Hollow
  12. 20:15Spotting Wildlife at the Park
  13. 20:50Rent-a-Camp Cabins
  14. 22:20Boat Rental Options
  15. 23:31The Challenging Hiking Trails
  16. 26:33Annual Events and Sasquatch Calling Contests
  17. 29:09How to Care for the Parks
  18. 31:00Camping with Your Pet
  19. 32:16Why Firewood Matters
  20. 33:41Protecting the Beautiful Trees in Our State

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