eXplore Brown County
in the trees
~by Boris Ladwig
F
courtesy photo
44 Our Brown County May/June 2021
rom zipping, Superman-style, through a lush tree canopy, to ripping your handlebars through hairpin turns on a dirt path, or relaxing at a crackling campfire, eXplore Brown County offers a surprising variety of activities that can hasten your heartbeat or soothe your soul. The 1,000-acre site, about three miles south of State Road 46 east of Gnaw Bone, includes rustic cabins, a campground for tents and recreational vehicles, and a 165-seat hall for celebrations such as weddings, family reunions, and music festivals. Visitors from all parts of Indiana stop by for day trips or short stays, while longer-term guests hail from Louisville, Cincinnati, and Chicago, all of whom mingle with resident dogs Luke and Barney, who roam the property in search of belly rubs. Retired engineer Gary Bartels launched the camp 22 years ago, without a business plan, but with lots of ideas, technical know-how, and a good dose of moxie. “There was nothing here when I started,” he said recently as he stood on a gravel road, scanning his surroundings to see if guests needed his help. Bartels said he worked for Columbus-based Arvin Inc. for 10 years as a prototype engineer but left the light automotive supplier right after its merger with Troy, Michigan-based Meritor Automotive. The family had inherited the property, and Bartels had ideas for an adventure retreat, though his wife, Patricia, who taught art at Brown County Junior High School, didn’t relish the idea of razing his Arvin retirement fund to build a zip line.
