On Thursday, October 24th, 2024, Monroe Lake will host a community reception celebrating its sixtieth anniversary. The event will include displays of historical items and photos from the reservoir’s history, a self-guided tour of the dam, and information tables from organizations tied to the lake.
“Monroe Lake has been an important part of this community’s history since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially dedicated Monroe Reservoir on October 24th, 1964,” said Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist at Monroe Lake. “We’re proud to be a place where generations of Hoosiers have come together to enjoy Indiana’s great outdoors.”
The reception will be at 2 p.m. in the tailwater, directly beneath the reservoir dam, at 1620 E. Monroe Dam Court, Bloomington. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. In fact, the first 100 people in attendance will receive a 60th anniversary souvenir.
Dan Bortner, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Michael Chaveas, Hoosier National Forest supervisor, and Tyler Blakenship, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers natural resource specialist, will speak on the history and significance of the reservoir at 2:30 p.m.
After the remarks, attendees can enjoy refreshments, sponsored by Visit Bloomington, and all attendees can enter to win a 2025 Indiana State Parks Annual Entrance Pass.
If you plan to attend the reception, please notify the property online at tinyurl.com/60monroe by noon on October 23rd to assist with planning; however, walk-up attendees are also welcome.
Questions should be directed to the Paynetown Activity Center at (812) 837-9967 or email Jill Vance at jvance@dnr.in.gov