My retired husband and I recently embarked on the perfect getaway with my parents. Yeah, my parents…in their eighties! We booked a couple of nights at the newly renovated Spring Mill Inn at the Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana. With mild, sunny days, plenty of homestyle food, blooming natural beauty and activities that inspired laughs, we had a merry-and memory-making time.
Spring Mill Inn Updates
The Inn’s exterior declared it’s the same Indiana state park inn you’ve always loved but the inside flaunted new and better than ever!
The Spring Mill Inn greeted us with two entry choices – a wide gently sloping ramp or steps. My mom took the ramp pushing her rollator walker with ease and without assistance. But, before we took our first steps in the lobby, we got a hint of clean fresh paint, cushy new carpet and a bright, sunny view through huge windows. We couldn’t wait to see more!
Everything about our rooms were new and updated. The bathrooms had safe and accessible walk-in showers. Elevators, ramps and the wide open areas made getting around a breeze. All of the ADA compliance updates sure were appreciated by our crew! Everywhere we went was easy to navigate and safe to use, even for the most unsteady of us.
I have to mention the beds. They were so comfortable! Made in Indiana by Bowles Mattress Company, we all had some of the best sleep we’d ever had. And, because of the recent renovation, they were new and the linens were new, too. We all commented how rested we felt. It really enhanced our stay, making us ready to explore.
With plenty of free parking steps away from the entrance, my husband chauffeured us to local sites, scenic spots throughout the park and local restaurants.
Pets are still welcome at the Spring Mill Inn. We brought our little Shorkie (half Yorkie, half Shih Tzu), Alfie, and the Spring Mill Inn made him feel so welcome. Our first floor room was close to a designated pet area, so taking him outside was so convenient.
Millstone Dining Room
You won’t get a better homestyle meal anywhere else in Lawrence County. On their menu, you’ll find all the Hoosier classics from a meaty (and huge!) pork tenderloin sandwich to pot roast complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and fried biscuits & apple butter. The menu is packed with delicious stick-to-your-ribs meals topped off with sugar cream or apple pie – ala mode, of course.
On our first night, we ate dinner there. My mom and I commented how the green beans tasted just like her grandmother’s, my great grandmother’s, home-canned green beans. We loved them and the memories that came with them. Dad and my husband bit into crispy tenderloins, making yummy noises, but otherwise, not saying a word. We all ordered homemade desserts. I had the apple pie and was happy I did! Don’t miss a chance to have a meal here.
Millstone Dining Room Hours
8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Menu
1 a.m. – 2 p.m. Menu
5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Menu
Certainly didn’t apply to us, but they offer a kids menu, too.
Game Room
We hung out in the game room a lot. With a variety of board games, puzzles, pool table, big screen TVs with comfy seating and electronic games, there was so much to do there! One evening, we dusted off our pool playing skills and played a game, learning–hey, we’ve still got it after all! Mom brought a deck of cards because we love to play Euchre, the official card game of the state of Indiana, most would say. Then, we discovered the game, Shut the Box, on a table in the corner. Simple to learn and fun to play, we spent hours playing and laughing. Wanting more, we bought our own Shut the Box games to have at home.
The Spring Mill Inn Game Room is where we stayed up past our bedtimes, laughing too loud and playing too hard, with our dog, Alfie, laying at our feet.
Spring Mill State Park
While offering seven hiking trails, the park itself is also very drivable. Because personal mobility was limited for us, we drove through the park and appreciated all the many parking lots throughout. There were short walks to stunning scenery. We brought our portable chairs and set up next to a stream, under a tree near Pioneer Village. Even the Gus Grissom Memorial museum would have been an option for us to visit due to its easy access, although we opted not to this time.
Located in south central Indiana, Mitchell and the Spring Mill State Park is located 1.5 hours south of Indianapolis and 2.5 hours west of Cincinnati.
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Guest blogger, Bonnie Surber, is a retired advertising and marketing executive. A travel enthusiast, Bonnie is a grandmother of four. She and her husband, Tom, reside in Westfield, Indiana.
