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The Start
Clifty Falls State Park was established in October 1920 on land purchased by the state with both state funds and funds raised by local donations.
In the years before the original Clifty Inn was opened in 1924, there was a place to stay and eat for park visitors. Perhaps more of a roadhouse, than inn, it was originally a stone farmhouse built by Stephen K. Todd at the top of the "Todd's Hill". The Todd connection is notable, as a wood frame house down the hill was the "Todd House" of the underground railroad era . It was owned by Stephen's uncle, John B. Todd.
This lodging had six rooms, a dining room, and lobby. The Indianapolis Star referred to it as the "Old Clifty Inn" in a June 28, 1924 article (Fig. 1). In 1923, a barn on the site was remodeled to hold 16 more rooms.
The large and impressive Clifty Inn was dedicated on Aug. 25, 1924 as a 2-story structure (Figs. 2 and 3). It was a large, brick building with 32 rooms, a large dining room, lobby and a large porch – built over the edge of the hill and looking down onto the Ohio River. As with the start of the park, local people raised money for construction, but with the money to be paid back with hotel receipts. Three years later more floors and rooms were added (Fig. 4).
What happened to the stone farmhouse after the Inn was opened? It remained in use as part of the Inn complex, first called the Rose Hill Annex and in later years, the Clifty Inn Annex and finally the Lilly Cottage (as seen last in the 1955 park map). It was, presumably, later demolished before expansion and remodeling. What of the barn? It was shown on the 1924 and 1929 maps - but not labeled - and was missing entirely from the 1932 map (Figs. 5-7).
Fig 1. The Stephen K. Todd House (the first "inn" ) that became the Rose Hill Annex of the "new" 1924 Clifty Inn. (Source: Indianapolis Star, June 28, 1924, from document at Jefferson County Historical Society)
Fig. 2. Right to left: the 1924 Clifty Inn, Rose Hill Annex, and maybe the barn. (Source: Jefferson County Historical Society - edited from shot of framed wall picture)
Fig. 3. The 1924 Clifty Inn seen from front drive - year not known. (Source: Jefferson County Historical Society - edited from shot of framed wall picture)
Fig. 4. Image of the expanded Clifty Inn with the Rose Hill Annex behind and to the left in image. (Source: Image from vintage postcard - year not known)
The Inn had an employee's quarters. Its location was not labeled on these pre-CCC park maps (Figs 5-7), but a structure that may be these quarters is found on the 1932 park map (Fig. 7), but only labeled as such on the 1939 post-CCC park map.
Note that the 1924 map (Fig. 5) shows a gatekeeper's cabin at the entrance below the hill, but by 1929 (Fig. 6), the gatekeeper's cabin had been moved to the hilltop. The 1932 park map shows the location of tennis courts in addition to the keeper's cabin (Fig. 7) . The name had been shortened in the 1932 map legend so that is kept here.
Fig. 5. Annotation of 1924 park map showing locations of the Inn, the Annex, possibly the barn, and other features including the first entrance road.
Fig. 6. Annotation of 1929 park map. Note gatekeeper's cabin now on too of hill.
Fig. 7. Annotation of 1932 map showing major features just prior to the start of the CCC years with possible location of the servant's quarters.
How did people climb the approximately 350 foot elevation to get to the Park and the Inn?
First, they followed the sign on Hanover Road (Fig. 8). This original entrance on the 1924-1932 park maps (Fig. 5-7) was on the west side of Little Crooked Creek (rather than the current entrance on the east side).
Fig. 8. This appears to be looking east on the "Hanover Road" with the park entrance to the north (left). The carriage appears to be going over the bridge on Little Crooked Creek . (Source: edited shot of framed picture hanging on wall of current Clifty Inn)
Second, they traveled up a road, cut into the hillside, up to the Inn (see Fig. 5). The road was arduous, following the west hillside steeply up, then doing a hairpin turn up to the inn, curving around the ridges near the top the hill. By 1929, this road was replaced by a longer route, which still needed a hairpin turn, but with a more direct route to the top as shown in the 1929 and 1932 park maps (Figs. 6-7). The park boundary may have expanded to allow this change.
Vestiges of that second road remain in the form of culverts that diverted water flowing down the road of the hillside (Fig. 9).
Fig. 9. Vestiges of culverts built to divert water flow in the pre-CCC road up to the Inn.
Also labeled in Fig. 7 is the location of the Garber Memorial. The Memorial is still at this approximate location today - at the edge of the ridgetop (Fig. 10). It honors Michael Christian Garber Jr. for his services in the location and development of Clifty Falls State Park, the Lanier Memorial, and the navigation of the Ohio River. It sits on a ledge below which the road (and later trails) followed.
This was the approximate status of the Inn and the south entrance at the beginning of the CCC years (1933-1938). Fig. 11 shows early features superimposed over a recent Google Earth site image).
Fig. 10. Garber Memorial today.
Fig. 11. Approximate location of the 1924 Inn and Rose Hill Annex on modern view.
The CCC Years
From 1933-38, three Companies of men from the Civilian Conservation Corps lived at the park in an area now just west of the Nature Center. They built culverts, bridges, roads, trails and many other structures for the park (Fig. 12).
Regarding the Inn, the major CCC impact was a new and easier road (and entrance “gate lodge”) to access the Inn and Park. This road came up opposite the original road - on the east side of Little Crooked Creek, crossing over the creek with a new trestle bridge and then ascending to the Inn property. This is the existing south entrance road and gatehouse, although the bridge today is a 1948 replacement of the trestle bridge (Figs. 12 and 13).
The CCC also added a riding stable, bridle trails, and hiking trails. The servant’s quarters were now labeled on the park map (Fig. 12). By 1939, the Rose Hill Annex was called the Clifty Inn Annex on the park map.
Fig. 12. Annotation of post-CCC 1939 map. Note the elaborate trail complex. The red dots are an estimate of the pre-CCC south road access. It seems to partially overlap a bridle trail.
Fig. 13. "New" south entrance and gate house. (Source: Clifty Falls Nature Center)
An often-cited anecdote is that then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Madison and stopped at Clifty Inn (July 7, 1934). She spent the night before continuing her trip from Lexington, KY to Indianapolis, IN.
In 1936, the south entrance was named in honor of W. A. Guthrie, former Chairman of the Indiana Conservation Commission and an active participant in the acquisition and development of Clifty Falls State Park (Fig 14).
The famous 1937 Ohio River flood, which badly effected Madison and other river communities, had a minor effect on Clifty – the flood swallowed the new south gate house, leaving only the very top of the roof peak and chimney exposed (Fig. 15).
Fig. 14. Guthrie Memorial at south entrance gate today.
Fig. 15. Image of flooded south gate house - only top of chimney and roof visible - from 1937. (Source: Outdoor Indiana - see reference below)
The Mid-Century Modern Era
As the popularity of the Park and Inn increased, a 2-wing, 36-room motel unit was added in 1966 and the “Clifty Inn and Motor Lodge” was born (Figs. 16 and 17).
A Park Office (first seen in 1955 map) now joins the service area as well as connecting roads between the 1924 Inn and the new central building and between the central building and the two wings (Fig. 16).
The overlap between the 1966 additions and the current layout is shown in Fig. 17. The wings on the north (right side in image) correspond to the existing north wings of the Inn. The current entrance and dining room correspond to the central building whose purpose we aren't sure.
But, where did the Annex go? At some time between 1955 and 1966, based on the park maps, the Annex was demolished.
A post-CCC addition was a riding ring (shown in the maps from 1955-1971). See the ring in Fig. 16 and also note a campground above the riding ring and to the right of the saddle barn - it was developed at the same location as the CCC camp in Fig. 12.
While not directly affecting the Inn or south entrance at the time, the Park’s land acreage expanded greatly with the acquisition of land belonging to the then Madison State Hospital in 1965.
Fig. 16. 1966 annotated Park map.
Fig. 17. Approximate location of the 1924 Inn and 1966 additions on top of modern view.
The Tornado
On April 3, 1974, disaster struck Jefferson County, Madison, Hanover, and the Park – an F4 tornado that was part of so-called “super outbreak”. It destroyed the magnificant 1924 Clifty Inn (Fig. 18) and many other features of the park including the park office, horse trails, corrals, and the riding ring.
Only one year later, a new Inn was opened, but horse riding was discontinued and the saddle barn was converted later into a Nature Center (dedicated Oct. 29, 1981). In addition to the new Inn, a “Riverview” building was added and, in 1977, another expansion occurred with conference facilities (Figs. 19 and 20).
The tornado’s destruction also led to more changes in the park at large – a large campground and an outdoor pool were added - still existing today. These were developed on land that was transferred to the Park in 1965 from the Madison State Hospital.
Fig. 18. Aerial photo of the hilltop after the tornado. (Source: edited shot of framed picture hanging on wall of current Clifty Inn)
Fig. 19. Approximate locations of post-tornado Inn facilities.
Fig. 20. Appearances of 1974-1977 changes. Top = central building looking to river. Center = Riverview Annex from interior. Bottom = main buiding with wings to either side. (Source: Outdoor Indiana - see reference below)
1990s and beyond
In 1999, an extensive renovation of the Inn was finished. It included an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that was renovated with two water slides added. Only the indoor pool still exits. Further changes occurred in 2006 with another renovation and the demolition of the Riverview wing (Figs. 19-20) and its replacement with a 37 room and three suite building attached by walkway. The Inn today is basically this 2006 renovation.
Sources of Information
Anonymous. 1934. Work of Civilian Conservation Corps Reflected in Park Improvements. Outdoor Indiana, November 1934, 1(10), pp 10-11.
Anonymous. 1936. Indiana’s State Parks Developed by Civilian Conservation Corps. Outdoor Indiana, February 1936, 3(1), pp. 20-21,28.
Anonymous. 1936. Clifty Falls Entrance Dedicated. Outdoor Indiana, June 1936, 3(5), p. 6.
Anonymous. 1937. Lanier Memorial and Clifty Falls State Park Were in Flood Area. Outdoor Indiana, March 1937, 4(2), p. 1.
Anonymous. 1951. “Welcome to Clifty”. Outdoor Indiana, June 1951, 18(6), pp. 10-11.
Anonymous. 1976. Clifty Falls State Park. Outdoor Indiana, February 1976, 42(1), pp. 21-24.
Griffith, David S. 1977. More Modernization at State Parks and Recreation Areas. Outdoor Indiana, April 1977, 42(3), pp. 14-15.
Harrington, Ione F. 1959. Clifty Falls State Park. Outdoor Indiana, September 1959, 3(3), pp. 28-30.
Hasenstah, Louis D. 1976. Our State Parks. Continuing Modernization and Explansion. Outdoor Indiana, June 1976, 41(5), pp 35-38.
Hill, Herbert R. 1982. Clifty Falls Inn. Outdoor Indiana, March 1982, 47(2), pp. 35.38.
McKinney, Helen E. (Contributing Writer). 2016. Madison’s Clifty Falls State Park was created with community funds. RoundAbout, August 2016,
Sauer, Hazel F. 1935. Clifty Falls State Park and Inn “Written Up” by Madison Newspaper. Outdoor Indiana, May 1935, pp 6-7, 20.
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General Digital Sources
Clifty State Falls Park property maps or guides from 1924, 1929, 1932, 1939, 1941, 1950, 1955, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1986, 1993, 2008, 2024. (sourced personally or found at Indiana State Library Digital Collections (https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll90)
Historical Aerial (photographs and topographic maps) - https://www.historicaerials.com/
USGS Topographic maps - https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/
Outdoor Indiana magazine from IU Digital Collections - https://digitalcollections.iu.edu/
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