Burdette Park

Burdette Park is a recreational facility in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. It is the only municipal park in Vanderburgh County not operated by the City of Evansville. Burdette Park provides a recreational and educational environment for patrons of all ages. Burdette Park consists of approximately 170 acres of scenic rolling hills in Southwestern Indiana. The park management and employees are dedicated in our effort to provide a safe, recreational and educational environment for patrons of all ages. Burdette Park is particularly noted for its BMX course and annual Hoosier Nationals race, though it also offers camping, swimming, and other amenities.

Many of Vanderburgh County’s older generation retain fond memories of Burdette Park. It was a popular meeting place for young people before, during, and after World War II. While people recall the park’s old “salt pool”, roller skating, and the outdoor dancing, most are unaware of how Burdette got its name. The park’s origins are shrouded in mystery for most people.

Burdette Park as well as the Everette Burdette American Legion Post 187 were both named in honor of a young Evansville man who grew up in Howell, enlisted in the army during World War I, and was killed in action in Germany. A number of American Legion Posts sprang up in Evansville following the armistice that signaled the end of the “great war”. Burdette Post received its charter on December 27, 1921, and A.W. Epperson was elected its first commander. During the summer of 1927, the 25-member west side post purchased a 40-acre site that was 10 minutes from Howell and three miles from the Evansville city limits. Legion members put up some of their own money to help finance the purchase. The site, which was to eventually become Burdette Park, was an area of great natural beauty with tall trees, scenic hills and lush valleys. An abundance of fresh water was provided by a spring-fed well, and there was a natural salt spring which figured prominently in the park’s future development.

Fred Schlamp, Carl Wolfin, and Charles Dunn were among the early prime movers in the purchase of the park site and its development during those first crucial years. Work began at the site in April, 1928. As the preliminary clearing began, Legionaires started construction of a clubhouse. That structure still stands today and overlooks the present swimming pool and is still known as the “Clubhouse”.

Everett Burdette and his brother Ernest joined the army on September 23, 1917. Their father, the Rev. E.G.S. Burdette, lived at 117 West Illinois Street in Evansville. A younger brother, Ralph, joined the army a few months later and was slightly wounded the following summer. Less than one year after his enlistment, on September 1, 1918, Everette Burdette fell to enemy fire. His body was returned to the United States early in 1921, and, that April, Everette Burdette was buried in Locust Hill Cemetery.

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