Indiana’s “Atlantis” was a booming amusement park until the Ohio River drowned it in 1937

Rose Island, Indiana

Rose Island was a full-scale amusement park and resort that opened in 1923 on 118 acres of Ohio River waterfront. It had everything: a dance hall, a roller coaster and pony rides to the state’s first filtered swimming pool.

Even the Great Depression couldn’t kill this popular getaway, until January 27, 1937 when record Ohio River floods drowned the area.

Ten feet of floodwater stayed for weeks, rotting away the wooden structures and ruining everything forever.

Here’s how it happened, preserved now as hiking trails through the ruins in Charlestown State Park.

Heavy Rains Began on January 9, 1937

Rain started falling on January 9, 1937, and barely stopped for the next two weeks. For nineteen straight days, storms drenched Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The ground was already wet, and snow had started melting from warm temperatures.

All this water had nowhere to go but into streams and rivers. By January 18, the Ohio River started spilling over its banks. The flooding had begun, and no one knew how bad it would get.

River Waters Reached Record Levels

The Ohio River rose to heights never seen before. At Louisville, it hit 51.1 feet, ten feet higher than any previous flood.

By January 27, the water reached 57 feet. In Evansville, Indiana, the river climbed to 54 feet, forcing officials to declare martial law.

The flooding stretched 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois. Towns and cities all along the river watched helplessly as water invaded their streets.

When Rose Island Disappeared Under 10 Feet of Water

On January 27, 1937, Rose Island vanished under 10 feet of muddy, swirling water. Every building on the peninsula disappeared beneath the flood. The wooden bridge connecting Rose Island to the mainland snapped apart as trees and debris slammed into it.

The current swept away parts of buildings. Today, blue markers in the park show visitors how high the water reached—far above where buildings once stood.

The Flood’s Widespread Regional Devastation

The 1937 flood hit nearly all of Kentucky and southern parts of Ohio and Indiana. It killed 385 people across the region, making it one of America’s worst natural disasters.

About one million people lost their homes as water filled cities, towns, and farms. The flood caused $500 million in damage—equal to about $11 billion today.

Entire communities were wiped out, and some never recovered.

Evacuation and Rescue Efforts

The Pennsylvania Railroad ran emergency trains from Jeffersonville to get people out of flood zones. Thanks to quick evacuations, Indiana reported no drowning deaths during the disaster.

When the rain finally stopped, people used boats to move through flooded streets. Local radio stations broadcast emergency information around the clock.

On January 26, stations finally announced that river levels had started to drop, bringing the first hope in weeks.

Immediate Aftermath at Rose Island

When the waters went down, thick mud covered everything at Rose Island. Trees had fallen on buildings, smashing most structures to pieces. The concrete swimming pool remained mostly intact, since it was built to hold water.

Few other structures survived the powerful current and floating debris. Owner David Rose walked through the mud and wreckage of his once-thriving business. He faced a hard choice about what to do next.

The Decision to Abandon the Park

Rose saw that the damage was too severe to fix before summer. Unlike some other flood-damaged parks that spent huge sums to rebuild, Rose Island never reopened. The Great Depression had already hurt the business financially.

With buildings destroyed and mud everywhere, starting over made no sense economically. Rose Island was abandoned forever, earning it the nickname “Indiana’s Atlantis” as nature slowly reclaimed the land.

Relief and Recovery Efforts Throughout the Region

The Red Cross set up emergency shelters and gave food, clothing, and medical care to thousands who lost their homes. The government’s Works Progress Administration sent 1,000 workers to Jeffersonville alone.

The federal government provided $500,000 for Jeffersonville and $70,000 for New Albany. National Guard troops helped maintain order and distribute supplies. Everyone worked together to clear mud and rebuild communities.

What Became of the Rose Island Property

During World War II, the government bought the abandoned Rose Island land for the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. The facility made explosives for artillery shells and bombs.

The property stayed under military control for decades. When the ammunition plant closed, the land transferred to the state of Indiana in the 1990s. The former amusement park became part of Charlestown State Park, preserving its ruins for history.

Flood Control Measures Implemented After 1937

After the disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a system of floodwalls, levees, and reservoirs along the Ohio River. Indiana created the State Flood Commission to coordinate protection efforts across many communities.

These flood control measures have worked well. No flooding disaster of similar scale has hit the region since 1937, protecting towns that once stood defenseless against the river’s power.

Visiting Charlestown State Park

You’ll find Rose Island within Charlestown State Park at 12500 Highway 62, Charlestown, Indiana. The park charges a standard Indiana state park entrance fee.

To reach Rose Island, park at the Trail 3 trailhead, then hike about 20 minutes down a steep incline to the Portersville Bridge.

Cross the bridge and follow Trail 7, a flat 0.9-mile loop with historical markers. Hand-crank the audio boxes along the path for narrated history.

The hike back involves climbing uphill, so bring water and wear sturdy shoes.

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