By Shawndra Miller / Communications director, Central Indiana Land Trust
Driving to Meltzer Woods, there’s a moment when the forest comes into view. After exiting Interstate 74 onto Ind. 244, look for the high, dense canopy of woods in the northeast. It’s easy to forget that a few hundred years ago, some 15 million acres of Indiana would have been covered by just such a forest.
Meltzer Woods is one of Indiana’s last old-growth forest remnants – a rare place hosting 300-year-old oak and hickory trees. Ecologists define old growth as forests with trees older than 150 years and little disturbance over the past century.
In recognition of its exceptional character, the National Park Service designated Meltzer Woods a National Natural Landmark in 1974. Since 2016, the Central Indiana Land Trust has stewarded this nature preserve for all Hoosiers to enjoy.
The property is one of CILTI’s most beloved public preserves – a place to find solace and inspiration.
But preserving this forest wouldn’t have been possible without generations of family stewardship. In 1857, German immigrant John Frederick Meltzer purchased 160 acres here, adding more land over the years. His grandson, Brady Meltzer (1886–1971), ran a sawmill during the Depression yet left 48 acres of the family farm uncleared.
In 1928, Brady placed the woods in Indiana’s Classified Forest Program, pledging not to graze livestock there. His son, Phillip Meltzer (1926–2020), carried that legacy forward, ensuring the forest would remain intact for future generations.
Just down the road from the preserve, another piece of history endures: a one-room schoolhouse at the corner of State Road 244 and County Road 600 East. Built in 1875, Liberty Township Schoolhouse No. 2 served local children, including young Brady Meltzer, until around 1918. The building would become his machine shop.
In 2022, Brady’s great-granddaughter, Vanessa Armstrong, decided to turn the structure into a new space of learning. She founded a nonprofit, Hoosier Landmarks for Learning, partnering with local history buff Maribeth Schmidt. Together they transformed the old schoolhouse into a Little Free Library, stocking it with a thousand books donated by Waldron Elementary School.
The building still features the original chalkboard from its school days. This year marks the building’s 150th anniversary.
Visitors can experience both nature and history in one trip. Start with a walk in Meltzer Woods, open daily from dawn to dusk, to enjoy a living museum showcasing the natural character and history of the region. Then stop by the Little Free Library to browse the shelves and see a piece of Shelby County heritage. The Hoosier Landmarks for Learning Facebook page posts the library’s hours of operation.
Headquartered in the Old Northside, Central Indiana Land Trust partners with conservation organizations statewide to preserve the best of Indiana’s natural areas, protecting plants and animals, so Hoosiers can experience the wonder of the state’s natural heritage. Find hiking destinations at conservingindiana.org
