Pickin’ in the Backwoods August 16 – 17, 2024
EXPLORE BC continued from 26
Today, he believes his outdoor adventure park plays an important role at a time when families spend less time than ever bonding outdoors.
“ Families come out here and play paintball together, and every time they go home smiling, talking about the battles they had,” he said.“ I really believe in what we’ re doing, and I can see the immediate results of it. Now, that’ s really fun.”
Bartels’ fun was paused in 2022, when a backand-leg injury sidelined him from work. He said his sons and their families stepped in, investing in remodeling the paintball course and camping cabins and transforming Harvest Hall into an elegant, gallery-style event space brimming with Patricia’ s paintings. His family also added to the campground a new Vintage Village featuring five furnished vintage campers.
Throughout his months of recovery, Bartels said he wondered whether it was time to begin thinking about retirement.“ But I still truly enjoy what I do,” he said.“ I like projects, and I love the sweet smell of success.”
Today, the man with the title of Chief Adventurist is back to“ doing pretty much whatever I want!”
“ When I look back and see what I’ ve accomplished, I just laugh. How did we do this?” he said, smiling and shaking his head.“ Little by little. I hope eXplore Brown County continues to evolve, helping even more families make memories.” eXplore Brown County is located at Valley Branch Retreat, 2620 Valley Branch Rd, Nashville, IN, 47448.
For more visit < www. explorebrowncounty. com > or call 812-988-7750. •
Pickin’ in the Backwoods August 16 – 17, 2024
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resented by Coyote Radio Show and Podcast, alongside Duke’ s Indy, this intimate event will be held at eXplore Brown County in August. There will be 30 + bands, free camping, free parking, BYOB, food trucks, and campfire jams. All ages.
The lineup includes: Arlo Mckinley, Reverend Peyton’ s Big Damn Band, Hellbound Glory, Jeremy Pinnell, The Local Honeys, Jake Kohn, Tim Goodin, William Elliott Whitmore, The Tillers, The Resonant Rogues, Vaden Landers, Low Water Bridge Band, Joshua Quimby, Rachel Brooke, Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns, Dylan Walshe, Ramblin’ Ricky Tate, Zach Willdee, Tori Miller, Ginger Wixx, Jason Dea West, Hammer and the Hatchet, Pine & Fire, Eliza Thorn, Sophie Coyote, Indy Annies, The Circle City Bandit, Booze Hounds Bluegrass, Doug Dillman, Hannah Unsalted, Johnny Logan and the Roughnecks, and Arianna Barton.
Located at 2620 Valley Branch Rd, Nashville, IN, 47448. < www. pickininthebackwoods. com > < www. coyoteradioshowandpodcast. com > < www. dukesindy. com > •
26 Our Brown County • July / August 2024