LUKE, Roland Peter
Source: Indianapolis News 12 Jan (Tues) 1932 p 7
Covington, Ind Jan 12 – The body of Roland Peter Luke, age 62 a native of Fountain County and widely-known throughout the state as the first superintendent of Indiana State Parks was brought here today from San Benito, TX where Mr. Luke died unexpectedly Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Luke at the time of the death were in Texas on an intended two months’ stay looking over orange grove holdings they bought near San Benito a few months ago. Death was due to heart disease. Funeral and burial arrangements have not bee announced. Mr. Luke was born and reared on a farm a few miles east of here. He was an ardent sportsman and frequently made trips to various parts of the country and to Canda and Mexico on hunting and fishing expeditions.
Several years before the state came in control of the Salmon Lusk estate at Turkey Run near Marshall which later became Turkey Run State Park, Mr. and Mrs. Luke operated a fishing camp and outing place near the site of the present Turkey Run Inn. The tract then was known by many persons as Bloomingdale Glens as well as Turkey Run. Mr. Luke was active in the movement to have this area become the property of the state for park purposes. With the purchase of the first Indiana state Park, McCormick’s Creek canyon near Spencer and the subsequent taking over of the Turkey Run tract, Mr. Luke was named as the first superintendent of state parks. He served in that capacity for several years.
Mrs. Luke operated the first hotel at the Turkey Run State Park and later opened the first hotel at Clifty Falls State Park near Madison operating both hotels for several years but later giving up the TR hotel. She still operates the Clifty Falls Hotel. Only in the last year she and Mr. Luke disposed of all their real estate holdings and built a home at Covington. Mr. Luke is survived by the widow, Della Luke, his mother, Mrs. Miranda Luke; a brother, Dr. Frank Luke, a dentist and a sister, Mrs. Julian Spinning all of this city and a sister, Mrs. AV Simmerman of Veedersburg. Mrs. Luke’s brother, John Cade a prominent Indianapolis druggist died only a few years ago. – kbz