– Photo courtesy of Zionsville Parks and Rec
The Zionsville Parks and Recreation celebrated the dedication of the Train Depot Historic Marker on the Big-4 Trail with SullivanMunce Cultural Center today, April 10.
The marker is located near the Nancy Burton Trailhead and the Starkey Road bridge where the Zionsville Train Depot previously stood. The Depot reportedly served the New York Central Railroad from 1923 until its decommissioning in 1961. The Depot was initially stationed near First Street in the current Lincoln Park before finding its home on the trail prior to the decommissioning.
The western tracks were reportedly completed in 1921, and the Depot was moved to the location along the trail in 1923 by Frank M. Gregory for only $500. The railroad moved the tracks and Depot west primarily for safety reasons as Zionsville’s growing population was reportedly increasing the possibility of danger to the citizens due to the proximity to the trains speeding through the village.
According to the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department, the Depot was demolished in the mid-1970’s and received its official dedication with the Train Depot Historic Marker on the Big-4 Rail Trail in 2024.