Since its dedication in 1925, Pokagon State Park sought opportunities to grow in size and accessibility. Early in the park's history, major roads bypassed the region and kept it less accessible, but the construction of I-69 and the east-west Indiana Toll Road brought travelers to Pokagon's doorstep and businesses developed along the route. One of these was the Pokagon Motel, built in the 1950s on this spot, a 12-room motel that operated until the late 1990s. Because the motel property bordered the park, fundraising began when it was offered for sale in order to purchase this critical tract for the park. A local group, the ACRES Land Trust, spearheaded the movement, and funds from organizations and individuals made possible the acquisition of the 28-acre addition and later 29 acres to the north. Some contributors had fond memories of staying at the Pokagon Motel. During WWII, General Eisenhower had seen how Germany's highway system, the autobahn, was a key asset in quickly moving troops and equipment, and as president he wanted to replicate that ingenuity and energized the development of a similar system in the United States. The interstate highway system was born. From this point, viewers can enjoy a panoramic view of rolling glacial topography, and the Steuben County landscape is typical of what makes this corner of Indiana so beautiful.