NASHVILLE, Ind. (WTHR) - Health leaders and residents in Brown County called on Governor Eric Holcomb to close Brown County State Park and stop people from renting vacation cabins during the coronavirus pandemic.
They said visitors are still "escaping" from stay-at-home orders by traveling there and they're worried about a potential COVID-19 spread.
For a tourist destination that gets a million visitors a year, telling people to stay away seems unusual. But in Brown County, during a pandemic, neighbors say travelers are putting residents at risk.
"Our lives depend upon this! We were shocked at the amount of people that were not maintaining social distancing," said Brown County resident Shirley Lance.
"And I think it would be a great tragedy for these people seeking entertainment to come and create havoc in our county," said Brown County Health Officer Dr. Norman Oestrike.
Health leaders and residents want the governor to close Brown County State Park.
Here's why.
Shirley Lance took several photos last weekend, showing the park full of out-of-towners.
"Social distancing was not taking place. People were not obeying the rules," Lance said. "We only noticed three or four cars from Brown County. The rest were from Marion, Hamilton, Lawrence, Pike, Posey, everywhere."
"It needs to be local people, not from around the country because people are bored," Oestrike added.
On Monday, Holcomb did announce the closure of campgrounds, shelters and mountain bike trails in state parks, but the parks themselves remain open. And in Brown County, cabins and vacation rentals are still being booked.
"My opinion is it needs to be closed. Period," Oestrike said. "I think tourist homes also need to be closed."
He said it's especially risky right now, because Brown County's population is older. There is also no hospital and firefighters and paramedics are all volunteers.
"We don't have the resources to deal with it! If people get sick, they'd have to go to Bloomington or Columbus," he said.
"We're already limited on our medical staff," Lance added. "Plus we have one grocery store, one pharmacy, three gas stations and a dollar store. This is where we go to get our essential supplies."
Lance's husband is high risk for coronavirus. He's had pneumonia before. Right now, she's scared and fears tourists could turn Brown County into a hot spot for COVID-19.
"It is scary," she said. "I don't want to lose him. I don't want lose any of our neighbors."