eXplore Brown County

Where the Forest Becomes a Playground

eXplore Brown County sits on a sprawling 500-acre property in the rolling hills of southern Brown County, near Nashville, Indiana. This is a place where dense hardwood forests, a private four-acre lake, and miles of trails set the stage for a wide range of outdoor activities. The land itself has a rich history — once a summer camp for Delaware Native Americans and later home to early settlers — and today it serves as a Classified Forest and Tree Farm, blending recreation with conservation.

Tactical Games Across Themed Battlefields

The adventure games area spans over 80 acres and features eight themed scenario fields. Players can choose from paintball, Arrow Tag, or airsoft, each offering a different style of play. The paintball and airsoft fields include a Normandy-style beachhead, crashed airplanes, towers, tanks, castles, a MASH camp, and close-combat zones with classic hard and inflatable bunkers. The variety of terrain means every match feels different, whether you are storming a beach or navigating a wooded encampment. Arrow Tag offers a lower-impact alternative using bows with rubber-tipped arrows, making it accessible to a wider range of ages and comfort levels.

Scenarios That Bring Groups Together

The referee staff at eXplore Brown County runs a rotating selection of themed games designed to keep things fresh and engaging. Popular scenarios include Omaha Beach, Gauntlet, Protect The President, MASH, Elimination, Capture The Flag, and Medical Evac. Groups can also pitch their own game ideas to the referees. For those looking for a more structured experience, the team building programs combine these adventure games with guided challenges that focus on communication, problem solving, and collaboration. The Leap of Faith Mini Aerial Adventure Tour is another option — a four-element course that includes a 30-foot monkey climb, a sky bridge, and a freefall device with three descent options.

More Than Just the Games

Beyond the tactical fields, eXplore Brown County offers a full canopy zip line tour course with 15 world-class zip lines and six different tour options, including the longest, fastest, and highest twin racing zip line in Indiana. There are also ATV tours, mountain biking and hiking trails, and a private lake where rowboats and canoes are available. The property includes a campground with primitive tent sites, electric and water hook-ups, and full hook-up sites, as well as ten rustic camping cabins with heat and air conditioning. For those who prefer a bit more comfort, retro glamping campers are also available. The Gallery banquet hall, decorated with original paintings by local artist Patricia Rhoden Bartels, seats up to 200 guests and features a stage, dance floor, bar area, and fireplace. An outdoor stage with a natural amphitheater can accommodate events of up to 600 guests, and the lakeside ceremony location offers a scenic setting for weddings.

A Place for Every Occasion

This venue is well suited for a wide range of gatherings. Birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate retreats, team building events, family reunions, church youth groups, scout troops, school groups, and weddings all find a natural home here. The staff works with groups of all sizes to customize the experience, whether that means combining a zip line tour with a paintball session or booking The Gallery for a reception. The property also has a viewing and snack area near the paintball fields where friends and family can watch the action.

A Family-Run Operation with Deep Roots

eXplore Brown County is a family-owned business that began taking shape in 1994 when Gary Bartels and his two sons, Lance and Christopher, started clearing land for the lake. They built Harvest Hall using local timber and a portable sawmill, hosted the first wedding there in 1998, and gradually added campgrounds, paintball fields, and camping cabins. The zip line canopy tour opened in 2011 and has since grown to include new activities like Arrow Tag and ATV tours. The guides go through extensive training, and the zip line course meets or exceeds Association of Challenge Course Technology standards with annual inspections. The group sales and events staff — including Amanda Axsom, Amber Baker, Andrea Bartels, DaRon Bruce, and Kennedy Little — work directly with visitors to plan and coordinate their experience.