Scattering Ashes in Indiana — A Complete Guide

Everything Indiana families need to know about ash scattering laws, the Wabash River, Lake Michigan, state parks, and four verified cemetery scattering gardens across the Hoosier State.

Author's Note: Whenever we talk about getting away for the weekend, Shipshewana is always first on the list. The pretzels alone are enough to draw us there, but the shops and the vibes are great there. Everything is relaxed there, and we love the parades!

If you are thinking of scattering ashes in the state of Indiana, it may be helpful to know the official symbols:

  • State Flower: Peony 🌸
  • State Tree: Tulip Tree 🌳
  • State Bird: Northern Cardinal 🦜
  • State River: Wabash River 🌊
  • State Stone: Salem Limestone ⛏️
  • State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" 🎶
  • State Motto: "The Crossroads of America" ⚙️

Note: Indiana is one of only a handful of states in the country with an officially designated State River. The Wabash River was adopted as Indiana's official river by the General Assembly in 1996 (IC 1-2-11-1). It flows freely for 411 miles — the longest stretch of free-flowing river east of the Mississippi — before joining the Ohio River at the state's southwestern corner. The Wabash appears in Indiana's state song ("On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away"), state poem, and the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Governor's honorary award. Salem Limestone was adopted as Indiana's State Stone in 1971 (IC 1-2-9-1). This high-calcium limestone, quarried near Bedford and Bloomington in south-central Indiana, has been used to build the Pentagon, the Empire State Building, the Tribune Tower in Chicago, and 35 of the 50 U.S. Statehouses.

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Indiana?

The practice of scattering ashes has grown steadily in Indiana, reflecting national trends toward cremation and personalized memorials. In 2020, the cremation rate in Indiana was approximately 58%, and it continues to climb. As more Hoosier families choose cremation, many seek meaningful ways to honor loved ones in Indiana's distinctive natural and cultural landscapes.

Indiana's geography is shaped by its rivers, glacial lakes, and rolling farmland. The Wabash River itself — Indiana's state river and the longest tributary of the Ohio — winds through the heart of the state, lined with sycamore trees and flanked by the broad agricultural landscape of the Wabash Valley. Indiana Dunes National Park on the southern shore of Lake Michigan offers extraordinary scenery: towering sand dunes, beech-maple forests, and rare biological diversity compressed into a surprisingly small area — the park contains more plant species per square mile than almost anywhere in North America. The Brown County hill country in the south, centered on Nashville, is Indiana's most rugged and wooded landscape — steep forested ridges, clear streams, and a tradition of arts and outdoor recreation dating to the early 20th century. The White River, the Tippecanoe River, and the Salamonie all offer quiet natural corridors through the farmland and forest. For families seeking a meaningful setting for a final farewell, Indiana's diverse landscape offers many possibilities.

Indiana Laws on Scattering Ashes

Indiana has a detailed statutory framework for ash scattering under Indiana Code Title 23, Article 14, Chapter 31 (Cremation). Key provisions:

  • IC 23-14-31-44(a) — Cremated remains may be disposed of in one of three ways: (1) placing them in a grave, niche, or crypt; (2) scattering them in a legally defined "scattering area" (such as a cemetery's designated scattering section); or (3) scattering on the property of a consenting owner, uninhabited public land, or a waterway — provided remains are reduced to a particle size of 1/8 inch or less.
  • IC 23-14-31-44(b) — A form documenting the date, manner, and legal description of the property where ashes were scattered must be filed with the county recorder within 10 days after disposition.
  • IC 23-14-31-36 — A 48-hour waiting period is required before cremation may occur, unless waived by the local health officer.
  • Funeral Director Requirement — A licensed funeral director must be involved in cremation arrangements and must be present for any graveside service including scattering ceremonies at cemeteries, per Indiana cemetery statutes.

What does the 1/8-inch particle size rule mean? For scattering outside a designated cemetery scattering area (i.e., on private property, uninhabited public land, or a waterway), Indiana law requires remains be reduced to fine particles of 1/8 inch or less before scattering. This is handled during the cremation process by most licensed crematories. Confirm with your funeral director that remains meet this requirement before any outdoor ceremony.

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property (your own): Authorized. Written documentation must be filed with the county recorder within 10 days (IC 23-14-31-44).
  • Private Property (someone else's): Authorized with the owner's consent. Owner and the person with legal control must both attest to the disposal form, which must be filed with the county recorder within 10 days.
  • Uninhabited Public Land: Authorized under IC 23-14-31-44, subject to the 1/8-inch particle size requirement and the 10-day county recorder filing. Always check with local and county authorities before any ceremony.
  • Indiana State Parks: Contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of State Parks at (317) 232-4124 or via on.in.gov/stateparks before any scattering ceremony. Individual parks may have their own guidance.
  • Lake Michigan: The southern shore of Lake Michigan is accessible via Indiana Dunes National Park. For ocean/large lake scattering, the federal Clean Water Act applies. Contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) at (800) 451-6027 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for specific Lake Michigan guidance.
  • Wabash River and other inland waterways: The Clean Water Act governs navigable waters. The 1/8-inch particle size rule applies. Contact IDEM for specific waterway guidance before any scattering.
  • Aerial Scattering: No Indiana law restricts aerial scattering. Federal aviation regulations (14 CFR 91.15) apply — ashes must be removed from any container before release.

Cemetery Scattering Gardens in Indiana

Rose Hill Cemetery Scatter Garden — Bloomington (South-Central Indiana)

Location: 1100 W. Fourth Street, Bloomington, IN 47404 Phone: (812) 349-3498

Rose Hill Cemetery is one of Bloomington's most historically significant sites — a 28-acre city-owned cemetery established in 1897, maintained by the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, and the final resting place of many of the University of Indiana's founding figures and prominent Hoosier citizens. Among those buried here: IU's first president Andrew Wylie, Dr. Alfred Kinsey (whose grave, marked with red granite, is often visited by researchers and admirers), jazz composer and songwriter Hoagy Carmichael (visitors traditionally leave pennies in the grooves of his headstone), mathematician Daniel Kirkwood (for whom Kirkwood Avenue is named), and former Indiana Governor Paris C. Dunning.

In 2023, the City of Bloomington opened its first cremains Scatter Garden at Rose Hill — fulfilling a vision of Mayor John Hamilton — making it the only publicly operated ash scattering garden in Bloomington. The Scatter Garden features decorative fencing, a central granite monument, decorative grass plantings, and a layer of quartz stone surrounding the monument where cremains are scattered. The quartz pieces are raked over the cremains after scattering; a watering can is available to help ashes combine with the soil. Annual rye grass has been planted throughout. Names and dates of the deceased can be engraved on the granite monument for an additional fee.

The City's official rules brochure confirms the scattering option: "Ashes may be interred either in the ground or in the scatter garden." Per Indiana law, a licensed funeral director must be present at any scattering service and must handle the required cremation certificate and burial permit paperwork. The fee to use the Scatter Garden is $300; engraving on the granite monument is an additional $275.

Phone: (812) 349-3498 Website: bloomington.in.gov/cemeteries

Concordia Cemetery Gardens — Fort Wayne (Northeast Indiana)

Location: 5365 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 Phone: (260) 749-9836

Concordia Cemetery Gardens traces its origins to 1850, when the Concordia Cemetery Association, Inc. was established as the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery at 1801 Maumee Avenue — one of the oldest active cemetery associations in Indiana. Today the Association operates two locations: the historic original Concordia Lutheran Cemetery on Maumee Avenue and the modern Concordia Cemetery Gardens on Lake Avenue, which spans over 200 acres of manicured lawns, shaded areas, and seasonal plantings in northeast Fort Wayne.

The Concordia Cemetery Association is a non-profit, self-supporting Lutheran organization operated by the Fort Wayne area Missouri Synod Lutheran churches, serving all Christian families. Their own primary website homepage explicitly lists "Cremation scattering garden" as one of their services, alongside above-ground cremation niches, natural burial, chapel facilities, and private mausoleum options. The Cemetery Gardens also features a veterans area, the Chapel of the Resurrection (available for committal services year-round), beautiful statuary, and a full range of burial and memorialization options.

Contact Concordia Cemetery Gardens at (260) 749-9836 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) to inquire about scattering garden options, fees, and scheduling.

Website: concordiacemetery.com

Violett Cremation Garden at Violett Cemetery — Goshen (North-Central Indiana)

Location: 2818 Violett Road, Goshen, IN 46526 Phone: (574) 534-4108

Violett Cemetery is a city-owned cemetery in Goshen's historic Waterford area, just south of the city in the heart of picturesque Elkhart County, in continuous operation since 1859. In 2017, Goshen City Cemeteries opened the Violett Cremation Garden — a purpose-built cremation memorial space designed by local tradesmen using locally sourced materials, including landscape boulders excavated from the cemetery grounds themselves. The garden provides three options for the disposition of cremated remains: ground burial in an 18x18-inch space, placement in a columbarium niche, and scattering in a dedicated scattering area.

The City of Goshen's official cemeteries page explicitly confirms the scattering area: "The scattering area in the Violett Cremation Garden provides an area, planted with flowering perennials, in which ashes can be scattered." Benches within the garden provide a place to sit and reflect. Bronze plaques (8.5" x 5.5") mounted to concrete runners memorialize those whose ashes have been scattered there.

Per Indiana law and City of Goshen cemetery rules, a signed scattering agreement must be returned to the cemetery manager prior to any scattering, and a licensed funeral director must be present at the graveside service. Contact the Goshen City Cemeteries office for fees and scheduling.

Website: goshenindiana.org/government/departments/cemeteries

Maplewood Cemetery's "The Woods" Scattering Garden — Anderson (East-Central Indiana)

Location: 200 College Drive, Anderson, IN 46012 Phone: (765) 649-2214

Maplewood Cemetery is Madison County's largest traditional cemetery — a 96-acre cemetery serving Anderson and the surrounding Madison County community since 1902, with an additional 40 acres of undeveloped land reserved for future use. In 2015, Maplewood set aside a dedicated section called "The Woods" exclusively for cremation burials in a beautifully natural, tree-covered setting on the eastern edge of the cemetery.

Maplewood's own cremation page and FAQ explicitly confirm the scattering option: "In the center of The Woods is a tree-covered natural hill that has been designated as a scattering ground... the only area of the cemetery where cremated remains can be scattered on the surface of the ground." The family may carry out the scattering themselves or have Maplewood staff assist. The names and dates of those scattered in The Woods can be engraved on a central, common monument shared by the scattering garden.

The Woods offers three cremation burial options: ground burial in a designated cremation space, scattering on the natural hill, and alcove niche placement. In 2024, Maplewood also opened The Grove — a separate natural burial ground for those seeking eco-friendly burial in a wooded setting with native woodland plants. Contact Maplewood Cemetery at (765) 649-2214 to inquire about The Woods scattering garden fees, scheduling, and availability.

Website: maplewoodcemetery.com

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Indiana families — or families anywhere honoring a loved one — may choose Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. Cremated remains are mailed directly to the working farm, where they are scattered respectfully according to the family's chosen preferences. No travel required.

Visit our service page at farmsteadscattering.com/collections/services, or call or text us at (814) 450-5432 to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scattering Ashes in Indiana

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana Code § 23-14-31-44 authorizes scattering in designated cemetery scattering areas, on private property with the owner's consent, on uninhabited public land, and on waterways — provided remains are reduced to a particle size of 1/8 inch or less. A form must be filed with the county recorder within 10 days after any outdoor scattering.

Does Indiana require remains to be a specific particle size for scattering?

Yes — uniquely, Indiana requires that cremated remains be reduced to a particle size of 1/8 inch or less before scattering on private property, public land, or waterways (IC 23-14-31-44). This is normally handled by the licensed crematory as part of the cremation process. Confirm with your funeral director before any ceremony.

Do I need a funeral director present for scattering in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana law requires a licensed funeral director to be involved in cremation arrangements, and Indiana cemetery statutes require a licensed funeral director to be present at any graveside service, including scattering ceremonies at cemeteries. Contact your funeral director to coordinate.

Does Indiana require any paperwork after scattering?

Yes. A form documenting the date, manner, and legal description of the property where ashes were scattered must be filed with the county recorder within 10 days after disposition (IC 23-14-31-44). Your funeral director can help with this documentation.

Is the Wabash River open for ash scattering in Indiana?

Scattering on the Wabash River is authorized under IC 23-14-31-44 as a "waterway" disposal, subject to the 1/8-inch particle size requirement and the 10-day county recorder filing. The federal Clean Water Act also governs navigable waters. Contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) at (800) 451-6027 for guidance on specific locations along the river.

Can I scatter ashes in Indiana Dunes National Park?

Yes, with a permit. Indiana Dunes National Park requires advance contact with the park superintendent and a permit or letter of authorization under NPS regulations (36 CFR 2.62). Contact Indiana Dunes National Park at (219) 395-1882 before any ceremony.

Does Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington have a designated scattering garden?

Yes — confirmed from the City of Bloomington's official cemetery rules brochure. The Rose Hill Scatter Garden opened in 2023 and is the only publicly operated ash scattering garden in Bloomington. It charges a $300 fee for scattering; names can be engraved on the granite monument for $275. Contact (812) 349-3498.

What makes Indiana's Salem Limestone special?

Salem Limestone — Indiana's official State Stone since 1971 (IC 1-2-9-1) — is a high-calcium sedimentary limestone quarried in the Bedford-Bloomington area of south-central Indiana. It is prized for its durability, uniform texture, and ease of carving. Over the past century it has been used to construct the Pentagon, the Empire State Building, the Tribune Tower, Rockefeller Center, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., and 35 of the 50 U.S. Statehouses. Bedford, Indiana is known as the "Limestone Capital of the World."

Can I mail ashes for scattering from Indiana?

Yes. Cremated remains may be mailed within the United States via the U.S. Postal Service using Priority Mail Express. Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania accepts mail-in remains for private farm scattering. Call or text (814) 450-5432 or visit farmsteadscattering.com.

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