The site once held the Breed Plant, a coal-fired power station on the Wabash. Today Fairbanks Landing Fish & Wildlife Area covers 8,030 acres of bottomland hardwoods, agriculture fields, prairie, and riparian habitat across Vigo and Sullivan counties, with eight miles of Wabash River frontage. Indiana DNR has managed the property since 2004 under an agreement with Indiana-Michigan Power.
Bottomland forest runs back from the river into farm fields and grassland. Deer and wild turkey work the woods. Waterfowl move through the river bottoms. Hawks, owls, ospreys, and bald eagles hunt the open ground, and songbirds pass through in spring and fall migrations. The Wabash here gives up channel catfish, bluegill, redear, and largemouth bass.
A boat ramp on the southern end launches into the Wabash. Boats on the FWA’s own waters are limited to a 12-volt electric trolling motor; the river itself has no such limit. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching are all permitted. Hunters and dog runners need to complete a one-day access permit at the self-service booth before heading out, and other visitors are encouraged to do the same.
Fairbanks Landing FWA is managed out of Deer Creek FWA in Greencastle. The property office takes calls at (765) 653-0453.
