Experience the Indiana Dunes like never before with this self-guided Discovery Trail —your gateway to exploring towering dunes, sweeping shorelines, and the rich natural history shaped by ancient glaciers. This video was produced by Smith Donovan Video to help visitors discover the region’s most captivating landscapes and hidden wonders. Enjoy the journey!

Way back in 2014 when drones were first becoming a thing, Smith Donovan was on the cutting edge of adapting the technology and using it to tell stories and showcase the Indiana Dunes region. Smith Donovan created a video depicting the amazing, otherworldly shelf ice on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. In a matter of days, the video attained tens of thousands of views and was featured on Chicago primetime news. Because of the impact of the video in bringing attention to t

Smith Donovan filmed a series for Indiana Dunes Tourism that helps visitors get a sense of what this great area has to offer from a State and National parks perspective. It was filmed over one week at many locations throughout the Indiana Dunes State and National parks. Matt Micou played the role of Ranger Matt and was so convincing that people came up to us many times throughout the shoot to ask him questions about the parks as though he was an actual ranger. By the end of t

Indiana Dunes National Park partnered with Thad Donovan to produce a brand-new film for the theatre at the Indiana Dunes Tourism Visitor Center. This 30-minute feature, more than a year in the making, showcases the beauty, stories, and unique character that make the park truly extraordinary.

Thad Donovan recently became captivated by the quiet magic happening on the bright orange milkweed at Coffee Creek Watershed. Dozens of tiny monarch caterpillars were fighting for their chance at life, and he felt compelled to protect and document them. He built small handmade enclosures, spent hours checking on them, and filmed their relentless hunger and fragile beauty. Over the following weeks, his camera captured moments too delicate for the naked eye—the trembling chrysa