Best Kept Secrets of Northeast Indiana: Pt. 2

Welcome to part two of northeast Indiana’s best kept secrets! Northeast Indiana is a beautiful place and one of the fastest-growing areas in the Midwest. It's also home to many hidden gems. Some are local favorites, and others are becoming household names.

Since there's so much to include, we’ve created a two-part series to showcase some of Northeast Indiana’s best attractions, festivals, parks, and museums that are worth a visit.

Part two covers the region south of Fort Wayne and closer to central Indiana. Whether you are starting in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne, it's easy to venture into rural Indiana to discover more of NORTHEAST INDIANA'S BEST KEPT SECRETS!

Warsaw, Columbia City, North Webster, Tippecanoe

This region is renowned for its picturesque lakes, vibrant agricultural industry, and friendly communities. Don't believe us? HGTV and Travel + Leisure have recently named Warsaw and Winona Lake some of the best small towns in the United States! This area is becoming known as more than the "Orthopedic Capital of the World". It's also chock full of some amazing outdoor experiences, food, and places to visit.

For the Outdoor Explorer:

• Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe is a 300-acre private park that is open to the public and FREE to enter year-round. This wildlife park is recognized as Indiana’s first Dark-Sky Preserve, which is perfect for stargazing. The park also has a visitor center, monthly activities, hiking, biking, geocaching, and canoe rentals. It's also dog-friendly, so bring your favorite furry friend out into nature!
• The Dixie Sternwheeler is Indiana’s oldest paddlewheel boat that has been touring Webster Lake in North Webster since 1929. The Dixie is a great place to host a birthday party, family reunion, or any other adventure, with private charters available anytime between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• If you love horses, schedule a trip to J+J Acres in South Whitley. They have horses and ponies of all sizes for horseback rides, training, and events. You can learn from the beginning how to care for and connect with a horse. After your trail ride, be sure to spend some time with their other farm animals, too.

For the Foodie:

• The Creighton Brothers founded a farm in 1925, and it has since grown to become a 38-acre homestead, which includes Creighton’s Crazy Egg Café and Coffee Bar. The café has an amazing breakfast, lunch, and coffee menu. When they say their eggs are fresh from the farm, they mean it! The Creighton Farm is located in Kosciusko County and the restaurant can be found right on US 30.
• HopLore Brewing was founded in 2016 in Leesburg, just north of Warsaw. With locations in both cities, Hoplore has earned several awards from the World Beer Championships, the Brewers Cup, and the People’s Choice Awards for their handcrafted brews, delicious food, and excellent hospitality. Visit the original brewery in Leesburg, a renovated historic mill along the train tracks.
• The Old Train Depot in Pierceton is a post-Civil War station that has been renovated into a restaurant. They have a deck on the second floor overlooking the railway tracks and a dinner car you can actually dine in! You’ll find craft martinis and cocktails with railway-inspired names along with unique entrees.

For the Weekend Enthusiast:

• Warsaw Cut Glass has been creating beautiful glass pieces for over 100 years and is the last glass-cutting company with original vintage machinery in the United States. Johnson-Carlson Cut Glass Company, based out of Chicago, was unable to keep up with demand, so they opened a second location in Warsaw in 1911. After changing ownership twice, the business was sold once more in 1980 to Randy Kirkendall, who still cuts glass and runs the business with his family today. If you’d like to find handmade local glassware, this is the place to go!
• The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is a unique 836-seat theatre-in-the-round producing Broadway-quality summer productions each year since 1956. They also have educational programs for students, a community theatre program, and a professional orchestra with several shows each year. From humble beginnings as a canvas tent playhouse, the Wagon Wheel has blossomed into a nationally recognized theatre powerhouse.
• The Old Settlers’ Days is a summer festival that has been occurring for more than 100 years in downtown Columbia City. For one full week in June, they have an antique tractor drive, drag racing, parades, hot air balloons, concerts, and much more. You may want to join the Pickleball Tournament, tour the Whitley County Historical Museum, or take part in events at the Peabody Public Library.

Huntington, Bluffton, Decatur, Berne, Roanoke

This area of Northeastern Indiana is known for its rich history and small-town charm. The larger towns of Huntington & Bluffton boast several cultural attractions and scenic parks. Berne has a rich Swiss heritage while Roanoke offers a picture-perfect downtown. These towns provide a simplistic sophistication that effortlessly blends community, history, and natural beauty.

For the Outdoor Explorer:

• Sunken Gardens is located at West Park Drive in Huntington. This beautiful park was converted from a quarry in the 1910s and is now part of Memorial Park. It has received many restorations over the years and remains a great location for weddings and special events. According to the Park Department, it is one of only two such gardens in the country!
• Pronounced “O-bah-chee”, Ouabache State Park on the outskirts of Bluffton originally operated as a forest and game preserve in the early 1930s. Ouabache is the French spelling of Wabash, as in the Wabash River that runs through Bluffton. Kunkel Lake has excellent fishing and a beach for relaxing and swimming. The 20-acre American Bison exhibit with surrounding walking trails offers a unique sightseeing experience. Climb the 100-foot fire tower to get a commanding view of the park.
• Zip Timber Lake has fully guided tours of the surrounding nature with 8 zip lines, 4 aerial bridges, climbing elements, and much more. You can stay on-site at Camp Timber Lake with available campsites and rental cabins. This adventure park is a great experience for any outdoor enthusiast.

For the Foodie:

• Back 40 Junction in Decatur began as an ice cream shop in the early 1950s but soon expanded to a restaurant. The restaurant began acquiring iconic memorabilia, antiques, and collectibles that soon filled the space. It's now more like a museum that happens to serve food. As you admire the décor, load up your plate from the infamous Back 40 Smorgasbord buffet.
• Bummies Drive In is a classic Americana hot dog stand that’s not just fast food, it’s Good Food Fast! Bummies is still using the original rootbeer recipe and making it the same way the family did back in 1962. They only accept cash so be sure to have some on hand. Although they are closed from mid-October through mid-March, Bummies turns into a seasonal Christmas tree lot with pine trees and wreaths under the awnings.
• Nick’s Kitchen is regarded as the home of the original Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, an Indiana staple. Nick's Kitchen has been at 506 North Jefferson Street in Huntington since 1908 when Nick traded his hamburger push cart for a real restaurant. The tenderloins are made with the same recipe Nick himself used and there are no plans to change it. Pop in daily and enjoy this Hoosier classic with a hand-dipped milkshake and slice of homemade pie.

For the Weekend Enthusiast:

• Pine Lake Waterpark is located four miles west of Berne and has been in operation since 1922. It began as a quarry but was abandoned after it filled with water. Soon after, the lake opened for business which delighted the locals. Spend a day racing down slides, traversing rope bridges, swinging from zip lines, or jumping off the platforms. You can even take a paddle duck boat out on the water for a calm ride with great views.
• Escape the hustle & bustle of the city with a relaxing weekend at Roanoke, Indiana’s award-winning “farm to fork” destination, Joseph Decuis. Along with its premier fine-dining restaurant, Joseph Decuis offers a shopping Emporium and accommodations at either its downtown Inn or Farmstead Inn. Spend the day perusing Roanoke's Main Street boutiques and antique stores before enjoying a lovely meal and live music at the restaurant. Stop by the Emporium before heading home for fine wines, cheeses, Wagyu beef cuts, and a sandwich for the road. Keep an eye on their calendar for special events, including al fresco farm-to-fork dining experiences complete with farm tours, wine pairings, and a roaring fire. Roanoke and Joseph Decuis make for a great weekend escape!
• Swiss Days in Berne began as a downtown sidewalk sale about 50 years ago. Now, every July the Swiss Days celebration shares its Swiss heritage with over 100 food and craft vendors, races and competitions, Swiss-style music, games such as the Steintoss, and much more.

Kokomo, Marion, Wabash, Peru, Upland, Logansport

Roots run deep in this part of Indiana. Known for its industrial heritage and vibrant culture, this area of Northeast Indiana is full of historic landmarks, famous faces, museums, and festivals. From automotive ingenuities to art and culture contributions, Kokomo, Marion, Peru, and the surrounding towns have an undeniable innovative spirit. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find there is more than corn in Central Indiana!

For the Outdoor Explorer:

• Salamonie Lake is 2,665 acres originally constructed for flood control by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The surrounding 12,500+ land acres provide ponds, marshes, wetlands, and diverse wildlife, which is perfect for a camping weekend. Open year-round, you can enjoy endless foot, bike & horse trails, boating & swimming in the summer, and snowmobile trails, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing in the winter. The north end of the lake is home to several rare Indiana waterfalls, such as the Kokiwanee Falls, Kissing Falls, and Salamonie River Falls.
• Crown Haven Center in Russiaville, west of Kokomo, is North Central Indiana’s premier equestrian event complex, offering horse boarding, trail rides, lessons, clinics, pony parties, and more. Crown Haven even offers off-road military vehicle adventures, archery tag, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
• Seven Pillars Nature Preserve in Peru has beautiful, forested ravines, with 1.8 miles of hiking trails. The preserve is named after the 25-foot limestone pillars along the Mississinewa River and is sacred to the Miami Nation. The best way to see these cliffs is from the river by kayak or canoe. You may even spot a bald eagle fishing for its dinner!

For the Foodie:

• Ivanhoe’s Drive In in Upland is known for its expansive menu of 100 shakes and 100 sundaes! The family has owned and operated Ivanhoe's since 1965 and has no plans to stop serving their ice cream creations and comfort food anytime soon! Hands down, the best dessert is the oversized Strawberry Shortcake, which only comes around seasonally causing eager patrons to wait patiently in long lines. Everyone will tell you, it's worth the wait! You can even join the 100 Club by trying all 100 shake and sundae varieties.
• The Granary & Toll House of McClure’s Orchard and Winery are two of the oldest buildings in downtown Peru. The Granary is a renovated turn-of-the-century grain elevator that sells wine & hard cider, jams, baked goods, flowers, and non-edible goodies. The red-brick Toll House building is a boutique clothing shop full of apparel, accessories, and home goods. Enjoy your wine flight or cider pint on the patio along the Wabash River.
  • McClure’s Orchard in Mexico, north of Peru, is open September through October and has over 150 varieties of apples! During the season, you can find gifts, produce, ciders, wines, fresh pastries, and their famous apple dumplings. There's also a seasonal corn maze, food trailer, pumpkin patch, and small petting zoo.
• Bonus Pints is the "best all-ages arcade restaurant attached to a record store with a giant rotating craft beer selection" ever. The menu features delicious food made from locally sourced ingredients. Partake in trivia nights or enjoy live music throughout the weekend. Bonus Pints is located in a historic building from 1893 in the center of downtown Logansport with plenty of outdoor seating surrounded by custom murals.

For the Weekend Enthusiast:

• Bunker Hill Dragstrip is a 1/8-mile dragstrip built in 1956, and it’s the first of its kind in Indiana. If you’re a racing fan, be sure to catch a showdown between April and September as drivers compete for prize money. As Indiana's oldest and first dragstrip, the facility also offers a playground, covered pavilion, and concessions stand.
• The small town of Peru is home to two very unique festivals that we just had to include them both!
  • At the beginning of June, the Cole Porter Festival honors Peru native Cole Porter, the famous American composer and songwriter. At this festival, you’ll find lots of live music and see special connections between the man and his charming hometown. Enjoy themed parties with 20s-inspired cocktails, bus tours, special presentations, and singing contests. The festival coincides roughly with Cole Porter’s birthday.
  • Did you know Peru is the Circus Capital of the World? Between the 1880s and 1940s, Peru served as the winter quarters for many famous circuses and animals. Peru honors this unique history with the week-long Circus City Festival where you’ll see shows, a parade, and many highlights from circus performers. The festival runs annually during the third week in July.
• Follow the Garfield Trail in Grant County! Fairmount, Indiana is the hometown of Jim Davis, creator of Garfield. To honor both Jim & Garfield, you can visit fourteen statues across Grant County dedicated to America’s favorite lasagna-loving cat. Be sure to stop by the James Dean Museum (formerly The Fairmount Historical Museum) to see memorabilia, collectibles, awards, and history dedicated to Garfield, Jim Davis, and Fairmount-native James Dean.

Northeast Indiana is a treasure trove of some lesser-known but amazing secret places. The area blends rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. There is truly something for everyone.

Whether you love the great outdoors, food, or just a good festival, Northeast Indiana is a must-visit destination.