Last month, we took a list at some fascinating, unique
locations in Indiana that you may not have known existed. Here’s the link to
that if you’re curious: https://tylerbwhite.blogspot.com/2019/04/10-oddfascinating-locations-in-indiana.html
. This month we continue with part 2!
1. Hall of Heroes (Elkhart)
Advertised as the only superhero and comic museum in the
world, the Hall of Heroes offers something truly special for visitors. After
paying the $6 admission ($4 for 9 and under), you get an opportunity to check out
thousands of superhero items and memorabilia. Whether you like Marvel or DC,
this place showcases comics, toys, replicas, props, and other rare finds. To
add icing on the cake, the building that houses the museum is a two-story
replica of the Hall of Justice from the comic “Super Friends”.
2. Wolf Creek (Brookville)
Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue gives people a chance to
interact with three different packs of wolves. You will get to go into the
enclosures and actually be able to go up to and pet the wolves. It costs $50 to be able to interact with the
wolves, but if you’d rather just observe from afar, there is an observation
deck that is free to go up on and take pictures. There are all kinds of rules
that need to be followed in order to go in (don’t wear red, have sunglasses on,
specific dress code, etc), so be aware and read up if this is something you’re
interested in doing. They’re open on weekends from 10-2/4 (2 if it’s over 85 and
humid).
3. Fair Oaks Farm (Fair Oaks)
4. Wilstem Ranch (Paoli)
This ranch sits on over 1000 acres and has all sort of fun
activities to do! The first major activity would be the animal encounters, and I’m
not talking about sheep and cows. Your options include: elephants (which you
can bathe as well), giraffes, grizzly bears, kangaroos, lemurs, and parakeets.
Apart from the animals, Wilstem also offers ATV tours, zipline tours, and horseback
riding. You are also invited to stay at one of their eleven accommodations,
which include cabins, carriage houses, and a lodge. All of these different
activities have a specific cost, so check their website if you’re curious about
specific activities.
5. Pogue’s Run (Indianapolis)
If you boil it down to the simple facts, Pogue’s Run is a
stream that runs near downtown Indy. However, this stream is almost all
underground in the downtown area because of how the city grew outward from the
middle of downtown. It has a very interesting history, which can be read about
here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/you-can-follow-a-hidden-stream-beneath-indianapolisif-you-know-where-to-look
. Nowadays, people like the idea of starting at the point where the Run goes
underground and following it for two and a half miles until it comes out from
under the concrete. Numerous graffiti artists have picked Pogue’s Run as a
place to display their artwork, though the artwork doesn’t go too far beyond
the entrances/exits. People like to bring bikes and ride the length of the tunnel
too, but anyone venture here needs to beware of large rats and bugs, not to
mention an unpleasant odor. Despite those drawbacks, the Run has show up in two
books, the most recent of them being John Green’s “Turtles All the Way Down”.
6. Marengo Cave (Marengo)
This destination is likely the most well known on the list,
but Indiana doesn’t have many large caves, so it is worthy of note. There are
two different tours offered: Crystal Palace, which is 40 minutes, and Dripstone
Trail, which is 60 minutes. Going on both tours is recommended not only because
they offer different things to see, but because you get a much better deal
compared to just seeing one. The combo package to see both is $28, while seeing
only one tour would cost either $18 or $21. The tours are not meant to be strenuous
and are very well lit. Marengo Cave is open daily from 9-5, and the temperature
of the cave is 52 degrees year-round.
7. Wildlife in Need (Charlestown)
Wildlife in Need is the most controversial place on this
list. It’s a place that houses exotic animals, and they give the public the opportunity
to interact with these animals one-on-one. Currently, people can pay $25 to go
into a room with a group and learn about the animals as they walk through the
room freely. You are allowed to touch the animals, but you can’t pick them up or
hold them down. Recent reviews discuss that sloths, otters, lemurs, primates,
and foxes have been part of this experience. The controversy comes from how
they used to have this experience with baby tigers, and they had a run-in with
PETA. Due to that issue, they are no longer allowed to do the “hands-on”
experience with the tigers, though they do still have them available for
viewing onsite. I will say from experience that the baby tiger experience was
fun and engaging, and I don’t feel like the animals were mishandled, but I also
don’t know all the rules and regulations about exotic animal care.
8. World’s Largest Ball of Paint (Alexandria)
In 1977, Mike Carmichael’s son coated a baseball in blue
paint. It gave him the idea to create the world’s largest ball of paint, and so
he set about getting all of the materials together. Nowadays, the ball is hung from
a giant hook and weighs over 2.5 tons. It has over 25,000 coats of paint on it
and is over 14 feet in circumference. Visitors can add to that number for free,
but you have to call and let them know you’re coming first.
9. Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (Bloomington)
You may not think of Indiana as a place to have many Buddhist
temples, but it has been here for over 40 years! This center is not just
catered towards those who practice Buddhism, though. They give tours, host yoga
and meditation classes, and have overnight accommodations in 3 yurts on the
premises. These yurts are modern and are placed in a scenic forested area on
the property, so a lot of people come here just to stay overnight.
10. Mid-America Windmill Museum (Kendallville)
Indiana may play host to quite a few wind turbines, but those
don’t compare to the history of the windmills collected at this museum. The
museum has over 50 windmills in its collection and prides itself on existing to
educate people on the history of wind power and making people aware of how
windmills have progresses through the years. For $5, you can peruse the
exhibits, photos, interactive displays, and get a guided tour.
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