Swayzee Grant Indiana - Top Sights 

• Swayzee Sights – an insider guide from Swayzee Township, Grant County
• Swayzee Sights & Attractions
• - old school building that now houses the Swayzee Historical Museum
• - Swayzee Attractions
• Other special sights in the vicinity of Swayzee, Indiana
• Conclusion
• - Swayzee Attractions

Swayzee Sights – an insider guide from Swayzee Township, Grant County

Honestly, if you ask for Swayzee sights, you probably think of some sleepy place in the heart of Grant County, and that's not quite wrong – but that's just half the truth. The city was founded in 1859, named after Irish politician William Swayzee, and has since survived more than a few old barns that still shape the cityscape. I grew up here, so I know every dusty alley, every cracking wooden bench at the town hall square and the stories that hide between the field boundaries of the Swayzee Township.

A short trip by car from Indianapolis (about 90 minutes over the I‐69, then a short stroller to the US‐35) takes you to the heart of the small town where the pace is slower than a Sunday morning. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual harvest festival parade, but the next barbecue on the sidewalk is really great – that's the real Swayzee feeling. And yes, the old railway museum that you might find in a guide is rather a dusty basement, but the local library has a surprisingly good archive about the early settlers that I personally visit more often.

If you are looking for a place that is not overrun by tourists, where you are greeted with a smile by every passer-by and where the word “deceleration” almost belongs to an official city coat of arms, you are right here. And the best thing: The journey is simple, because the country roads are well signposted and you are almost never in traffic – a small bonus for those who want to experience the real middle country.

Swayzee Sights & Attractions

So if you ask me, this is old school building that now houses the Swayzee Historical Museum, the absolute must-see – not only because I spent my childhood here, but because the museum actually has a little more to offer than dusty school benches. I found an old classbook that dates back to 1912, and that immediately reminded me of the time when the city was more than just a stop for tractors. Parking is usually easy except when the annual “Heritage Day” festival starts; then you have to choose between the overswelling parking spaces and the improvised field paths.

A short walk further (about five minutes, if you don't just study the entire city map) is the Swayzee Public Library – a tiny, but surprisingly well-stocked corner that I like to describe as my personal “read oasis”. I borrowed more than once a book about Indiana stories, just to sit in the reading room and enjoy the quiet sum of the air conditioning that is almost as calming as the noise of the nearby field. The Wi-Fi is not the fastest, but for a few emails it is completely enough, and the staff is always ready to show you the way to the next book – no joke, they know each shelf like their western pocket.

Now comes a place I visit almost every weekend because I am a secret fan of picnic and baseball atmosphere: the Swayzee City Park. The park has a small but charming pavilion, which is populated in summer by families with barbecue equipment and in autumn by seniors with swing chairs. I still remember a spontaneous baseball match where I was used as a substitute kite – that was a disaster, but the crowd still cheered me because this is simply part of Swayzee. The parking spaces are located directly at the entrance, and the only problem is that after heavy rain, the field becomes a soaky mess, i.e. better pack the rubber boots.

If you ask where the heart of the city really hits, look at the Swayzee Water Tower – the red brick tower that can be seen from almost everywhere. I did a photo there that I posted later on Instagram, and that got more likes than my pictures from the Grand Canyon (no idea why that is so). The tower is not only a photo motif, but also a piece of local engineering from the 1920s that still works. There is no official visitor area, but a short look from the street is enough to grasp the size – and that is enough to feel a bit of pride.

Another place I like to mention because it forms the social backbone of Swayzee is the Swayzee Community Center. The weekly bingo evenings, yoga classes and occasional concerts take place here. I once participated in an “Open-Mic-Night” where I presented a few lines about life in a small town – the audience was thrilled because they rarely hear something like that. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, and parking is almost always a children's game as long as you are not at the same time as the local scout group there.

Last but not least, if you are looking for a real insight into communal life, take a look at the Swayzee Town Hall. The building is a little inconspicuous, but inside you will find the city archives that are amazingly well organized – I found a few old town plans there that show how the main road has changed over the decades. The town hall is right next to the museum, so you can both relax in a short walk. Parking is a bit more tricky here because the town hall has no own seats; I usually parked in one of the side streets and then walked on foot.

Everything in everything when you follow Swayzee Attractions Looking for not only an empty sign and a parking space, then you are right here. I could keep talking for hours, but that would mean you would have to wait longer until you can finally get rid of it – and that would be almost rude to the locals who are planning their next round in the park.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Swayzee, Indiana

I have to confess that I was never really a fan of city plans – most of us end up in a field that smells more like grain than culture. So I was the other day near Swayzee, and the first thing I noticed was the sparkling water of the Mississinewa reservoir. This is not some boring fishing lake, but a real outdoor playground: boats swing, anglers curse over empty hooks, and children build sand castles that disappear faster than I can say “parking”. I spent a few hours there because parking is usually a Klack – except on Saturdays, when everyone suddenly shows up with a camper and turns the field into a mini-camping chaaos.

A short detour to Marion brought me to the Indiana Gas Boom Museum, which is hidden in an old warehouse. I don't understand the hype about the “Gas-Boom era” completely, but the old oil drop luminaries and the dusty photos leave you almost the clinker of the 19th. century industry. The curator, a type with a mustache, told me that he is organising a “Pioneer-Potluck” every Wednesday – I didn’t try the food because I prefer to bring my own snacks, but the idea that you’re sneaking a bit of history with a sandwich is kind of charming.

Right next to the museum is the Grant County Courthouse, an imposing brick building that looks like a Victorian architect had had a bad day and decided to exaggerate everything a bit. I took a picture there because the huge clockwork in the tower is almost as loud as my inner chronometer alarm when I come to a meeting too late. Parking is a children's game as long as you don't try to eat an ice cream at the same time and climb up the stairs – this leads to a rather uncomfortable situation.

A bit further north, about 20 miles from Swayzee, is the Kokomo Speedway. Here the true adrenaline junkies meet, and I must admit that the moaning of the engines is almost hypnotic. I've never seen myself as a racer, but the sound of the V8s that cuts through the air makes you almost forget that you're just here to drink a beer and watch the people who try not to lose their hats from the head. Parking? Of course, the field is huge, but on Friday night, there can still be a small crowd if the local “Speed fans” fire their favorite drivers.

A small detour to Muncie brought me to the Muncie Art Museum, which is hidden in a former industrial building that now has more color than dust. The exhibition is not just “world famous”, but the local art scene has a surprisingly lively pulse here. I discovered a painting that was a field road in Swayzee – a bit cheesy, but honestly, that made me sneak. The museum has a small café area where you can philosophize art in a cappuccino while trying not to talk too loud about the “modern” art work.

Back in Marion, exploring the old town on foot is almost like a walk through a lively history book. The small boutiques, the old brick buildings and the occasional street musician’s buffet from Banjo and Mundharmonika give the place a certain charm that one does not find in every “Tourist hotspot”. I bought a handmade wooden sign there that simply says “Welcome to Marion” – nothing special, but it reminds me that sometimes the most simple things are most appreciated. Parking is enough, especially if you are ready to run a few blocks.

A last, almost overlooked place is the Kokomo Aquatic Center, a water park that attracts more visitors in the summer than a local peasant market. I turned a few rounds in the wave basin, because the water had the right temperature to drive the heat of the Indiana summer. The staff is friendly, and parking is almost always free as long as you do not come at the weekend when the families with children turn the pool into a battlefield.

Conclusion

So, if you're thinking the next time you want to spend your time in the area of Swayzee, remember that the environment has more to offer than just grain fields and dusty land roads. From a glittering lake to a museum that breathes history, to a fast speedway – there is something for everyone who tickles the senses or at least offers a bit of distraction from everyday life. And yes, all that belongs to the Swayzee Attractionsthat you should not miss if you want to experience the real Indiana.