Visit Heritage Lake Putnam Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the natural wonders of Heritage Lake in Indiana: camping and boating on the lake offers adventures for all ages. Near the town of LaPorte, the area also enjoys a family holiday with numerous activities such as fishing, sailing or water skiing.
Heritage Lake attractions are for me less a marketing-buzz than a personal treasure, and since the beginnings of the municipality in the late 1960s, when the area was still characterized by agricultural fields and a few brave pioneers who saw the water as a retreat for their families. Franklin Township, nestled in the heart of Johnson County, slowly developed from a pure residential community to a small but proud place that today has more to offer than one would expect from a “Lake community”.
Honestly, the arrival is a children's game: I take the I‐69 south, jump out at exit 215, then follow the County Road 200 to the narrow sign that marks the entrance to the lake – no wonder that I never stand in the dam when I want to come here. As soon as I get out of the car, the slightly salty aroma of the water that is permeated by the many Anglers and families who spend their weekends here immediately catches me.
I don't quite understand the hype about the many boat rentals, but the small local cafés on the shore are really great – here you get the best coffee you can find in a suburb, and that with a smile that radiates more authenticity than any tourist brochure. And while I'm sitting there, I'm watching the kids who plan in the shallow water, thinking that this is the true heart of Heritage Lake – a mix of calm idyll and light, slightly ironic charm that makes me come back every time.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Heritage Lake is not what the tourist brochures offer with bold letters, but the inconspicuous boat docks at the southern shore. Where the water is so clear that you almost think you could see your own feet, I tried to paddle a canoe for the first time – and the result was a spectacular waiter that brought the present to laugh while I found myself in the shallow water. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood pulls its boats out of the water and the few free places are quickly out of hand.
If you have enough for the water, look at the Heritage Lake Marina on. I don't quite understand the hype for luxury yachts, but here there is a small café that serves the best coffee far and wide – and this is a reason for me to look over more often than I want to admit. The marina can be reached virtually on foot from the lake, and the staff knows every angler by name, which makes the whole almost a small community.
A short walk (or a short sprint if you feel athletic) leads you to Heritage Lake Golf Course. The place is not exactly a PGA mega event, but the fairways are well maintained and the view of the lake is really great. I once hit a birdie there, just because I complained a bit too much about the weather before – that was my little triumph over the lousy Indiana wind. The clubhouse has a provisional restaurant that does not promise gourmet cuisine, but a cool beer after a long game is almost a ritual here.
A bit further, hidden between a few blocks, this is Heritage Lake Community Center. This is my personal retreat if I honestly need a little change from the water and golf. The swimming pool is not huge, but in the summer it is a real lucky handle because most locals leave their children in the water, while the adults meet at the barbecues. I once took part in a yoga course led by a retired teacher who knew more about the history of the lake than any guide.
For those who prefer walking, there is the Heritage Lake Trail. The path winds around the lake and offers enough variety to not get bored – a few small bridges, a few shady corners, and occasionally a sign that explains why the water is so clear here (Spoiler: because the city filters the water regularly). I once found an old dog there, who apparently spent his whole life on the shore, and we've traveled a few kilometers together before he finally led me to his favorite spot on the lake.
And yes, I must not forget: the Heritage Lake Park- Plant. This is what you could call “typical family park” with a playground, picnic tables and a small amphitheater where local bands occasionally occur in the summer. I did a picnic there with friends who almost looked into an improvised grill festival because someone dropped the grill tongs “forcibly” into the lake – a real showdown between fire and water that we all ended with a loud laugh.
If you now think that all this is too much to pack it in a short trip, then don't let it fool you – the Heritage Lake attractions let yourself be swung off on a long weekend, and the best thing is that you feel like being a real insider, because you not only flap off the usual photos, but the small, slightly overlooked corners that really make life here.
I must confess that I was never really a fan of exaggerated tourist-hypox campaigns – especially for the rural Indiana, where the word “adventure” is often just another word for “field path”. Nevertheless, the first walk on the shores of Heritage Lake has made me explore some of the really interesting corners in the area, and I feel like I have a little more to tell now than the usual “Look at the lake and then go home”.
A short trip after Turkey Run State Park was the first real highlight for me. The park is located about 30 km southwest and is famous for its steep canyons and the cartiful trees that look like from another time. I remember the moment when I went down the “Sugar Creek Gorge Trail” and suddenly the noise of the water was so loud that I almost thought the water would whisper my secret. Parking is usually easy as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with the whole family – then the Feldparkplatz-Chaos becomes almost an attraction.
A few kilometers further north lies Shades State Park, a place I always call the “hidden jewel” because it is not as crowded as Turkey Run. The trails here lead through dense forests that create an almost mystical light in autumn – no joke, that is really a picture you don't forget. I once made a picnic that was almost completely sabotaged by a group of ducks; that was annoying, but at the same time a perfect example of how undisturbed life is still here.
If you drive to the east a bit further, you'll hit Montezuma State Park. The lake is smaller than Heritage Lake, but the water is crystal clear and fishing is a real pastime for the locals. I caught a few trouts there on a sunny Saturday afternoon – not because I am a fishing professional, but because I just wanted to enjoy the tranquility while the other visitors turned their barbecue sausages loudly. The car park is a bit narrow, so better be there early, otherwise you have to walk a bit.
A short trip to the city of Greencastle, about 20 km east, brings you to DePauw University. The venerable university not only has pretty brick buildings, but also a small art garden I accidentally discovered when I was looking for a café. There was a sculpture of recycled metal that reminded me of local craftsmanship – a bit of irony that a high-tech campus houses such rustic art.
For history lovers, Putnam County Historical Museum in Greencastle a must, although it is not just a huge museum. The exhibition about the early settlers and the railways that once drove through the valley has fascinated me because I found an old diary that was handwritten by a farmer from the 1880s. This was a real Aha-moment that showed me how much the region is marked by its past. The museum is located directly on the main road, so parking is practically always a Klacks.
A little further south, almost on the border to Vermillion County, this is Wabash River Heritage Trail. The trail follows the river course and offers numerous parking spaces for cyclists and hikers. I once watched a sunset there while a few anglers on the shore threw their linen – that was a picture I don't forget so fast. The trail is well signposted, but in some places you have to avoid on field routes, so a bit of caution when cycling.
Another highlight that I cannot overlook is the Rockford Covered Bridge, a historical work that leads over the Little Raccoon Creek. The bridge is not only a photo motif, but also a piece of engineering from the 19th century. Century. I once made a spontaneous photoshoot with my friend, because we thought the picture would later bring us some fame in the social media – the result was rather a fun selfie with a cow in the background, but that's the real adventure, right?
All in all, the surroundings of Heritage Lake offer a surprisingly diverse range of experiences, from wild canyons to historic bridges to charming small towns. So the next time you think about whether a detour into the rural corner of Indiana has anything to offer, you should Heritage Lake attractions are definitely more than a lake and a parking lot.
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