Visit Gas City Grant Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Experience the racing marathon in Gas City, Indiana! Natural environment and tension around each curve. Eat the traditional specialities of the city. Plan your visit in July for the race. #GasCityRacewayPark
Honestly, if you're looking for Gas City attractions, you should first know that this small town in the heart of Washington Township, Grant County, was once a boom location thanks to a huge natural gas reserve – that's why the name is also the same. In 1887 the gas came to the surface, the city grew rapidly, and until the early 20th. The century was a real industrial jewel before the gas slowly vanished and the city turned into a quieter but not boring town. I don't understand the hype about the old oil production, but the flair of the old factory buildings, which today serve as cafés and workshops, is really great.
When you arrive by car, take the US‐35 – it takes you directly to the centre where you immediately feel that everyone is a bit proud of his story. The small railway station I look over again and again because it looks so inconspicuous is a perfect spot for a quick photo before you crash into the main road. And yes, I've tried the local diners countless times – the food isn't Michelin level, but the portions are honest, and the service knows you when you look past more often.
A short detour to the nearby Grant County Courthouse is worth it because the building is not only architecturally interesting, but also a good example of how the city respects its past without choking into nostalgia. And while you're there, take a look at the small shops that lure with handmade souvenirs – that is, in my opinion, the true heart of Gas City attractions that you don't find in guidebooks, but only when you take a little time to stroll along the street.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my heart beats for the old, crunching wooden building on Main Street – the former Gas Station Servant, which today serves as Café “The Pump”. If you believe me, this is the perfect place to fill the tank after a long trip – not with petrol, but with a double espresso and a piece of apple cake that looks almost too good to eat it. Here you can feel the charm of the 1900s, and the staff knows every regular guest by the name, which I find somehow refreshingly authentic, while the tourists around the corner only shoot photos and ask if this is the “original”.
A short walk down the road leads you to Gas City Public Library, a modern building that somehow fits into the old city as if it were carved from the same wood. I once borrowed a book about local folklore, just to find out that the librarians knew more about the history of local coal mining than I knew about my own family history. Parking is usually a Klack, except when the weekly book club meeting takes place on Friday night – then you have to decide between a parking lot and a parking lot for the senior home.
If you have enough of dusty shelves, look at the City Park on. The lake there is not exactly a crystal clear alpine lake, but it offers enough space for ducks who look braver than most visitors. I remember holding a little picnic with my friend in the summer of 2022, while a swarm geese almost stole the sandwich. The way around the lake is well maintained, and parking at the main entrance is almost always free – except for Sundays when the local group turns the field into an obstacle race.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Gas City Historical Museum, which is housed in a converted old train depot. The exhibition about the Gas-Boom era is not exactly spectacular, but the tour of the former railway station where the curator tells you stories of “lost” oil fields is a real treat for historical lovers. I once discovered an old photo of me as a child that was in a showcase – a coincidence that reminded me that this city has more to offer than you suspect at first sight.
For those who prefer to find something active, this is Gas City Community the point of contact. There is a basketball field that is full almost every Saturday night, and a small café that serves more coffee than one would expect in a city of this size. I once visited a local karaoke event; the singers were so enthusiastic that I almost forgot that I had actually only come because of the free snacks. Parking is right next to the center, but be warned: if a tournament takes place, you may have to park one meter further along the road and take a short walk.
And yes, if you ask yourself what else you can see in Gas City, just look at the Gas City attractions an – this is almost the keyword that leads you to all the small but fine corners I mentioned here. I feel that everyone who comes here has the need to return at some point, just to discover the next “hidden jewel” that I may not have mentioned the next time.
The first stop I'm putting to every visitor is the sparkling Mississinewa Sea Ufer, where the water is so clear that you can almost recognize your own mirror image – and that, although I never was a model. Here you can rent a kayak (the kiosks open only at noon, so better get early) and slide over the gentle waves while the sun sinks over the gentle hills of Grant County. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole city unpacks its barbecue parties at the lake.
A short detour to Marion leads directly to the imposing Grant County Courthouse, a real example of Italian-Roman architecture, which I admire over and over again, because it looks so majestic that you almost forget that there is a court proceedings about the last piece of cake in the local bakery shop. I once observed a legal dispute over a runaway chicken – a spectacle that made me laugh more than any comedy show. The place in front of the court building is a popular meeting place for locals who play chess there; a short look is enough to see that most of the trains look more strategically like a chess spectacle game.
Only a few blocks away is the Grant County Historical Museum, a place I love because it presents the history of the region with a mix of dusty artefacts and surprisingly modern interactive displays. I remember driving through the exhibition as a child in an old tractor – that was a real highlight moment, because the museum actually had the old vehicle ready to go. Today there is still the same old tractor control panel that can only be operated with one finger, and this is a perfect photo motif for Instagram if you want to capture the Retro vibe.
A little further south, almost on the edge of the city, is the Kokomo Opal Museum – yes, this is really a museum that only exhibits opals from Indiana. I don't quite understand the hype about gems, but the dazzling colors that dance in the light are really fascinating. The staff there is so excited that they almost give you the feeling that you landed in a crystal cave from a fantasy film. Practical: The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, and this is usually free as long as you don't get to school when the class trips flow in.
For those who prefer to feel speed, the Kokomo Speedway is a must – half a day full of adrenaline when the local racers let their motors go. I was there once, when a local driver performed a spectacular overtaking maneuver, which was almost as dramatic as a Hollywood stunt, only that the audience consisted of farmers and pensioners who loudly fired their favorite drivers. The approach is straightforward, and parking is free at the edge of the grounds as long as you get early enough because the places are otherwise quickly occupied.
A short descent to Sweetser leads to Old Mill Park, a small but charming place where a restored millstone still turns the water of the nearby brook. I once made a picnic with friends, while an elderly man from the neighborhood told us stories about the old mill – he claimed that the mill once supplied the whole village with flour before the internet was invented. The park is ideal for a quiet lunch, and parking is free at the entrance, which rarely occurs in this area.
If you are looking for authentic experiences that lie away from the usual tourist paths, the places around Gas City offer a colourful mix of nature, history and local culture. Whether you prefer the tranquility at the lake, the architectural flair of the court building, the glistening opals, the drones of the Speedway or the gentle plunders of the old mill – here everyone finds something that enthuses him. And that's exactly what makes Gas City attractions an incomparable experience for those who want to discover the real Indiana.
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