Visit Jalapa Grant Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Jalapa, Indiana: Discover the natural paradises of the Hoosier National Forest! Camp and hike in the Green River Forest or visit the Falls of the Ohio State Park.
Honestly, when I hear the word “Jalapa Sights”, I immediately think of the inconspicuous but unique story of this little spot in the heart of Pleasant Township, Grant County. Founded in 1850 by a few brave pioneers who probably thought a bit of land and a bit of hope would suffice – and yes, that was it, at least for a few generations. I usually drive over State Road 13, because the highway here is rather a myth, and that gives me enough time to think about the old barns that still shape the landscape.
I don't understand the hype around the big cities, but here, between corn fields and the occasional tractor, you find a piece of real Indiana. The old cemetery on the outskirts of the township is a silent witness for me – no crowds of tourists, only the rustling of the leaves and the occasional “hey, that was once my grandpa”. And if you happen to get a local peasant market, you will experience the true heart of Jalapa: people who are proud of their vegetables and still talk a little bit about the city as if they were a secret tip.
A short detour to Marion, the county capital, is practical because there are the only major shops – but this is not what I appreciate about Jalapa. This is about the slow life you only feel when you ride the road and humming the radio quietly in the background. And yes, if you googlest according to “Jalapa Sights”, you will find that the real highlight is simply being itself – not a joke, that is my opinion.
I have to confess to you: what I love most about Jalapa is the old Jalapa School- Building in the middle of the village like a lost time traveler. I wrote my first class work there – and that was 1978, so long before I even knew the word “Internet”. Today the brick house serves as a community center, and this is also good because there are almost always a few chairs that still carry the smell of chalk and dust. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you do not show up there on Saturday night after the weekly Bingo – then the field before the entrance suddenly becomes the battlefield for cars that push each other around the last free space.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Jalapa Methodist Church. I don't quite understand the hype about churches in small towns, but here the simple white nave has something calming that almost lets you forget that you are in the middle of Indiana. Once on a Sunday morning I got a spontaneous Gospel sample training there – no joke, the community welcomed me with a smile and a piece of apple cake before I jumped back into my car and asked me why I didn't come here more often.
Only a few blocks further Jalapa Cemeterya quiet place that tells more stories than any museum. The tombstones are mainly made of local sandstone, and I found an old veterans there, whose inscription says that “it is still fighting in the field.” I've been laying down, letting the sun shine on my face and thinking about how fast the time passes, while a tractor in the distance bursts loudly over the field.
If you are looking for the rural panorama, you can Jalapa Grain Elevator do not miss. This massive wooden and steel coloss projects over the fields like a guard from another era. I took a photo that now hangs in my living room – not because it is especially artistic, but because it is the only picture that still remains of my first job as a harvester. Parking is a bit tricky here because the terrain around the elevator is dominated by trucks, but a short sideway is usually sufficient to bypass the whole.
A little away from the hustle and bustle Jalapa Community Park, a small, inconspicuous green strip with a swing and a picnic table that has more rust than color. I played with my nephew Frisbee there a couple of times in the summer, and every time a wind blow brought the old metal bank to crawl, I thought: “Here you could almost organize a festival.” And indeed there is the annual Jalapa Fall Festival, which does not have the size of Indianapolis, but shows a real piece of heart blood of the villagers – carrot cake, homemade jam and a race with tractors that produces more laughs than competition.
Another slightly overlooked jewel is the old Jalapa General Store, which today serves as a feed business. The wooden shop door still snores when you open it, and the shield over the door is a little blown, but that only makes the charm. I remember buying a glass of lemonade there as a child, containing more sugar than water – a real energy boost for the following adventures in the field.
Last but not least, Jalapa Volunteer Fire Department Hall Forget that is not only a place where the firefighters store their red equipment, but also an unofficial meeting place for those looking for a long working day a cool beer and a little small talk. Parking is almost always free here because the building is surrounded by a wide, unconsolidated entrance, and I have heard more stories about lost cows and lost tractors there than I would have ever thought possible.
So, next time you're going over Indiana's country roads and ask yourself what you could see in Jalapa, remember: Jalapa Attractions are not the glittering attractions of a metropolis, but the small, slightly sloping corners that make the village what it is – a place where every stone, door and every tractor has a history that only waits to be discovered by you.
Mississinewa Lake is just a short drive away from Jalapa and is what you can call in the popular mouth “the place where you smell the water before you see it at all” – a bit cheesy, but honest, the water is crystal clear and fishing here is almost a ritual. I once tried to overwhelm a pike, and after half an hour of patient waiting, a 30 kg bark pulled me out of the underwood – a real adrenalinkick, considering that I am hardly more than a hobby angler. Parking is usually easy, except on hot summer days when the whole shore is overrun by families with picnic blankets.
Just a few kilometers further, the Mississinewa Reservoir State Park, a true paradise for hikers who do not want to go the way of mainstream. The trails are well marked, but the signs could be a bit more friendly – a sign that says, “Here the path ends, continues only for brave ones,” would be something. I tried the short roundabout around the lake, and while I was plucking over the moss-covered stones, I heard the quiet stroller of the water, which was almost as calming as the sum of a defective air conditioning in the summer. For campers there are pitches that are booked quickly in summer, so better arrive early.
A short trip to Marion leads to the Grant County Historical Museum, which offers more than just dusty exhibits – here the history of Grant County is almost alive. The exhibition about the Gasboom era is particularly fascinating because it shows how a small place suddenly became the magnet for oil and gas companies. I remember being in an old photo of 1880 and wondering if people had the same “I-bin-her-and-I-mag‐es-not-gance-understand” feeling that I feel today when looking at modern art. The entrance is free, and parking is right in front of the building, but it can be a little crowded on the weekend, because the school classes here lay their excursions.
The Marion National Cemetery, a quiet place that gives you the feeling that history not only lives in museums but also in the quiet rows of gravestones. I took a walk there to win a little distance from the city's hustle and bustle, and was surprised how well-maintained the terrain is – the lawns are mowed so accurately that you almost feel like a golf course is running here. Visitors can enter the area at any time, and parking is free at the main entrance, as long as you don't try to build a picnic – that would definitely be wrong here.
The Grant County Courthouse, an impressive brick building from the late 19. Century, stands in the heart of Marion and is a prime example of architecture found in many small American cities. I took the lead through the courthouse because I thought it was a bit boring – and was instructed to a better one when I saw the original wood paneling and the artistic stucco work. The building is freely accessible, and parking is possible at the public car park behind the town hall, but there are only a few places, so better to arrive early when you want to visit the interior.
A bit further north, in Kokomo, is the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Factory, which is perhaps the most unusual destination in the area. Here, glass is melted by hand and processed into artistic pieces that are later processed in lamps, vases and even in jewellery. I took part in a tour and even allowed to shape a small piece of glass myself – the result looked like a failed attempt to break a rainbow, but it was a great experience. The factory has a small visitor parking space, which is usually free as long as you don't get to lunchtime when the school classes flow here for their excursions.
For those who like a little speed, the Kokomo Speedway is a must. The round course is not exactly a Formula‐1 track, but the local race scene ensures a decent adrenaline. I was there on a Friday night when a local driver set up a new record – the audience cheered, and I had to admit that the moaning of the engines was almost as satisfying as the crunch of a freshly baked pizza. Parking is possible at the edge of the terrain, but on racing evenings the field fills up quickly, so better arrive a few minutes earlier to get a good place.
Whether you are looking for a quiet lake for fishing, a historical museum for a short cultural push, a quiet cemetery for a moment of contemplation or for a little more speed – the surroundings of Jalapa offer a surprisingly diverse range of experiences. And next time you plan your route, remember that the Jalapa Attractions not only to be found in the city itself, but to hide in the neighbouring communities and natural landscapes, which are only waiting to be discovered.
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