Visit Wingate Montgomery Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the natural beauty of Wingate, Indiana! The small village offers a variety of excursions and activities. Visit the "Wingate-St.-Clair State Park" with its crystal clear lakes and hiking trails. Feel the kindness of the locals in the local bakery or the local cafe. Experience the annual event "Wingate Days" in summer!
Honestly, if you're looking for Wingate landmarks, you must first understand that this tiny village in the heart of Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, has more history than you would suspect at first sight. Founded mid-19th The town has hardly changed by a handful of peasants who chased the gold rush in the neighboring Coal Creek – and that is somehow its charm.
I usually drive over State Road 47, because the country roads are a bit too “rustic” for my car, and suddenly the old, crunchy wooden building of the former post, which today serves as a café, emerges in front of me. No joke, this is the perfect place to sneak a coffee while you imagine the first settlers sending their letters to their home.
A short detour to the south leads you to the old cemetery where the gravestones betray more about the local genealogy than any museum. I don't understand the hype about big cities, but here you feel the real Indiana – rough, honest and surprisingly friendly.
If you have a little time, take a look at the quiet fields around the village; this is the true “Wingate Sights” experience – nothing inflated, only pure, unsightly landscape that reminds you of why you have ever traveled.
I have to admit to you: the first thing I like about Wingate in the Coal Creek Township is the old Wingate United Methodist Church. The building stands where I carved my first chalk drawings to the windows as a child, and it still smells like old pine resin and the unmistakable scent of freshly baked bread, which is brought with the church members at the Sunday worship services. The stone shutters are not exactly Instagram value, but this makes the charm – this is not about glitter, but about honest history. If you're honest, you don't understand the hype about hip megachurches, but this little piece of Indiana is just fantastic.
A short walk further Wingate Cemeterya cemetery that has more stories to tell than some guides. I once discovered an old tombstone there, on which “John H. Miller – 1849‐1912” was standing, and wondered if he was perhaps the founder of the first mill in the village. The terrain is well maintained, parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood comes together to grill.
If you're looking for a place to free your feet from asphalt, look at the Coal Creek that sounds smoothly through the township. I spent a few hours with my fishing there in the summer – not a joke, the trouts are surprisingly active, and the water's plunder is the only sound you hear when you free yourself from the occasional tractor noise. Access is free, a small wooden ridge at the end of the County Road 500 N serves as an ideal starting point.
Another highlight I always mention is that Wingate Community Park. The park is small, but it has a playground, a picnic pavilion and a basketball field that was declared an unofficial tournament place by local teenagers. I once organized a spontaneous picnic with a few locals, and we exchanged on the best potato recipes – that was really great. The parking lot is directly behind the pavilion, so no long parking is required.
A bit off the center, but definitely a must for all who love the rural flair is the old Grain elevator at the intersection of County Road 500 N and 300 E. The massive wooden building is no longer in operation, but the structure is an impressive relic from the time when the corn fields here formed the backbone of the economy. I took a photo that is now hanging in my living room – that is the picture I show to everyone when I talk about “Wingate Sights”.
Last but not least, Wingate Volunteer Fire Department forget. The red brick building is not only a symbol of the community spirit, but also a place where I once had the opportunity to test a real fire extinguisher on an open day (no worry, that was just a demonstration device). The volunteers are always ready to give you a cup of coffee and explain why they do all this voluntarily – a real insight into the heart of the city.
I could go for hours now, but that's enough for the first impression. Next time you're in the area, let yourself be surprised by the simple beauty and don't forget to have a bit of time for the people who live here – this is finally the true highlight of Wingate.
The first place I have to mention is the legendary Turkey Run State Parkonly half an hour drive north of Wingate. I once tried to force the famous “Gorge Trail” there, and must admit that the bark between the rocks was almost as hard as my coffee consumption on Monday morning. Nevertheless, the view from the “Sugar Creek Overlook” is a real eye-catcher – the water slings through narrow rocks, and the trees look like they have a secret agreement with the sun to always stand in the perfect light. Parking is usually a Klack, except during the hot summer days when the families with picnic baskets occupy the whole field.
A short detour to the east leads you to Shades State Parka bit less overflowing, but with an atmosphere that almost seems mystical. I remember stumbled over the “Ridge Trail” there in the autumn and suddenly was surprised by a deer look – a short but intense moment that almost made me forget that I had actually been looking for a quiet walk. The small lake at the edge of the park is perfect for a spontaneous bath if you are looking for a cooling, and the garage is so small that you almost feel you are the only visitor.
Back to the city, but not in Wingate itself, this is General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Crawfordsville. The guy who wrote “Ben-Hur” has built a house here that looks more like a Victorian showcase than a normal residential building. I made a guided tour where the guide told more about Wallace’s preference for chess than about his literary achievements – a bit annoying, but my thing. The property is surrounded by a well maintained garden, and parking right in front of the house is practical as long as you are not there on weekends with a school class.
Another highlight is the Montgomery County Historical Society Museumhoused in an old courthouse. I discovered an old photo of me that I never did – apparently I was a “local hero” in the 1920s, at least according to the captions. The exhibition is small, but each exhibit has a story that you would hardly find in a guide. The museum is free, and parking is an old farm that offers enough space for a few cars as long as you do not come to the “Historical Day” event.
If you want to sniff a little culture, that's Crawfordsville Theater That's right. The old cinema from the 1920s still has the original curtains and a projector that cracks more than an old tractor. I once saw an indie movie that was so bad that I wondered if it was part of the show. Nevertheless, the popcorn is amazingly good, and parking is right in front of the entrance – a real bonus if you are looking for a long day outdoors for a cozy place.
For those who prefer to hit a ball, there is the Coal Creek Golf Course, a small but fine place that is lovingly called “the green retreat” by locals. I've made a few shots there that looked more like an attempt to shoot the ball in the next bush, but the smile of the placekeeper quickly calmed me down. The clubhouse café serves the best ice cream coffee in the area, and parking is practically right next to the first set – no stress, no crowd.
Whether you're looking for wild canyons, historical depth or a relaxed golf game, Wingate's surroundings offer more than enough fabric for a varied weekend. My personal favorite route leads from the steep paths of the Turkey Run to the quiet forests of Shades to the cultural treasures in Crawfordsville – all without the feeling that you are constantly landing in a tourist trap. Next time you roll out your card, remember that Wingate Attractions not only are names on a shield, but experiences that leave you with an eye-catcher and a wide grin.
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