Visit Wallace Fountain Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Wallace, Indiana - Little American Paradise! Stroll through the tree alleys and discover the old railway museum. Eat regional specialities such as the Wallace sausage and the famous Wallace apple pie. #USA #Indiana #Travel Tips
Honestly, if you think Indiana is just corn fields and endless highways, then you haven't seen Wallace yet – a tiny spot in the heart of Jackson Township, Fountain County, which has more history than you would suspect at first sight. Founded mid-19th Wallace grew thanks to a small mill and a post office, which today is only considered a rusty letterbox in the museum of memory. I don't quite understand the hype about the big cities, but here, between the old barns and the cracking wooden benches of the local church, you feel the real Indiana.
When you arrive by car, take the State Road 234 – it swells comfortably through the flat country, and you recognize Wallace almost immediately when the sign appears with the short name. A short trip from the Interstate 65 is worth it, because the ride through the rural panorama is almost as charming as the destination itself. And yes, the Wallace sights are not to be found in a shiny guidebook, but are hidden in the small details: the old water wheel at the Creek, which every time a bit crawls when the wind whips through the trees, and the café on the main street, which serves the best apple cake wide and wide – not a joke, this is almost a cult.
I could now endlessly swarm over the friendly faces of the locals who give you a nap while passing, but this can best be experienced by themselves. Pack your curiosity and let Wallace surprise you – this is my personal favorite place, and that also remains as, no matter how many guides stumble here.
I have to admit right at the beginning that what I am here as Top spot not exactly what travel guide books award in bold letters – the old Wallace Town Hall. The 1910 building is located in the heart of the town, a red brick house that has more stories to tell than some expensive villa in Indianapolis. I once visited a small class meeting of my cousin; the whole thing was a bit like a time travel flashback, just that the air conditioning from the 20. century not yet existed. Parking is usually a Klacks unless you arrive on Friday night after the weekly “Town Hall Karaoke” – then parking becomes a little adventure.
A short walk further Wallace Parkthat I personally call the “green heart” of the city. There is a baseball field that is lovingly called the Battle of Home-Run Hill by the locals, and a playground that has more rusty climbing stands than modern cities. I once watched my nephew try to climb the slide, as he turned almost the entire park area into a mud field – a real fun if you don't just wear a suit. Parking is a bit messy at the weekend, but a few free places are always found when you go down the street a bit further.
If you're looking for a place where you can feel like a real Indiana native, that's what you're looking for. Wallace Community Center That's right. The center is a pool for everything, from bingo ends to yoga classes, led by a pensioner who has more energy than a duracell nose. I once participated in a “Koch-und-Kunst-Workshop” where we tried to bake corn bread while we painted a watercolor from the Indianapolis skyline – the result was a rather inedible bread, but the mood was really great. The building has a small parking lot behind the main entrance, which is usually free as long as you are not there at the same time as the weekly senior group.
No visit to Wallace would be complete without a stop at Wallace Diner, the only place where you get a real, fat breakfast that doesn't come from a chain. The diner is a relic from the 50s, complete with neon signs and an operation that welcomes you with a “morrow, young man!” no matter how late you arrive. I once tried the “Wallace Special” there – a plate full of eggs, bacon, pancakes and a portion of homemade jam that was so sweet that I almost wanted to throw the glass back to the vaults because I felt almost like a sugar baker. There are seats inside and outside, and parking is right in front of the diner, where you usually find a few free places, unless you arrive on Saturday morning after the weekly “Pancake Rally”.
A little less touristic, but a real insider tip is the Wallace Library, a small branch of Hamilton County Public Library. Here there are not only books, but also a collection of old city newspapers that you can browse to see how people here knocked over the weather a hundred years ago. I found an old photo album there that documented the foundation of the Town Hall – a real treasure for historical lovers. Parking is a bit tricky because the library is located between two houses, but a short walk from the main road is completely enough.
If you really want to immerse yourself in the Wallace sights, then you can Old Wallace Schoolhouse do not miss. The building from the 1920s is still empty, but the city is planning to turn it into a museum. I spoke there with a local historian about the “Golden Years” of the school when the classes were still plucked in a single room and the textbook was the only window to the world. The school building has a small parking space behind the building, which is usually free as long as you are not there at the same time as the annual “Alumni-Picknick”.
Last but not least a short trip to Wallace Cemetery, a quiet place where you will find the graves of the founding families that have only created the city. I discovered an old tombstone there, where the man, who has planted the first corn field, was standing in a sweeping book “Here the man is resting” – a bit cheesy, but somehow suitable for a small town that lives so much from the farm. The cemetery is located on the edge of the place, and parking is practically right in front of the entrance where you can find some free places as long as you are not there on the day of the annual memorial.
The first place I have to mention is the Prophetstown State Park, which is only half an hour drive north of Wallace and feels like a green junction between history and nature. I once made a picnic there, while an older gentleman in the garage (yes, there is a small but working car park) whispered loudly about the “good old time” – a real earworm for anyone who is not just on 19-year old and crazy stories. The path along the Wabash River is surprisingly well developed, and the water almost glistens like the many visitors who come here to catch some fresh air. Easy parking there is at the main exit, but at the weekend it can be filled quickly, so better to come early.
A few miles further south-west lies Shades State Park, a place I like to sign as the “hidden jewel” of the region – if you do not take the word “hidden” too literally, because the signage here is quite clear. The canyons of sandstone, which wind through the dense foliage, reminded me of a Mini-Grand Canyon, only without the crowds. I remember how I almost stumbled over a crashed tree when walking over the “Ridge Trail” because I was too busy photographing the view. Parking are generous, and the visitor center has a few toilets that are surprisingly clean – a little comfort when you sweat in the forest after an hour.
If you’re ready to go a bit further, you’ll come to the famous Turkey Run State Park, which is about 30 miles south of Wallace and is almost a pilgrimage destination for Indiana hikers. I don't understand the hype around the “Sugar Creek Canyon” because I was almost braked there by a curious raccoon who apparently thought my backpack was a buffet. Nevertheless, the narrow canyons and the wooden bridges are really impressive, and parking is easy on the main parking lot as long as you don't arrive on Friday night when the families with their children get the last places.
A short detour to the Wabash River itself is always worth it, especially if you are lucky to find a piece of the river that is not yet enclosed by concrete. I once rented a small raft there (a bit shaky, but hey, this is the adventure) and I paddle down, while a fisherman on the shore chatted loudly about the “good old times” of fishing. Access to the river is free at several places, and parking is usually a klack – only on hot summer days it can become a bit fuller because the families here spread their picnic blankets.
For those who prefer to learn about local history, the Fountain County Historical Society Museum in Covington is a must. The museum is small, but the exhibitions about the early settlers, the railway and the Wabash‐Erie Canal era are surprisingly well curated. I once discovered an old map that reminded me that Wallace was once an important hub for trade – a detail that is otherwise easily overlooked. Parking is possible directly in front of the building, and the museum is barrier-free, which is a real plus point for older visitors.
Right next to the museum is the old courthouse of Covington, a building that has more stories to tell than most guides would ever mention. I have made a guided tour there with a local historian who, with dry humour, made the court proceedings from the 19th century. Century spoke – a real scratch, if you are not just a fan of dusty court records. Parking is possible on the small road behind it, but on court days it can become somewhat narrow because the lawyers put their cars there.
Whether you're looking for nature, history or just for a place where you can catch some fresh air, the surrounding of Wallace offers a colorful mix of experiences. The above goals show that there are more than just fields and land roads – and all this is just a cat jump from the Wallace Attractions removed.
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