Visit Mellott Fountain Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the natural wonders of Mellott, Indiana: Hoosier National Forest! Experience hikes through jungle and rocky landscapes.
Honestly, if you're looking for “Mellott Sights”, you'll get a bit of history first: Mellott was born in 1870 when the railroad was finally cut through the flat Richland Township lined by corn fields and became a small point for farmers. The name comes from a railroad barrier guard who probably had more patience than an average commuter today. Richland Township itself is one of eleven townships in the rather inconspicuous Fountain County, which was named after politician James Fountain in 1826 – a place that has more field routes than Broadway, but that's what makes the charm.
I usually drive over State Road 234 because the country roads are not overrun by tourists; a short trip from Attica (approximately ten miles east) takes you to the heart of Mellott, where you can see the old post building that serves as a café today – no joke, that is actually my favorite place to watch people. When you arrive by train, you have to change to Crawfordsville because the small village has no more own station. And yes, the weather here can be hot in summer, but this is exactly what makes the fields so golden yellow shine.
I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but Mellott and his surroundings offer a rest that you rarely find in the crowded cities. And if you ask where you can turn off your bike: an old barn arrow next to the sidewalk is practically an unofficial bike stand – this is the real “Mellott Sights” experience you don’t find in guidebooks.
I have to admit that I always start the first stop in Mellott with a slightly spicy grin – the little town doesn't have the reputation of being a magnet for tourists. But there are some Mellott AttractionsI personally don't just endure, but have just celebrated, and I don't just want to tell you, but to give you a little feeling as if you were going to stroll through the dusty streets with me.
The first stop is, of course, the Mellott Bridge, a crunchy, rusty Parker-Truss that runs over the Wabash River. I don't quite understand the hype about old bridges – most people only see a piece of metal that leads over a river – but here the whole thing has something of a quiet monument that has survived the time. I stood there once at sunset, the water glittered, and the sound of the metal carriers was almost like an old song. Parking is usually easy, a small parking lot at the end of the County Road 300 is enough, only on Saturday night when the local anglers dock their boats, it becomes a real problem.
The Mellott United Methodist Church, a simple brick building from the 1900s, is a short walk away. I once visited a Sunday worship service there – no joke, that was the only time I was really “with the locals” in a small village. The interior is nothing you would find in a guide, but the acoustics is surprisingly good, and the community is warm enough that they even offered me a piece of apple cake because I have “tryed out”.
If you're looking for a place to raise your feet, look at the Mellott Community Park. It is not big, but it has a small playground, a picnic table and an old, slightly sloping basketball basket that is still used – this is the true sign that a place lives. I once organized an improvised grill festival with a few locals, and that was definitely the highlight of my stay, because I felt the real “Mellott-Feeling” there: loud, unforced and a bit dirty.
A little away from the hustle lies the Mellott Cemetery, a cemetery that seems to tell more stories than most museums. I discovered an old gravestone that dates back to 1883, asking me what people once built their lives here. The terrain is well maintained and parking is possible right next to the entrance – a short walk through the rows of tombstones is almost meditative if you allow the silence.
Another, almost overlooked jewel is the old Mellott Grain Elevator, a massive wood and steel complex that formerly formed the backbone of local agriculture. Today he is empty, but the structure is impressive, and I spent a few hours climbing up the cracking stairs to enjoy the view over the wide fields. It's a bit like an abandoned amusement park for adults – you feel a bit like an explorer who investigates a forgotten relic.
Finally, I must not forget the Mellott Schoolhouse, the old classroom from the 1920s, which now serves as a community center. I visited a local craft course where an elderly man from the area restored old furniture. The walls are still covered with faded panels, and the light falling through the high windows has something almost romantic. It is practical that the building is open during the day, and you can just spit in if you want to make a little history.
So, next time you think about whether you should make a detour to Mellott, remember: there are not the glittering attractions of big cities here, but for that there are some honest, slightly crunching, but unfamiliar places that remind you that travel sometimes simply means meeting a few honest people and shaking a bit of dust from the shoes.
The first stop I never miss is Prophetstown State Park, a piece of unspoiled prairie, which is only about 15 km south of Mellott, and thanks to its wide grassy plains perfectly suited for a spontaneous picnic – parking is almost always a Klacks there as long as you don't get out of the surrounding area with all the families on weekends. I remember the day when I turned the 5 km round around the lake with my old bike and suddenly was overtaken by an older couple with a picnic basket that looked like they stole the recipe for the perfect apple cake from a secret archive.
A short detour to the west leads directly to Shades State Park, where the trees are so dense that you almost feel like walking in a film by David Lynch. The way to the “Ridge Trail” is a bit like a labyrinth, but that’s exactly what I love in this place: no cell phone signal, only the rustling of the leaves and the occasional quaking of a toad, which apparently has the only audience that takes my singing inserts during the break. A little hint: The parking lot at the main entrance fills up quickly, so it's better to be there early, otherwise you have to take the long but scenic way over the County Road 23.
If you have enough of the dense forest, a jump to the south to the legendary Turkey Run State Park – yes, I know that sounds like a tourist cliché, but the canyons there are really a natural wonder that you can't just save with an Instagram filter. I once tried to run the famous “Sugar-Sand-Trail” there, just to see that my new hiking shoes did not survive the mud; the result was an improvised mud fun that made my friends laugh while I wondered why I didn't just take the broader paths. Practical: The main parking lot is located directly at the visitor center, and parking is free as long as you don't want to camp there all weekend.
A bit further east, almost in the heart of Fountain County, lies the charming city of Covington with its imposing County-Courthouse from 1852 – a building that has more stories to tell than so many bestsellers. I took part in a guided tour where the guide told more about the old court proceedings than about the architecture, and I had to admit that I was more interested in the rumors about a hidden treasure in the cellar. The small car park behind the town hall is almost always free, and a short walk leads to the Fountain County Historical Society Museum, which offers surprisingly well-sorted exhibitions about local agriculture and the old railway.
The Wabash-River-Heritage Trail is a must for anyone who prefers to let their soul grow on the water. The section, which passes almost 10 km south of Mellott, offers a well-developed foot and cycle path along the river, where in summer you often hear the quiet stroller of the boats and in autumn the colourful foliage that looks like a painting. I once discovered an old, rusted rowing boat that was apparently left behind by a fisherman, and made a short photo that now hangs in my living room – a real starter when visitors ask if I built the boat myself.
Another highlight that is often overlooked is the St. John-the-Baptist-Catholic Church in Mellott itself, a small building from the late 19th century. Century, with its simple brick façade and colourful glass windows, offers a quiet retreat. I took part in a Sunday fair, just to see that the municipality was more of curious tourists than locals – a good sign that even the smallest community has something to offer here. Parking right in front of the church is always free, and a short walk leads to a small cemetery where the oldest tombstones date back to the 1800s.
Whether you're looking for a remote forest path, a historical courthouse or a quiet river section – the surroundings of Mellott provide a colorful mix of nature, history and small surprises. My personal favorite places show that you do not always have to choose the famous tourist paths to experience something authentic. And that's exactly what makes Mellott Attractions to an unmistakable experience for anyone who is willing to wander a little off the mainstream.
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