Visit Economy Wayne Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Travel to Economy, Indiana: Experience Nature and History! Discover Take the Wabash River, drive along a canoe or rowing boat and enjoy the peace. Visit the Old Economy Village to explore the history of German immigrants.
Honestly, if you're looking for Economy attractions, you have to understand that this tiny little town in the heart of Perry Township, Wayne County, Indiana, has more history than you would suspect at first sight. Founded in 1850 as a small hub for the railway, the village has hardly changed since then – and that is somehow its charm. I usually drive by car over State Road 1, because the bus connections here are rather a myth, but this gives you the freedom to stroll between the old barns and the quiet field roads without constantly asking for the next stop.
The first settlers came here because the land was fertile and the prices for property were practically a joke. Today you can still feel this in the well-preserved half-timbered houses that look like forgotten witnesses of an era that you only know from history books. I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but that's exactly what makes economy a place where you can feel the real Indiana – without the constant crowd.
A short detour to the nearby Wayne County Courthouse is almost obligatory because the building is not only an architectural jewel, but also a good example of how the local self-confidence was carved in stone. And yes, this is one of the few points where I really take “Economy Sights” seriously – because they are not only touristic, but deeply personal.
I have to admit that my favorite place in economy is not some hip-café, but that Economy Community Center – an old school gym, which now serves as a venue for everything possible, from bingo ends to rock cover bands trying to save the 80s hits. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, it becomes a real problem because then the whole neighborhood unpacks its “Karaoke Night”. I once experienced a poetry slam where a pensioner spoke about his tax return – no joke, that was almost art.
Right next to the center Economy Town Hall, a brick building from the early 1900s, which still beats the heart of the municipality. I don't quite understand the hype about modern glass facades, but here the old building has something calming, almost as if it were whispering to you: “Here we are still discussing whether the new street lighting project is really necessary.” If you're lucky, you'll get one of the monthly public meetings where the city planners show more PowerPoint slides than a stock exchange broker.
A short walk leads you to St. John Lutheran Church, a Gothic gem that has been providing the church with choir samples and Christmas cribs since 1905. I was there at a church service where the pastor recited a poem about corn fields – that was so cheesy that I almost wanted to applaud, just not to confuse the whole community.
If you're looking for something green, that's it. Economy Park That's right. The playground is not exactly a Michelin star restaurant, but the swing is stable enough to carry you until the next summer. I made a picnic with my neighbor there in the summer, claiming that he could make the best pancakes in the city – I never asked him again because I have only eaten frozen potatoes ever since.
A little off but definitely a must for those who are looking for the real Indiana feeling, this is Economy Historical Society Museum. The museum is housed in the old school building, which was formerly the primary school, and shows artefacts ranging from old tractors to handwritten diaries. I found an old dairy canister there, who was supposed to be used by one of the founders of the city – I didn't take him home because I didn't want to risk that he was suddenly declared an ancient work of art.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the Economy attractionsThe old grain silo on the outskirts of the city, which still looks like a silent guard over the fields, and the small library that knows more about local genealogy than any online database. I once borrowed a book about the history of the Indiana railway, almost forgetting that I had actually only searched for a cookbook.
Last but not least a small secret tip: the Economy Farmers Market, which takes place every second Saturday in the summer in the parking lot of the Community Center. Here there are fresh strawberries, self-made jams and the one or the other stand where an older gentleman tries to sell you his self-roomed bird houses – no joke that are really well processed. I bought some cherries there that were so sweet that I almost thought I had put some Indiana in my mouth.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Versailles State Park, a piece of unspoiled nature that is hidden about 30 miles north of economy and still is almost too close to not constantly thinking that I wanted to “short” here to come to the next café. The lake glitters like a cheap commercial in autumn, and the hiking trails – from cozy to “usual” – a card and –GPS – offer enough variety to satisfy my preference for halfway strenuous walks. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field becomes a small battlefield from SUVs and campers.
A short detour to the south leads to Brookville Lake, an artificial lake that attracts more anglers than I would have considered possible. I once tried to catch a pike, just to realize that my fishing rod was more of a decoration object – no joke, the thing was as stiff as an old board. Nevertheless, the shore is ideal for a picnic, and the seaside restaurant, which I accidentally discovered, serves a burger that is almost as good as the view.
The Whitewater Canal is a relic from the time when you thought waterways were the future. Today he is a narrow, tree-lined path that I walked along a rainy afternoon while I thought why I didn't just take the highway. The channel has a few old locks that still work – at least according to a sign that tells more about the story than about the current use. A bit like a museum visit outdoors, just that you don't stand in a sticky hall.
A short jump over the county border to Richmond brings me to Wayne County Historical Museum. The building itself is a pretty example of the architecture of the early 20. The exhibitions are a mixture of local curiosities and serious artifacts. I remember standing in a room full of old agricultural machinery and wondering if the farmers had so much fun on their tractors at the time – the answer was a light head shake on my part, because I could almost smell the smell of old oil.
Only a few blocks further Richmond Art Museum, a tiny but fine place that houses more talent than one would expect from a city of this size. I discovered a painting that reminded me of the colours of the autumn leaves in the Versailles State Park – a subtle indication that art and nature are somehow interwoven here. The museum is free of charge, which I see as a small consolation for the overpriced entrance fees in the larger cities.
The Old National Road (US‐40) sounds like an old, slightly scratchy film strip. I drove a piece along and stopped at a historical marker who had the meaning of the road in 19. century explained. It is amazing how many stories hide behind a simple asphalt track, and I had to admit that I was a bit proud to drive on a route that was once called the National Road.
A last but not less interesting stop is the Indiana Central Canal in Richmond. The canal once intended for the transport of goods serves today as a quiet walk, lined with old brick buildings, which now house cafes and small shops. I met an old man there who told me that he jogs here every morning because he believes that the water makes the air “fresher” – a bit pseudoscientific, but who am I to question that?
So the next time you're near Economy, Perry Township, Wayne, Indiana, you should Economy attractions do not miss – they offer a mix of nature, history and a bit of local nature that will satisfy every traveler who wants to see more than just the highway.
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