Visit Ellettsville Monroe Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Ellettsville, Indiana: Experience the tranquil nature of the Hoosier National Forest and visit Monroe County Fairgrounds with its historic buildings.
Ellettsville Sights I always start with a short historical piece because I find that the foundation of a city is almost always the most exciting: Founded in the early 1820s by John Ellett, one of the first settlers, the town slowly grew up to a small trading venue before it was officially convened in 1866. Today it is cozy in the heart of Richland Township, Monroe County, and is just a cat jump from Bloomington – practical if you are looking for a quiet stopover without completely disappearing from the Interstate.
I have to admit, the hype around the “small cities” is sometimes exaggerated, but here there are a few things that really convince me. The old railway station, which today serves as a cafe, has this charming retro-flair, which is in vain in most modern chains. And if you're on the road by car, take State Road 46; the ride is short, the landscape is flat and the GPS is rarely lost. If you prefer to take the bus, you can use the Monroe County Transit – it doesn't drive around the clock, but it's enough for a day trip.
Another highlight I repeatedly mention is the annual autumn festival at the city square. No joke, the local craftsmen and beer from the nearby brewhouse are really great and give the place a touch of community that you rarely find in larger cities. And yes, that's what Ellettsville makes for me: a mix of history, local warmth and a bit of rustic charm that still doesn't let you down if you're looking for the next parking lot.
I have to admit that I have almost overlooked the first view of the little St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellettsville – not because it is inconspicuous, but because I thought that was just another one of those “historical” church blocks that stand everywhere in Indiana. But when I entered the massive brick façade and the creeping nave, I realized that there is more history here than in some blog post about the Indy-500. The benches are not covered with velvet, but the organ game is really impressive, and the whole thing was built in 1860, almost as old as my first guitar. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem, because then the whole community comes together for worship and for the subsequent potluck.
Directly opposite Ellettsville Public Library, a place I like to call the “underestimated heart” of the city. Sure, it's not a huge library with marble columns, but the shelves are full of local archives, and the staff knows every visitor by name – no joke, I was greeted at the first visit with “Welcome back, Mr. Müller!” although I have only been here for a week. I found an old photo album there showing the city in 1905; that was a real Aha-moment, because I suddenly understood why the Main-Street shops are so nostalgic today.
If you have enough of dusty books, just stroll the historical Main Street along. The old shop fronts have this charming “we-are-noch-her-for-100-year” look, and the cafés serve the best coffee I ever drank in a place with less than 7,000 inhabitants – strong, but not so strong that you feel like you could drive a tractor. I once met a local artist who was working on a painting by Brown County; he said that the light here is “just too good to ignore it,” and I just thought, “Of course, that is Indiana.”
A short detour leads you to Ellettsville Community Center. This is not only a place for basketball games and yoga courses, but also the unofficial “Treffpunkt-Zentrum” for everything that happens in the city. I experienced a karaoke event there on a Friday night, where a 70-year-old rocked the stage and cheered the crowd as if it were a concert by Beyoncé. The swimming pool is small, but the water is always warm enough to relax after a long day outdoors – and parking is almost never a problem here unless you are lucky to come at the same time as the local swimming group.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Ellettsville Farmers Market. It takes place every Saturday from May to October and is what I would call “fresh air with a shot of vegetables”. The stands are full of local honey, fresh corn and handmade jams, which you will find only in hip neighborhoods of Chicago. I once discovered a stand that sold pumpkin coffee – no joke, and I have to admit, that was surprisingly good. So if you're looking for an authentic taste of Indiana, this is your spot.
For a little green area and a picnic I recommend the Richland Township Park, which is small, but has a playground, a few benches and a small lake, where ducks swim (the ducks are not particularly friendly, but that makes up the charm). I have often put off my morning coffee cup while I saw the sun rise above the trees – a picture I later shared in my blog, and that surprisingly got more likes than my posts about the Indy fair.
And yes, I don't quite understand the hype around Brown County State Park, but that's not because it's not impressive – on the contrary, the trails are fantastic and the view of the hills is truly stunning. I like to take a day to hike there, and then return to Ellettsville, where I feel that I am still in the “real” Indiana, not just in a tourist paradise. If you follow Ellettsville Attractions You will find that the city is small, but every corner has its own little charm – and that is exactly what I love in this place.
The first place I have to mention is the imposing Brown County State Park, which is just a short, curvy ride from Ellettsville – about 20 miles, if you don't keep hanging on the narrow country roads. I filmed the foliage there in autumn because the colors were almost too bright for my phone, and must admit that the many hiking trails are really something for people who like to stick in the mud. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night with a group of college students, then the field becomes a small battlefield of cars and picnic baskets.
A few miles further, almost already in the backyard of nature, the Hoosier National Forest. Here there are more than 200,000 hectares of forest that wind like a green carpet over the hills. I have tried the Trail of Tears – a hiking trail that is not particularly spectacular, but provides plenty of insects that give you the feeling that you are part of a nature documentation. Most of the pitches are freely accessible, but if you want to pick up your tent in the middle of the forest, you should call the Ranger office beforehand because the pitches are quickly occupied in the summer.
If you have enough of trees, the next goal will lead you to Monroe LakeThe largest lake in Indiana. The lake is located south of Ellettsville, about 15 miles away, and offers more boats than people – a perfect place to let the soul dangle while trying to overwhelm a fish that obviously has more experience than you. I rented a kayak there that had more holes than a Swiss cheese, and that was a real adventure. The parking spaces on the southern shore are well signposted, but on weekends the entry and exit can become a patience sample.
A short jump over the county border takes you to Bloomington, where this Indiana University Bloomington with its campus almost looks like a mini-city state. The architecture is a mix of classic halls and modern glass buildings, and the famous Sample Gates is a popular photo stop – not because it is particularly impressive, but because every tourist wants a picture of it. I once entered a lecture hall because I thought it was a café; the result was a short but embarrassing moment when a professor sent me to the side with a glance, saying: “You are not here to learn.” Parking is usually paid near the campus, but a few free places are still found in the side streets.
Only a few blocks further Monroe County History Centerin the old court building from 19th. century is housed. The exhibition is a bit dry, but if you're interested in the history of the region, you'll find old maps and tools here that remind you that life here used to be determined not by WLAN, but by horse cars. I tried an old typewriter there and wrote almost a letter to my mother – just to realize that I have no idea how to deal with such a device.
For those who prefer to stay on asphalt, B-Line Trail a real life savior. This 8-mile-long, well-developed bike path connects Bloomington directly to Ellettsville and is ideal to bypass traffic if you don't want to feel like a car. I have straightened the trail on a hot Juli-Morgen and experienced more sweat than joy, but this is the true Indiana experience: beautiful, but a bit rough. Along the way there are several drinking water stations, and parking at the starting point is almost always free as long as you don't get to the rush hour.
A last but not least important stop is that McCormick’s Creek State Park, which is the first State Park in Indiana and is about 30 miles from Ellettsville. The park offers a small waterfall that does not have the size of Niagara, but is a perfect place for an Instagram image that you will regret later because you will no longer find the way back. The campsites are well maintained, and the visitor centre has a friendly staff who will be happy to explain why the trees are particularly fragrant here in spring – a detail that I personally appreciate.
Next time you think about what you can experience in the area of Ellettsville, remember that Ellettsville Attractions not only consist of a small town, but a whole range of nature, history and easily chaotic experiences that tell every traveler a bit more about the real Indiana.
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