Visit Clifford Bartholomew Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Clifford, Indiana: An unforgettable holiday for dog and nature lovers! In the small town you will find the "Dog Bark Park Inn", a hotel in the form of a large Schnauzer. Stroll through the forest of Shambala Preserve and meet exotics such as Bisons, Alpacas and Rehhirsche. A great adventure for dogs and owners!
Honestly, if you think Indiana is just endless corn fields and highway intersections, then you haven't experienced Clifford yet. This tiny little town in the heart of Flat Rock Township, Bartholomew County, was in the middle of 19. Founded as a stopping point for the railway – a name that comes from a little known railway engineer. The small post-switch, which rose up in 1855 and went down again in 1905, was then the pulsating heart of the place; Today he is only a nostalgic hint of a life that went faster than a train in the morning gray. I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but the inconspicuous flair of Clifford has something unpredictable that you rarely find in the crowded tourist areas. The main road, State Road 46, winds comfortably through the village, and if you come by car from Indianapolis, you only need I‐65 to exit 115 and then a few minutes on land roads – no drama, no stress. A short detour to the nearby Flat Rock River is not a classic museum, but the water plunder and the occasional buzz of the frogs give you the feeling you are part of a long forgotten story. And that's what makes the Clifford sights so appealing for me: they are not packed in brochures, but live in the small details you only discover when you really sit down and laugh.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Clifford is not some hip café – it is the Clifford United Methodist Church, a brick building from the 1880s, which has more stories to tell than so many Instagram influencers. When you get there, you hear the stick of the wooden benches, which reminds you that not only Sunday services, but also the annual “Potluck fireworks” are held here. Parking is usually a Klack, as long as you don’t arrive on Saturday night after the worship service – then the small car park becomes full faster than you can say “Amen”.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Clifford Cemetery, a quiet spot I like to name as an open-air museum. The tombstones are not only old, they are artistically decorated and give you the feeling that you would scroll through a history book. I once discovered an old family name that came to me from a book about the pioneers of Indiana – no joke, that was a real Aha moment. And yes, the terrain is freely accessible, you just need a little respect and a few comfortable shoes.
Right next to the cemetery is what I love Clifford School- Building. The old classroom is today a community center, but the chalkboards on the walls still have the dust of past generations. I took part in a workshop where an older master from the 60s explained how to plant the field with an old tractor – that was almost as exciting as an action film, only with more dust. If you want to go there, make sure that parking at the rear entrance is sometimes blocked by a van; a short way over the side road usually solves the problem.
If you have enough of buildings, see them Flat Rock River to the south of Clifford. The access point at the County Road 500N is a popular spot for anglers and for me a perfect place to just let the soul bangle after a long day. I caught a huge carp there that was almost as big as my first car – that was a real highlight that I tell everyone who listens to me. The river is open to the public, but bring some snacks, because the picnic tables are rarely occupied there.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the old Clifford Grain Elevator at the intersection of County Road 300E and 500N. The massive wooden stand is a relic from the time when the grain was transported here by horse-drawn carriage. I once met a local historian who told me that the building is still partially in operation – a real proof that Clifford lives not only in the past, but also a bit in the here and now. Parking is a bit tricky here because the terrain is frequented by trucks; a short trip to the small parking lot behind the store solves the problem usually.
For those looking for a little community feeling, this is Clifford Volunteer Fire Department an underestimated jewel. The boys and girls there not only have the best grilling evenings in the area, but they also like to show you their old fire trucks – a red truck from the 70s, which still shines as if he had just come out of the workshop. I got a lighter from the 1950s that I now wear as a lucky charm in my pocket. The building has a small parking lot, which is usually free, except when an operation is underway – then of course the whole thing becomes a little chaotic.
And because I cannot forget what every visitor of Clifford wants to see: Clifford Sights overview. Yes, that sounds almost like a tourist flyer, but believe me, the mix of historical church, cemetery, old school building, river, grain silo, fire brigade and the small but fine local events makes Clifford a place that you can't just cross without a bit of surprise.
Finally, a small tip I forget to mention: the annual Clifford Fourth of July Parade. It's not a huge spectacle, but the local high school marble chapel, a few old tractors and a self-made raft of pallets make the whole a charming spectacle. I once got a piece of apple cake from a granny that told me that the recipe has been unchanged since 1923 – this is the true heart of Clifford that I would put to everyone.
The first stop I put to every visitor is that Mounds State Park – a bit like a prehistoric amusement park experience, only without the nerve crowds. The huge earthworks, built by the Adena and Hopewell, project out of the green like forgotten sculptures, and the clear water of Lake Wapehani invites you to swim if you do not curse the weather too much. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't move on Saturday night with a horde family from Indianapolis – then the field becomes a small battlefield of buses and strollers.
A short detour to the south leads to Hoosier National Forestwhere I find my favorite hikes between pine and oak. The trail to the Hoosier National Forest Trailhead is not exactly a highway, but this is exactly what I love in such places: no GPS, just the rustling of the leaves and the occasional grunting of a wild boar that reminds me that I am not here in a shopping center. I once made a picnic with my old college friend, and we argued about whether the sound of crunchy branches was rather a sign for a nearing roe or for a falling asshole – no joke, that was really exciting.
Back to the city, but not to the city you find in guides, this is Miller House and Garden in Columbus, a Frank‐Lloyd‐Wright classic who has more style than a whole fashion weekend. The clear lines and the game with light and shadow are so thoughtful that I sometimes wonder if Wright was not just a big fan of minimalist interior design. The garden is a maze of pebbles and secretly placed sculptures; I once tried to make a photo that captures the perfect symmetry, and the result looked more like a failed Instagram filter experiment. Nevertheless, the house is a must – especially if you have a potential for architectural excesses.
A few blocks on, almost next to the Miller House, waits Columbus Indiana Art Center. There are changing exhibitions ranging from local art to international installations. I spent a weekend there because I thought I could fill a bit of culture, and then landed in a discussion about an abstract painting that is supposed to be “the emptiness of modern life”. I don't quite understand the hype about such concepts, but the café next door serves the best Cold Brew in the area, and that's enough to save the day.
If you have enough of art and nature, that is Bartholomew County Historical Museum in Columbus a place where the history of the county becomes alive – at least for the few minutes when you look at the old maps and tools before you want to go out. The museum has a small but fine archive of photos from the 1900s, and I have discovered a picture showing my great-grandmother when harvesting corn. This immediately reminded me of the long summer evenings I spent as a child in the field, and suddenly the museum felt less like a dusty place, but like a window in my own past.
Another secret tip I like to mention is the Flat Rock River Trail. The path stretches along the river, offers a few quiet spots for fishing and enough benches to let the soul bangle. I once found an old bike there, which someone apparently had “disposed” on the river bank – it was a real treasure because I was able to travel the next stage of my tour without additional costs. Parking at the trailhead is usually easy as long as you don't get to the high season, the field is quickly overrun by campers.
Whether you’re looking for prehistoric hills, modern architecture, a touch of history or just a quiet river path – the surroundings of Clifford have more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. These Clifford Sights show that the surrounding area of Flat Rock Township is a small but fine kaleidoscope of nature, culture and history, which can unleash any easy cynical traveler a smile.
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