Visit Newtown Fountain Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the beautiful city of Newtown in Indiana! Experience the great Lake Monroe and the Hoosier National Forest. Visit the historic Downtown with the Old Town Hall Museum. Enjoy regional specialities at the local restaurant. #TravelTipNewtownIndiana
Honestly, if you are looking for “Newtown Sights”, you will not get a tourist magazine, but a piece of Indiana history hidden between the fields of Richland Township and the tranquil Fountain County. Founded in 1829 by a few pioneers who probably thought a bit of land was the nonplusultra, the town has seen more barns than skyscrapers since then – and that is kind of charming. I usually drive by car over State Road 32, because the bus here is rather a myth, and that gives me the freedom to keep at any time at an abandoned grain store that suddenly becomes my favorite cafe when I'm lucky.
A short detour to the old cemetery, where the tombstones tell more about the hard times than any museum, is a must – I don't understand the hype for artistic memorials, but here you can feel the real, uncomfortable heritage. And then there's the little town hall that looks like someone from an IKEA catalog had put together; it is not particularly impressive, but the local bureaucracy there is a real spectacle. So, if you're looking for an authentic midwest flair, let yourself be surprised by the Newtown sights – they're not loud, but honest and a bit selfish, just like me.
I have to confess: what I love most about Newtown is the Newtown Covered Bridge. This crunching wooden block from 1869 spans over the small brook, which actually acts more than a lukewarm gully here, and is the only thing that can be described here as “historically” without entering a museum. I stood there for the first time when a tractor with squeaking tires passed and I thought that was a film set until I realized that this is the real life. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood comes to barbecue.
Right next to the bridge lies the Newtown Methodist Church, a brick building that has more church windows than a medium cinema. I don't quite understand the hype about the Sunday songs, but the organ sounds like someone put an old piano in a vacuum cleaner – a strange but somehow satisfying sound. If you happen to be there at 10 a.m., you can hear the bell that's loud enough to scare the cow from the pasture.
A short walk further leads you to Newtown Schoola former classroom that now serves as a small museum. I discovered an old Globus model there that looks like a kid made of plastic – and yet it's kind of charming. The exhibition is not quite extensive, but the sign “founded 1885” makes you feel that you are part of a long tradition that consists more of dust and oak wood than Wi-Fi.
If you're looking for something quieter, look at this Newtown Cemetery on. Yeah, a cemetery, but not some. The tombstones here tell stories of people who have planted the land before we have even spoken of “Städtebau”. I found an old veteran there, whose inscription says that he is “always still in service” – a little joke that the municipality has inserted after his death. The place is well shaded, and parking is a Klacks, as long as you don't collapse with the tractor of the neighbors.
A little further, where the field meets the road, lies the Newtown Community Park. There's a playground here that looks like he got an update in 1992, and a picnic area called "Hangout" by a group of teenagers. I watched an improvised basketball game where the balls repeatedly broke the fence – a real adrenalinkick when you ask yourself why you came here.
For those who prefer to see the water in liquid form, there is a small access to Wabash River. The entrance is not particularly spectacular, but the rush of the river is real, and you can catch some fish here if you are lucky. I once tried to outsmart a carp, and the animal rather overlisted me – it surprised me with a jump from the water as if it were part of a show. This is the only time I caught something in Newtown that wasn't a parking lot.
Finally, almost as a bonus, there is that Richland Township Hall. The building is a bit like an old school house, only that the city meetings take place here and you get some local decisions about the construction of a new sidewalk. I visited a meeting there where the discussion about the color of the new park bench was almost as exciting as a thriller – until someone suggested to just leave it gray.
All this together Newtown Attractions to a strange mix of nostalgia, dusty memories and a pinch of unexpected charm. So next time you ask Indiana and ask yourself if you should make a detour, remember: there are more than empty fields here – there are stories that you may not find in every guide because they are too small to print them, but big enough to make you smile.
The first stop I recommend for every newman is that Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond – only about ten miles north of Newtown, so a cat jump when taking into account the usual Indiana stand on State Road 1. I saw a dusty tractor from the 1920s that sprayed more charm than some modern showrooms, and the staff told me with an eye-catcher that the museum “is not exactly the highlight for party walkers, but a real jewel for history lovers.” Parking is usually a children's game, except Saturdays, when the local school classes appear in crowds and turn the parking spaces into a battlefield.
A short detour to Whitewater Canal Trail takes you along the old waterway, which once formed the backbone of the regional economy. I spent a sunny afternoon there while I tried to keep the balance on a folding bike that I had caught in a second-hand store on the eve. The path is well marked, and the bridges from 19. The century gives you the feeling of cycling through a living history book – a bit like a time travel rollercoaster, only without the annoying safety belts.
If you want to have a little more beat in your trip, that's Gennett Records Museum A must. There is the cradle of early jazz and rock ’n’ roll, and I almost felt guilty when I heard the original records of Jelly Roll Morton – so loud that I almost thought the museum would give a concert. The staff even lets you try a few headphones so you can experience the cracking magic of the 1920s recordings yourself. And yes, the museum has a small souvenir shop where you can buy a T‐shirt with the logo “Ennett – Where the Real Music Was Born” if you want to spend as a hipster.
A short jump over the road leads you to Earlham College Arbortum, a green retreat that is almost too beautiful to be true. I made a picnic there while a squirrel tried to steal my sandwiches – a classic Indiana experience that reminded me that nature is as stubborn as the locals. Arboretum is free, and parking is right at the main entrance where you almost never have to find your car again because the paths are so angled.
For the adrenalinjunkies among you there is Richmond International Racewaythat is only about 12 miles away. I saw a race there that was so loud that I thought the whole village would collapse. The seats are not the most luxurious but the price-performance ratio is unbeatable, and the food – especially the famous “Racing Dogs” – is a culinary highlight that you should not miss. There are only parking problems when you try to get to the day of the big event; then the field becomes a labyrinth of cars and nervous fans.
A little further east, about 30 miles from Newtown, lies the Brookville Lake. I rented a kayak there and enjoyed the calm water surface while I thought about why I drove so far to find a little silence. The lake is a popular destination for anglers, boaters and families who plan a picnic on the shore. The visitor center offers enough information to not lose you completely, and parking is usually sufficient as long as you don't arrive at a group of school classes on weekends.
A short trip to Hagerstown brings you to Hagerstown Covered Bridge, one of the few covered bridges in the state. I stood there in the fall when the foliage lit in all earthy tones, and thought that this bridge is the perfect photo for Instagram – if you are not too busy admiring the old wood. Access is free, and parking is a small, inconspicuous parking right next to the river, which is rarely full.
To conclude a short visit John Dillinger Museum in Mooresville, about 20 miles west. I was skeptical about whether a museum can be really exciting about an infamous bank robber, but the interactive exhibition surprised me: original handcuffs, a rebuilt hiding place and a film that makes history alive. The museum is small, but the staff is enthusiastic and answers every question with a mixture of pride and light discomfort – an interesting contrast to the otherwise quiet attractions of the region.
Those who want to explore the rural Indiana will find a colourful mix of history, nature and a bit of thrill around Newtown – from museums to old bridges to racing tracks. These Newtown Attractions show that the surrounding area has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance, and they give every visitor a reason to return again and again.
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