Visit Fountain City Wayne Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights 2025. Discover the small town of Fountain City in Indiana and experience the annual balloon festival "Fountain City Balloon Fest"! Enjoy spectacular balloon launches and beautiful panoramic views of the city on the Skyline Park.
Fountain City Attractions? Yeah, that sounds like one of those Instagram trends I never understand, but let me tell you why I'm always going here. The small municipality is located in the heart of New Garden Township, Wayne County, Indiana, and was founded in 1835 around a simmering source, which is why the name that today looks rather nostalgic than touristic. I remember driving over State Road 1 as a child with the old Ford, the road that takes you directly to the village, and thought that was the true Indiana feeling, not the crowded amusement parks further south.
A short trip to the old railway line, which today only serves as a gravel road, almost lets you hear the crying of the steam locomotives – no joke, that's almost a ritual for me. When you arrive by train, just get out in Richmond and take the bus #12; he stops at the only gas station that still has a friendly owner who likes to tell you the story of the old post office.
I don't understand the hype around the big cities, but here, between the fields and the few houses, there is a small café that serves the best apple cake far and wide – really great if you're looking for a place where you don't want to run right away. And yes, this is a place I always recommend because it's just... authentic.
I have to admit that I was never a big fan of huge metropolises – the whole crowd, the endless neon lights. That's why I was thrilled when a buddy came over to a road trip to Fountain City in New Garden Township. Our first goal was Fountain Park, a small piece of green that feels like a forgotten paradise when you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city. The playground is not just an architectural miracle, but the swings I used as a child still swing with the same squeaking charm. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly grill festival takes place in the field and everyone tries to get a place next to the food truck.
A short walk further leads you to Fountain City United Methodist Church. The building is a real relic from the 19. Century, with a stone facade that seems to tell more stories than I could ever find in a book. I don't quite understand the hype about church architecture, but here the old wooden piano in the background has a sound that almost makes you believe you had landed in another time. During my first visit, I accidentally discovered a small service book that dates back to 1882 – a real treasure for anyone who loves history.
Right next to the church stands the former Fountain City, which today serves as a community center. I took part in a local art workshop where an elderly man from the neighborhood taught us how to carve a birdhouse from old wood. The classroom still has the original chalkboards, and the light falling through the high windows is simply perfect for such DIY sessions. So if you're looking for a place where you can't just watch, but you can put yourself in hand, you're right here.
A little away from the center lies the Fountain City Cemetery. Yeah, I know a cemetery doesn't sound like a typical tourist attraction, but here there are more than just gravestones. The oldest graves come from the 1820s, and the inscriptions tell of pioneers who worked the country with bare hands. I once found an old veteran whose name I later renamed in a local archive – a little triumph that gave me the feeling of being a real explorer.
If you feel like walking enough, make a trip to Whitewater River Bridge. The bridge is not spectacular, but it offers a quiet view of the river, which looks particularly glittering just after a light rain. I spent a few minutes there to just listen to the water's whistle – a moment you rarely find in the hectic of everyday life. And yes, parking is a children's game here because the small village is simply not crowded.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the Fountain City Attractions as part of the annual Corn Festival. The event is a bit like a mini-state fair, only that the corn-pistons here are almost as works of art. I remember the year when I stuck with a friend in a self-built maislabyrinth – we were looking for the exit for hours until an older man helped us with a flashlight. The festival is not all year round, but if you happen to be there in August, you shouldn't miss it.
Last but not least a short note on the New Garden Township Hall. The building is simple, but it regularly hosts local gatherings and small exhibitions where you can see handmade items from the region. I once saw an old tractor from the 1940s, still standing in a corner room – a real eye-catcher for those interested in agricultural history.
The first stop I never miss is that Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond – a place where the history of Indiana is served so dry that you almost feel like inhaling a piece of dust. Nevertheless, the museum has some surprising treasures, such as the original uniforms of the 19th century. Century military company that reminded me of my great aunt who always claimed that she was the last real spy of the civil war. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local senior meeting takes place and everyone is looking for a place at the asphalt.
A short detour over the old US route 27 leads me to Gennett Records Museumhidden in an inconspicuous brick building. The first recordings of legends such as Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke were made here in the 1920s and 30s – yes, this is really the same gennett that revolutionized the jazz world. I don't quite understand the hype about vinyl, but the original presses that are shown here have a sound that even brings my old stereo system to cry. The entrance is free, and the staff lets you slip through the corridors almost unobserved as long as you don't try to turn the old record players.
If you have enough of dusty halls, the path continues to Whitewater Canal Historic Site near Hagerstown. The canal, once an important means of transport, is now semi-rusted and half-grown by wildflowers, but the water, which is still silent here, reminds of a time when people actually drove with horse-carrying over bridges. I once tried to make a photo that captures the sunset over the canal and was disturbed by a curious duck pair that apparently thought my phone was a new feed. Parking is available at the end of the small parking lot, which is usually empty, except when the local fishing festival starts.
A couple of miles further Brookville Lake State Park, a huge water that is perfect for a spontaneous bath or a bit of fishing. I caught a carp specimen there, which was almost as big as my bike, and had to put it back into the water after a short fight – a real test for my patience and my swimming skills. The park is well signposted, and parking is free at the main entrances as long as you do not arrive at the weekend between 10 am and 2 pm, then you will be greeted by a crowded parking lot with more caravans than trees.
A little further south, almost like a small side shift to the whole “Midwest-Boring”-Klischee, lies this John Dillinger Museum in Mooresville. Here the life of the notorious bank robber is presented in a mixture of slanted artifacts and exaggerated dramatic narrative. I visited the museum because a friend told me that there should be an original glove from Dillinger – I have never found it, but I have seen some pretty cheesy replicas of 1930s-year notes. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, which is mostly empty, unless a local historian is just taking a tour.
At the end of my small tour through the surroundings of Fountain City, of course, historic centre of Richmond not missing. The colourful murals that plagued the façades of the old factory buildings tell stories of workers who used to earn their lives here, and of artists who today try to bring a little color to the gray suburb. I once met a local barista who told me that every year the city hosts a “mural festival” where new works of art are created – a good argument to return again and again. Parking in the center is a labyrinth of paid meter parking and free side streets that you only find when you are ready to walk a few blocks.
If you are looking for Fountain City attractions, you will quickly realize that the environment has more to offer than just a few dusty museums – from historical canals to lively art scene to relaxing lakes there is something to discover for every taste.
Find more vacation destinations near Fountain City Wayne Indiana using our map.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
