Visit Bryant Jay Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the natural wonders of Bryant, Indiana: The Hoosier National Forest offers hikes through pristine forest areas and cool rivers. Do not miss the Falls of the Ohio State Park with its spectacular waterfalls!
Honestly, if you're looking for a place that isn't overrun by tourists, then you're right at Bryant. This tiny little town in the heart of Bearcreek Township, Jay County, Indiana, has its roots in the late 19. Century when the railroad crossed the area and opened a post office in 1872 – a short appearance that closed again in 1902, but the story remained. I don't understand the hype about big metropolises, but here every abandoned barn and every cracking wooden house has a story you wouldn't find in a guide.
A short trip by car over State Road 1 will take you to Bryant, and if you prefer to arrive by train, you will have to change to Fort Wayne and then take the bus to Jay – there are only five miles of the road. I have the feeling that the journey here is almost part of the adventure, because you suddenly slip out of rural idyll into a small village with a single but charming shop that has more character than some hipster café.
The Bryant Attractions There are no overcrowded museums, but the old cemetery gate, which is still surrounded by oaks, is a silent witness of the pioneers. And if you're lucky, you'll hear the remote heel of a tractor in the evening – this is almost a soundtrack.
I have to admit that what I love most about Bryant is not some chic café, but the old, rusty café. Grain elevator on Highway 30 – a monument of concrete and steel, which has dominated the landscape since the 1950s and acts a bit like a lighthouse for farmers at every sunset. I once made a picnic with my mate, while a tractor went over there and sounded the whole picnic like a soundtrack for a Western film set; That was really great, not a joke.
Directly next to the silo symbol is the Bryant Community Center, an inconspicuous brick box that has more heart than any city library. Here the locals meet for Bingo on Wednesday, and I volunteered as a card maker – that was a crash course in Smalltalk, where I learned more about the history of local corn harvest than I could have ever found in a guide. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the annual “Barn Dance” takes place and everyone tries to get a place next to the field.
A short walk further leads to Bryant Cemetery, a small cemetery that tells more stories than some museums. The other day, I stood there next to a weathered gravestone from 1887 and asked myself why the people had their names chiseled in stone – a bit melancholic, but also fascinating. The path there is free to travel, and a narrow gravel path leads directly to the entrance, so you can easily get there without a car.
If you're looking for something greener, look at this Bear Creek that sounds through the township. I spent a few hours there in the summer with my fishing and actually caught a cash – that was the first time I caught something in Indiana that was not just a piece of plastic. The access is a little hidden behind an old wooden ridge, but that makes the experience more authentic. A small car park at the end of the County Road 12 is usually empty, unless you are there at the weekend, then you have to push a bit around the tree.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Bryant Volunteer Fire Department. The guys there not only have the best hose reels, but also the warmest welcome when you push the red door sign over the threshold. I once took part in an open day where they showed me how to keep a fire extinguisher right – practically if you ever lost yourself in a haystack. The building is centrally located, so parking is practically always possible, and the sign “Open House” shines almost like a lighthouse at night.
A little off but definitely a must for everyone who Bryant Attractions really wants to cost, is the old Bryant Schoolhouse. The former one-room classroom is now a mini-museum run by a retired teacher who still polished the chalkboards as if yesterday. I found an old class photo there that reminded me of my own school days – only with much more straw hats. The access is free, and parking is a small field trail behind the building where you can almost never find your car because the villagers are constantly laying new paths.
Last but not least a small secret tip: the Bryant General Store, a store that sells more than just canned and magazines. There are handmade jams from the local farmer and a few old vinyl plates that you will find only in second hand shops in the city. I once discovered an old record player who still worked – a real find for every retro lover. The store has a small porch where you can enjoy a cool beer in the summer, and parking is right outside the door as long as you are not there on the first Friday of the month when the “Farmers Market” starts.
The first stop I put to every visitor is that Bear Creek Parkthat stretches just a few minutes east of Bryant and has more charm than some overpriced city park. I once tried to arrange a picnic, just to be overrun by a horde duck – a real test for patience and bread crumb management. The park offers a small lake where you can catch a few cash in the summer with a favorable fishing set, and a network of hiking trails that swell through the shallow but surprisingly varied high valley. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then local football teams occupy the field.
A short detour to Jay brings you to Jay County Historical Museum, a place that has more dust layers than my old vinyl collection, but for that there are plenty of stories from the region. I remember how I found an old tractor logbook in a dusty corner and wondered if the farmers were already thinking so much about GPS at that time – Spoiler: No, they had only the weather and luck. The museum is centrally located in the city centre, so you can sip coffee in one of the small cafes after your visit; Parking is a bit tight, but a free space is almost always to be found when you drive a few rounds around the block.
For those who prefer to keep the legs moving, the Hoosier Heritage Trail A must. The cycle path stretches through fields, old barns and occasionally past abandoned railway bridges – a real eye-catcher for nostalgics. I once made a 30 km roundabout there, only to find out that the signage sometimes raises more questions than answers, but that is the adventure. The trail is well signposted and you can park your bike at most public parking places in Jay, where a sign “Trail Access” will kindly point out that you are welcome here.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the imposing Jay County Courthouse in the main street of Jay. The 1888 building radiates a kind of majestic decay that reminds me every time that history is not always in shiny glass facades. I took part in a guided tour where the guide told more about the old court proceedings than about the current case law – a bit like an adult history lesson. The courthouse has a small parking lot behind the town hall, which is usually free as long as you are not there at noon when the city administration stops its daily “coffee and kekse meetings”.
If you have the feeling that you have enough of buildings, that is Wabash River State Park (about 30 miles south) the perfect escape. The river is wide, the water clear, and the trails lead you through dense forests that offer a firework of colors in autumn. I rented a kayak there once and I paddled down the river just to find that the flow is stronger than I expected – a small shock, but the adrenaline was worth it. The park has several large parking spaces located at the main entrances; a little hint: it can be quite crowded there on weekends, so it's better to arrive early.
A little local flair you get on the Jay County Fairgroundswhere the annual county fair spectacle takes place. I saw the “Corn Dog-Championships” there for the first time in summer 2019 – a competition where the participants fight for the fastest and crunchy maize sausage. The Fairgrounds is open all year round, and you can take a walk at any time to admire the old fairgrounds. Parking is generous because the area is designed for large numbers of visitors, and you can park your car almost everywhere, as long as you don't park in the middle of the main road.
Lastly, St. Mary’s Catholic Church mentioned in the nearby city of Portland, a small building from the 1860s, which has an amazing acoustic despite its size – perfect if you happen to hear a choir sample concert. I visited a Sunday worship service there and was surprised how lively the community is despite the rural situation. The church grounds have a small but sufficiently large parking lot, which is usually free as long as you are not there during the weddings.
Whether you're looking for nature, history or a bit of local nature, Bryant's environment has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight – and all without the usual tourist crowds. These Bryant Attractions show that the heart of the Middle West consists not only of fields, but of stories waiting to be discovered.
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