Honestly, if you think Indiana is just endless cornfields and highway intersections, then you've never stood in Vernon, the little jewel in the heart of Vernon Township, Jennings County. The city was founded in 1818, shortly after the Indiana-Treaty, and has since experienced more upheavals than an average Soap-Opera-Character. I usually travel across the U.S. route 50, because this is the fastest way to cross the rural panorama, and suddenly this inconspicuous sign that invites you to taste the “real Indiana”.
I don't understand the hype around the historic half-timbered houses, but the old town hall, which still houses the official city archive, has a charm that almost lets you forget that you're just spending a short stop for a coffee. And yes, the local café serves the best “Midwest-Muffin” – no joke, that’s almost a cult object. If you still have a little time, take a look at the small but fine city park area that has more stories to tell than some blog posts about big city trips.
A short trip to Jennings, the County Seeat, is also worth it, because the County Court looks a bit like a relic from the founding period – and that's exactly what I appreciate about Vernon's sights: the mix of honest history and a pinch of local self-iron, which is both confused and enthusiastic.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Vernon, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Muscatuck National Wildlife Refuge, a piece of unspoiled wilderness that extends only a short 15 minute drive from Vernon over the State Road 3. I spent a few hours with my old binoculars there, while a curious beaver observed me with an almost insulting queues – no joke that the animal seemed to think I was another visitor who pollutes the water. Parking is a children's game as long as you don't come on the weekend after the annual bird watching event, the field becomes a battlefield of crowded picnic baskets and scattering family SUVs.
A short detour to the south leads to Spring Mill State Park, where the old mill wheel still cracks leisurely in the water, as if it wanted to remind visitors that here earlier was the true Indiana business: corn, not Instagram posts. I visited the famous “Old Mill” there and spent almost the whole day taking pictures of the sticking wooden beams – not because they are particularly photogenic, but because I wondered how someone built it 150 years ago without a single Instagram filter. The parking lot is well signposted, but the main road to the park is often covered by leaves in autumn, so better let a little caution.
A little further east, almost hidden between fields, this is Jennings County Historical Museum. I must confess I was skeptical if a museum in a rural area has anything to offer at all. Surprisingly, it houses a collection of artifacts that makes the life of the pioneers alive in the 1800s – from handwritten diaries to an original 1860 horse car that still scares a little while moving it. The entrance is free, and the staff is so friendly that they even showed me an old photo album from the family history of my ancestors that they had randomly found in the cellar. Parking is possible at the museum grounds, but there are only a few places, so it's better to come early.
If you are looking for a place where you can breathe the real “Midwest feeling”, then it is Big Walnut Creek That's right. I rented a kayak there, and I paddled down the river, while the sun glittered over the fields and the birds crawled over me – a picture that is not found in every guide. Access to the water is possible at several places, but the most popular pier is a small wooden ridge that is maintained by the local fishing association. On weekends, however, it can be quite crowded there because the locals love the water as much as I do.
Another highlight I didn't want to leave is that Jennings County Fairgrounds. The exhibition hall is not what one would call an architectural miracle, but here the heart of the municipality pulsates. I visited the annual harvest festival where you get not only corn flasks from the grill, but also the chance to participate in a “ pumpkin throw” – a sport that I would never have thought for me, but that surprisingly requires a lot of skill. There is an abundance of parking spaces, but you have to adjust to the fact that the grounds are illuminated in all colors after the dark of lights, which can be a bit too much of the good for some.
Last but not least a short trip to Jennings County Speedwaywhere on a Friday night I heard the moaning of the engines, which was almost louder than the sound of the brook. The atmosphere is a mix of retro nostalgia and modern adrenaline addiction; the spectators are close to the stands, while the riders in their colourful racing suits flash over the train. I met a few local racers there who explained to me that the race here is more a social event than a sports competition – a bit like a big barbecue, just with more rubber tyres. Parking is easy on the Speedway as long as you don't try to drive your own car on the race track – this is not only illegal, but also quite dangerous.
So next time you think about Indiana, you should not only think about Indianapolis, but take the time to explore the surroundings of Vernon. The mix of nature, history and local joy of living makes this region a underestimated jewel. And yes, despite my slightly cynical attitude, I must admit that the Vernon Attractions around Jennings are worth a visit – especially if you want authentic experiences that are not overrun by tourist crowds.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my favorite place in Vernon is not some hip café, but the old Jennings County CourthouseThe Jennings County Historical Society Museum houses – a place where history not only consists of dusty plaques, but of real, cracking wooden beams that give you the feeling that you could see a judge in a long, black frack every moment. I found an old photo album there that shows the city in 1900; that was a real “Aha-Moment” because I suddenly understood why people here were so proud of their Vernon Attractions are. Parking is usually a Klacks unless you arrive on Saturday night after the weekly flea market – then parking becomes a small adventure.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Vernon Public Library, a Carnegie architecture that sprays more charm than some Instagram filters. I spent a few hours there because I thought I could read a bit, but instead I knelt into the old journals department and ran a 1920s yearbook on local agriculture – no joke, that was more exciting than any Netflix series. The library has free Wi-Fi corner, so if you want to charge your phone, you can do this here while you don't let the barking chairs push you out of the window.
If you have enough of dusty halls, I suggest you go to Wabash River Pray. The river winds right past the south side of the city, and there is a small pier where locals throw out their fishing – I caught a huge cash that was almost as big as my suitcase. Access is free, and parking on the Riverfront Park is usually easy as long as you don't want to pick up a tent there for high season in July. A short look into the water makes you forget that you just came by for a photo.
A few blocks further Vernon City Park, a place I love because it is the perfect counterpart to the river: here there is an old, slightly sloping pavilion, a war memorial and a playground that makes more squeaking sounds than you would expect in a leisure park. I once made a picnic with friends, and we made fun of the “big” urban planning of the 1950s – that was a real laugh, because the park layout still looks like someone put a chessboard on the lawn and then forget to remove the figures.
The Main Street by Vernon is another highlight that I cannot leave. Here old brick buildings come together, each with its own history: the former opera house, which today serves as a venue for local bands, the old pharmacist business, which is now a vintage store, and the small diner serving the best pancakes in the area – no joke, which are really better than what you find in most chains. The road is good to explore on foot, and parking is usually located on the outskirts of the mayor, where you have to walk a few meters to get to the center.
Finally, a short note to the Vernon Township-Events: almost every first Friday of the month there is a small concert or a reading at the municipal centre. I once met a local author who spoke about the history of the railway in Indiana – that was surprisingly captivating because he managed to wipe dry facts with a pinch of humor. The town centre is right next to the town hall, so if you want to visit the town hall, you can easily combine it.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
