Goodland Newton Indiana - Top Sights 

• Goodland attractions – an inside guide through Grant Township, Newton County
• Goodland Sights & Attractions
• - Goodland Historical Museum
• - St. John Lutheran Church
• - Goodland City Park
• - Goodland Public Library
• - Goodland Community Center
• - Goodland Water Tower
• - Goodland Grain Elevator
• Other special sights in the vicinity of Goodland, Indiana
• Conclusion
• - Goodland Attractions

Goodland attractions – an inside guide through Grant Township, Newton County

Goodland's attractions are for me less a marketing bug than a silent promise that you will only discover when you drive along the dusty country roads of Grant Township and suddenly the small town in Newton County appears before you. I've always wondered why this corner of the Middle West has so little excitement – perhaps because the story is whispering rather quietly here than screaming. Founded in 1869, Goodland grew thanks to the railroad, which once formed the backbone of local grain exports; Today, the old depot is a rusty relic, which I like to admire while passing, because it gives me an image of honest, unfaithful work.

If you arrive by car, take the US‐41 north, then a short trip to County Road 12 will take you to the heart of the city – no drama, just a bit of land air and a sign that welcomes you. I must admit that I cannot fully understand the hype around the “big” attractions in Indiana, but the small cafes that bake their own cakes here are really great. And yes, I have incorporated the word goodland attractions again because I believe that a bit of repetition strengthens memory – at least mine.

Goodland Sights & Attractions

So, next time you stumble over Highway 30 and see the sign “Goodland – 5 miles”, let me put the first station to your heart: the Goodland Historical Museum. I got my first real Indiana-History dose there, and that wasn't a kitsty stuff from the 80's cinema, but a real, dusty classroom from the 1900's, now full of original artefacts from agriculture and the railway heritage. Parking is usually a Klacks – a small parking lot behind the museum is enough as long as you are not there with the whole village on Saturday night, then this becomes a real patience game.

Directly next to the museum, the St. John Lutheran Church past, a brick building that tells more about the municipality than any newspaper. I don't understand the hype about huge cathedrals, but here you have the feeling that every bank carries a piece of history – and the piano in the choir still plays the old hymns when the organ plays out. If you happen to go to Sunday Mass, bring some cookies; the community likes to share, and you will immediately get a smile worth more than any brochure.

A short walk leads you to Goodland City Park, the only place where I have ever seen a real picnic competition – and that was not a joke. The playground is small, but the baseball-diamond facility is surprisingly well maintained, and that is what I mean when I say that the heart of the city beats. There are a few benches where you can unpack your sandwich, and parking is practically right at the edge of the park, so no long parking is necessary.

If you ask yourself where you can find some rest after a long day, look at the Goodland Public Library on. I once borrowed a book about local air traffic control – yes, that really exists – and the librarians immediately recommended me a second because they thought I might want to control a plane the next time. The library has free Wi-Fi, a few cozy armchairs and a small reading room that is almost never full except when the school organizes a reading marathon.

Another highlight I can't leave is that Goodland Community Center. Here the weekly bingo evenings take place, and I ate the best piece of cake I've ever found in a community house – no joke, that was a real chocolate dream. The center has a small gym, and parking is an open field behind the building, which in summer becomes an improvised barbecue area when the neighbors throw their barbecues.

For those looking for a little nostalgia, there is the Goodland Water Towera red landmark that can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. I took a picture there once, while I tried to look over the city from above – the result was a slightly blurred picture, but this is the real Goodland feeling: a bit rustic, a bit rough, but with character. Access is over a small path behind the tank, and parking is usually not a problem as long as you don’t come to the annual “Water Tower Light Show”, then it becomes a bit more chaotic.

Last but not least, Goodland Grain Elevator do not forget the massive wooden building that guards over the fields. I once met a local peasant who told me that the grain has been stored here for over 70 years and that the noise of the falling grains is almost like a soothing noise. You can look at the whole thing from the street, and parking is easy – a small side strip is completely enough.

So next time you drive over Goodland, remember: the Goodland Attractions are not only points on a map, but small stories you can experience as long as you are ready to wait a bit, share a few cookies and enjoy the real Indiana flair.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Goodland, Indiana

The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Kentland Prairie, a piece of untamed green that stretches like a forgotten painting over the flat landscape. I spent a few hours there with a folding binoculars to scare the rare prairie flowers – and yes, that was just as boring as it sounds until a field bun suddenly shot over the picture and I almost lost the balance. Parking is practically directly at the visitor center, which is usually empty, except for the rare Saturday afternoons when local nature lovers spread their picnic blankets.

A short trip to Kentland leads to the Newton County Courthouse, an impressive brick building from the 19th century. Century that has more stories to tell than most guides. I talked to an old town archivist who told me that the court building once served as a meeting point for secret poker evenings – a detail that gives the place a certain charm, although the crunching wooden benches today smell more like bureaucracy. The parking lot behind the building is small, but enough when you get early enough.

Continue to Watseka, where Iroquois County Fairgrounds perform a colorful spectacle every year. I was there during the autumn festival, and between sugar cane and bumblebee attractions, a local cattle breeder convinced me that the pigs here taste better than those found in the big cities – a claim that I cannot fully understand, but the atmosphere is really great. On the weekends the terrain is full, so better to get by the car and bring a little patience.

Just half an hour south lies the Kankakee River State Park, a true paradise for water rats and hikers. I rented a kayak there and paddled down the river, while a swarm duck whispered over my headphones – a moment I don't forget so fast. The park offers several free parking spaces on the main entrance, but on sunny Saturdays it can quickly get close, so it's better to be there early.

Back in Watseka, the Iroquois County Museum attracts a collection of artifacts that make the history of the region alive. I discovered an old tractor display there that reminded me of my childhood when I drove with my grandpa over field routes – a nostalgic trip, which was accompanied by a somewhat too enthusiastic audio guide that explained every little detail. The museum is located directly on the main road, so parking on the road works smoothly.

The Iroquois River, a narrow but surprisingly picturesque watercourse, is a little off the well-known paths. I spent a few hours with my fishing and actually caught a cash – a little victory that reminded me that not every attraction must be spectacular to make fun. Access is usually free, but at weekends the small fishing area of Anglern can be overrun.

Last but not least a short trip to the historic downtown of Kentland, where the old brick shops still open their doors. I discovered a café that serves the best apple cake in the area – no joke, the particles of cinnamon and sugar are almost a cult object. Parking is a bit a mystery here, because the road leaves hardly any space for cars, but a short walk is definitely worth it.

Conclusion

When you explore the surroundings of Goodland, you can quickly see that the Goodland Attractions not necessarily in the city itself, but in the small corners and angles that you only discover when you are ready to walk a little off the beaten path. Each of these places has its own character – from the silent distance of Kentland Prairie to the loud hustle and bustle of Iroquois County Fairgrounds – and together they form a surprisingly diverse picture of a region that is underestimated easily.