Visit Kempton Tipton Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the American town of Kempton in Indiana! Experience the traditional Amish life and visit the Amish Acres Heritage of Agriculture Museum. Enjoy the regional apple cake in the Amish-Bakery. Walk in the beautiful Shipshewana Park or visit the Shipshewana Flea Market on Saturday morning.
Honestly, if you're looking for Kempton attractions, you have to understand that this city has more history than you can imagine at first sight: Founded in the 1850s as a railway hub, the town has hardly ever been torn apart from its illustrious, almost nostalgic identity. I remember the old Depot railway line, which today serves only as a silent witness of the founding period, while most visitors – and I myself – prefer to take the squeaking wheels of the modern Indianapolis bus to Tipton to arrive here.
A short trip to the city centre feels like a time jump: The brick buildings, which once formed the heart of the trade, are now home to a café that speaks more about Latte art than about the local branches. I don’t understand the hype about the “small town feeling” completely, but the weekly peasant market meeting next to the old town hall is really great – fresh apples, homemade jams and a bit of village community that you rarely find in the big cities.
If you are travelling by car, just park at the edge of the Kempton Community Park; from there you can take a cozy walk to the historic cemetery where the inscriptions reveal more about the hard times of the pioneers than any museum. And yes, the word “Kempton Sights” reappears here, because I believe that a bit of self-iron really does the whole thing.
So, if you're going to Kempton for the first time, I'll let you know that Community Park put to the heart – this is almost the heartpiece that every local (and I, honestly) repeatedly calls “the place where life happens”, although there are at most a few children swinging and playing cards. I saw a campfire there on a lukewarm Saturday night at the barbecue area, which was almost as good as what I experienced in the big cities, only without the annoying crowd. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood will cure its weekend there.
A short walk from the park leads you to Kempton Public Library. Yes, you have read correctly – a library that not only exhibits books from the last century, but also a small reading room where you can withdraw from the local bakery with a coffee. I once found an old criminal I had never read, and suddenly I was in the middle of a discussion about the best detective stories of the 70s with a pensioner who knew more about Plot Twists than any film critic. Wi-Fi is available, but the signal is so weak that you almost have to read again – a real retro-kick.
If you ask yourself what else to see here, look at this. Kempton Historical Society Museum in the former school building. I don't quite understand the hype about old school benches, but the exhibition of original school books, which still have the same typos as today, is somehow fascinating. There I discovered a handwritten class list from 1923, which still contains the names of three children who later became mayors in the village – a small but fine insight into the local dynastics.
A bit more action is there Kempton Fire Department Museum. This is not only a shed full of rusty fire trucks, but a real treasure box for those interested in old vehicles. The other day, I was standing next to a 1950s model, which still had the original sirens, and a former firefighter told me that the thing had torched almost the whole village when it was in operation in the 60s – fortunately the old nozzle did not work. Admission is free because the museum is operated by volunteers who have more time for polishing metal than for a normal job.
A short walk down the main road leads you to St. Mary's Catholic Church, a small brick building, which has been standing since 1889 and whose interior is decorated with artistic glass windows that immerse the sunlight in an almost sacral color play. Once during a trade fair, I had a conversation with the pastor who told me that the church organ whistles set dates back to 1912 and is only maintained by three people throughout the country – a real pride for the community.
And because I can't forget you're after Kempton Attractions I have to find you Miller’s General Store to the heart. This is not just a shop, but a social center where you can learn more about life here than in any guide. I once bought an old cowboy hat there, just because the owner said he would bring me “good karma” – and since then I have never experienced a traffic jam near Kempton, at least not that I remember it.
Finally, if you're looking for a place where you really can't run, take the old railway bridge on the outskirts. It is not officially listed as a tourist attraction, but it offers a great view over the flatland and is a popular spot for local photographers who hold their “epic sunsets”. I took a picture there that now hangs in my living room – and that, although I actually only searched for the next café.
The first stop of my little Odyssey inevitably leads me to Tipton County Courthouse – a stone monstrum from the early 20th Century, which is located in the main street of Tipton. I have to admit that I have learned to really appreciate all the “historical shine” when I tried to find a parking lot there with my old off-road car. Who would have thought that a building that was finished in 1905 still attracts more cars than a modern shopping center? The courtyard is not exactly an Instagram hotspot, but the high columns and the cracking wood of the stairs give you the feeling of landing in a Western film – only without the cowboys, but with a few bored bureaucrats.
Just a few blocks on, almost next to the courthouse, this is Tipton County Historical Museum. I spent my childhood there because my parents thought I would “learn something.” Instead, I discovered an old tractor display that reminded me of the summers of my grandparents when the only “High-Tech” was a gasoline engine. The museum is small, but the exhibition of local artefacts – from handwritten diaries to an original 1910 ball bell – is surprisingly well curated. Practical: The entrance is free, and parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don’t come to the “Tipton County Fair” on Saturday night, then the field in front of the museum becomes the battlefield of the car park seekers.
And that brings me to the next attraction: Tipton County Fairgrounds. Every August weekend, the field turns into a colorful chaos of carousels, cattle upgrades and a lot of people who believe that sugar cane is a basic food. I once tried to taste a piece of fried pork that is supposed to taste “after Grandma’s recipe” – honestly, that was more a culinary misconception, but the atmosphere is really great. If you plan to land there, bring a few extra dollars for the giant wheel and be ready to test your patience when you wait for a free place on the grill.
A short detour from the hustle leads you to Eel River, which swept by Kempton on the west side. I fished there on a lukewarm summer afternoon and actually caught a cash – a small victory that reminded me that not all in life must be a big spectacle. The river is easily accessible via a small car park on County Road 150, and the water is clear enough to see the reflections of the surrounding fields. A note: If you want to take a boat, you need to fill out the local approval form – this is a bit bureaucratic, but who wants to paddle illegally?
For those who prefer walking or cycling, there is the Cedar Creek Trail, a narrow path that leads through fields and small forests and is perfect for a quiet afternoon. I once observed a squirrel that was courageous enough to steal a piece of nut right out of the corner – no joke, the animal was three. The trail is well marked, parking is free at the beginning of the path, and you can always make a short trip to one of the small picnic places scattered here.
A little further south Miller’s Farmthroughout the year a magnet for families looking for a real farm experience. I visited the pumpkin field there in autumn – a maize maiden labyrinth that gives more confusion than a modern escape room. The farm also offers fresh products, from honey to homemade apples, and the staff is so friendly that you almost forget that you pay for the whole. Practical: The entrance is well signposted at State Road 28, and parking is generous as long as you do not arrive at a school class on weekends.
A last but not less interesting stop is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Kempton himself. The 1865 building has seen more history than some other city in Indiana, and the stone windows tell stories that you don't find in every guide. I visited a Sunday service there, only to see that the acoustics in the choir are amazingly good – a small bonus for everyone who likes to sing, even if they only sound sloping in the car.
So, if you're going over the country roads of Tipton and ask yourself what you can do in the area of Kempton, remember: Kempton Attractions offer a mix of historical architecture, rural idyll and a bit of chaos – just what makes a road trip really exciting.
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