Honestly, if I think of Muncie, I immediately start by taking the picture of a small town in the Middle West, which has been mocking from a tranquil border village since the 1830s to a unique mix of agricultural and industrial history – all in the context of Oakwood Township, which is in turn located in the vast Vermilion County. I don't quite understand the hype about the old railroad rails, but the creeping sound of the former rails, which today only echoes in the stories of the locals, has somehow charm. If you arrive by car, you can take Route 24 which leads practically through the heart of the township and then take a few kilometers to discover the true “Muncie” – no joke, that is almost like a small treasure hunt trip.
I often wondered why the city never got big, and then I realized that it's just its charm: no crowded tourist flows, honest pubs, where the beer is as cold as the winter in Vermilion, and a local market that has more personality than some big city centers. And yes, if you are looking for “Muncie Sights”, you will quickly realize that the true highlight is not a museum, but the feeling of standing in the middle of a story that is still written – between corn fields, old barns and the friendly faces of the people who live here.
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The first place I have to mention is that Vermilion River State Parkthat stretches only a few minutes east of Muncie and nevertheless gives the feeling that one is in the heart of an untouched wilderness. I once tried to start a canoe, just to see that the water smelled more after a lukewarm bath in the swimming pool at each paddle beat – a clear indication that the local anglers here prefer to work with the fishing rod than with the paddle. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't arrive at the weekend after the annual barbecue festival, then the field before the entrances becomes quickly a battlefield of filled picnic blankets.
A short detour to the south leads you to Kickapoo State Recreation Area, a place I like to sign as “the wilderness that makes too much effort to be a family camping paradise”. The trails are well marked, the campfire place regulations are strict, and the bathing lake is so clear that you almost feel like swimming in a huge glass water cup. I remember the day I accidentally climbed into the wrong hammock and spent almost the whole afternoon freeing me from a net that was more intended for birds than for humans.
If you have enough of nature, look at this Illinois Railway Museum in Union – the largest railway museum in the USA, which is proudly hidden between corn fields and old barns. I spent more time taking pictures of the crunching locomotives than joking with the actual museum ticket, because the staff urges you with a smile to touch each of the more than 400 exhibits. Parking is practically right in front of the main entrance, but be warned: On Saturday afternoons, the terrain turns into a collection of model building enthusiasts who start their drones as if there were no more mornings.
Another highlight I cannot conceal is the Constitution in Danville – a 20-mile asphalted path that spans city, suburbs and fields. I once tried it with my old mountain bike, just to find out that the route remembers more of an urban walk, where you are constantly going past cafés and small art galleries that you would never notice. The best thing about it: You can stop at any time to get an ice cream, and parking at the starting point is usually free as long as you don't get to the rush hour.
Danville’s historic city centre is another chapter of my “Muncie-Erkundungen” that I must mention with a slightly spidy undertone. The Vermilion County Courthouse, an imposing brick building dating back to 1887, dominates the cityscape and lets you almost believe you had landed in a Western film scene. I once tried to make a selfie with the statue of the founder, just to realize that the statue – a little too realistic – stared at me with a rigid look as if she questioned my decision to be here.
A short detour to Danville Farmers Market Saturday morning is a must if you want to taste the true heart of the region. Fresh apples, homemade jams and a stand that is supposed to offer the best corn cake wide and wide – I tried the cake and must admit that it was actually better than most Instagram photos I have ever seen. Parking is a bit tricky here: Most places are occupied as soon as the first peasants build their stands, so come early, otherwise you have to park at the edge of the road and hit you around with morning traffic.
For a little sporty change, the Miller Park in Danville, where the local baseball team Danville Dans is carrying out their games. I visited a game there, just to find out that fans are discussing more about the quality of the hot dogs than about the actual game – a real insight into the priorities of the small city population. The park area offers enough parking space, but on day of play the field fills up quickly, and you may need to park a few blocks further and walk on foot.
A last but not less interesting stop is that University of Illinois Campus in Urbana-Champaign, which is about 45 miles south. The architecture is impressive, the libraries are huge, and the student life is literally pulsating through the corridors. I spent a day there to visit the Krannert Art Museum and was surprised to see how well the works harmonize with the rural environment – proof that culture is flourishing not only in cities. Parking is well signposted on the campus, but there can be bottlenecks at check times, so plan enough time.
So, if you're planning to start your weekend flight next time, remember that Muncie's area in Oakwood Township has more to offer than just fields and grain. From calm river banks to historical railway museums to lively markets, there is enough fabric to satisfy your desire to travel, and all this without the usual tourist crowd. These Muncie Attractions show that the heart of the Middle West can be as quirky and surprising as any big city.
So if you ask me, this is Oakwood Township Hall the first thing I would show you – not because the building is particularly spectacular (it is a sober brick box that smells more after day of administration than after a tourist magnet), but because here the heart of the whole place beats. I once experienced a civic service day where I almost spilled a coffee because the queue was longer than most waiting rooms in big cities. Parking? Mostly a Klacks as long as you don't arrive on Friday night after the weekly council meeting – then parking becomes a little adventure.
A short walk further Oakwood Nature Reserve, a piece of forest that somehow refuses to be captured by the usual Instagram filters. The trails are well marked, the foliage rushes under the shoes, and you get the rare feeling that there really is something nature that is not sponsored by a hipster café. I once observed a squirrel that was brave enough to steal my celebrity bars – a small but impressive proof that life here is a bit wild.
If you have enough of trees, see that Historic Oakwood Schoolhouse on. The old classroom from the 1920s still has the chalkboards that remember the good old times, and I swear I heard the echo of a teacher who still calls "Please be quiet!", although the building has been empty for decades. This is a perfect place to recharge a bit of nostalgia, and parking is practically right outside the door – a rare luxury in rural areas.
A bit further south, almost on the edge of the place, this is Oakwood Farmers Market. Here there are more fresh apples than in any supermarket, and the sellers know you by name as soon as you first show up with a bag of carrots. I once met an old farmer who told me that he had grown the same variety of tomatoes since 1975 – no joke, he even put it on his tractor. The market is on Saturdays from early to noon, and parking is a bit messy because everyone tries to park alongside the stand with the handmade jams.
A short detour to Oakwood Creek Trail lets you see the city from a different perspective. The path follows a small stream that is more pleasing than out, and you can almost feel that you are in a movie that floats somewhere between “easy” and “too beautiful to be true”. I once met an old angler who told me that he's been fishing here every Sunday for 20 years – and even though he never caught a fish. This is probably the true Muncie experience: the silent understanding that some things are simply there for existence.
For those who want to make a little culture, there is Oakwood Art Gallery. The exhibition regularly changes, and I have discovered a painting that is supposed to be the “soul of the county” – I don’t understand the hype about such abstract works, but the image has nevertheless made me think, while I tried not to stumble over the sloping lamp. Parking is a bit tricky here, because the building is in a narrow alley, but a short walk from the main road is completely enough.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Oakwood Community Center. Here, most of the events take place, from bingo ends to yoga classes, which sound more like “destress for seniors” than “hippest yoga”. I visited a course where the instructor spoke more about her cat than about the Asanas – a real insight into the local life. The center has a small parking lot that is usually free as long as you don't come at the same time as the weekly Bingo round.
And if you ask yourself what else you can see in this area, just look at the Muncie Attractions an – this is the keyword you will find in each guide, but here it is not served with excessive promises, but with a portion of honest, slightly cynical observation that will not disappoint you.
At the end a little hint: The Oakwood Cemetery is not just a place for parties, but the old tombstones tell stories that you don't find in any blog. I once found an old veteran, whose inscription says that he is “always still on the way home” – that kind of made me thinkful, while I tried not to stumble over the weathered ways. Parking is a bit like a treasure hunt game here: you have to drive a bit around the corner until you find a free place, but this is part of the charm.
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