Visit North Judson Starke Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the beautiful city of North Judson in Indiana! Experience Lake James State Park and the North Judson-San Pierre Historic Museum. Enjoy regional specialities at the local restaurant "The Egg". An unforgettable holiday guaranteed!
Honestly, if you’re looking for “North Judson Sights”, you’ll probably expect a small museum full of dust, but the story of this spot in the heart of Wayne Township, LaPorte County, is surprisingly alive. Founded in 1854 as a railway hub, the town has its roots in the rail and the wood strike, and I find it fascinating how the old railway line still passes through the cityscape today – a silent witness that tells more than any brochure.
I like to drive over the US‐20 by car, because the country roads are almost a bit romantic here, and as soon as you see the first signs “Welcome to North Judson”, you realize that “willingness” is rather a polite pitch. The small railway station, which today serves as a café, is my favorite place to watch people; Here the locals meet to talk about the weather and you get a quick insight into the true life here.
A short trip to Starke, just a few miles south, is worthwhile if you want to experience the rural Indiana off the tourist trails – there are some old barns that have more character than some big city hotels. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the annual “Railroad Days” feed, but the colorful driving alongside the historical depot is really great if you want a little nostalgia.
I have to admit that my favorite place in North Judson is the old one. Train Depot is – not because I am a railway nerd, but because the building has a little too much character to ignore it. The thing has been there since 1902, has more stories to tell than you could read in a whole weekend, and the best thing: parking is almost always a Klack, as long as you don’t want to hold a “depot festival” with the whole city there on Saturday night. I once met an old locomotive leader who told me about his first shift, while he had a piece of cake from the small cafeteria – no joke, that was almost too sweet to be true.
A short walk down the main road leads you to North Judson Railroad Museum. I don't quite understand the hype about miniature trains, but the original tools and the old signalling system there have something calming, almost like a good old book that you always take to your hand. The museum is small, but it just makes it charming; you do not have to be mistaken by endless halls to find the essential. And yes, the sign “Please don’t touch” is more a suggestion than an order – I still kept it because I’m not the type that accidentally destroys works of art.
If you are looking for a place where you can recover from the hustle and bustle (or better, from the non-trubel), then look at the North Judson Public Library on. I once borrowed a book about the history of the region, which almost made me cry at the café next door – not from sadness, but because I suddenly felt like being part of this small town. Wi-Fi is faster than what you get in some big cities, and the staff will know you when you come over more often.
A bit more action is there North Judson Golf Club. Nine holes, a little green, and a clubhouse that looks like someone cut out of a 1950s movie. I played my first round there, while an older gentleman told me that the “Par 3” is actually a “Par 4” here, because the green is a bit inclined. Parking is a children's game, and the clubhouse serves the best ice cream coffee I've ever drank in Indiana – no joke.
A short detour to the south leads you to Kankakee River Trail. The path stretches along the river, and although not directly in the city centre, it is a magnet for locals and visitors. I once made a picnic with friends, while a duck couple watched us curious – that was the only time I really felt like a naturalist without building a tent for it.
Another highlight that I cannot leave is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The building is a real jewel from the early 20th. Century, with stained glass windows that break the light in all possible colors. I was there at a fair, and the choir sung so loud that I almost thought the whole village would jump out of the windows. Parking is a bit more tricky here, especially when the weekend is up, but this is a small price for the acoustics.
And because I must not forget everything: North Judson Community Center is the heart of local events. Whether a flea market, karaoke evening or a yoga course for seniors – something always happens here. I took part in a “retro-game evening” where we played old Atari games, while today’s youth could only talk about TikTok. The center has a small parking lot that is usually free as long as you are not there at the same time as the senior yoga class.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: North Judson Attractions are not exactly a huge amusement park complex, but they have this unique charm that makes you come back again and again – and that, my friend, is worth more than any crowded tourist attraction.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Starke County Historical Society Museum, an inconspicuous brick box on the main street of Starke, which holds more stories than one would expect from a place with less than 5 000 inhabitants. I found an old map that still showed the original field boundaries from the 1800s – a real eye-catcher for anyone interested in the forgotten pioneers. Parking is almost always a Klack, as long as you don’t come on Saturday night, then the small field behind the museum turns into an improvised car park chaaos because the annual “Starke County Heritage Festival” blocks the street.
A short descent to the south leads to the Kankakee River State Trail, a 22-mile-long gravel path, which narrows around the river landscape like a narrow, slightly weathered belt. I did my first experiments in the mountain bike adventure there – the terrain is neither too steep nor too flat, a perfect middle way for people who don't want to climb Mount Everest, but still need a little adrenaline. The trail is well signposted, and a small parking lot at the entrance is usually free, except when the local anglers set up their boats and turn the terrain into an improvised camping village.
The Kankakee River itself is what I would call the “blood heart” of the region – not because of some morbid history, but because it really keeps life here moving. I spent a few hours there with a self-built canoe, while the sun glittered over the trees and passed the fish like volatile silhouettes. fishing is a popular pastime; I have a huge pike on the fishing that was almost as big as my canoe, but that's another story. Access to the river is free at several places, but there is a small but fine café at the main office near North Judson, which serves surprisingly good coffee – a real secret tip for tired paddlers.
A few miles further lies the Starke County Fairgrounds, a place that is transformed into a colorful spectacle every year in August. For the first time I saw the “Corn Dog Race” there – a competition where the participants with oversized maize sausages run through an obstacle course. No joke, the audience was thrilled, and the prices were rather symbolic, but the atmosphere was incomparable. Parking is available in abundance, but on the days when the County-Messer-Throwing event takes place, there can be a small traffic jam, because the visitor numbers suddenly shoot into the hundreds.
The Starke County Courthouse, an impressive brick building dating back to 1916, is located in the centre of Starke and looks like a relic from another era. I took a lead there with a local historian who told me that the court building was used not only for legal disputes, but also for community meetings and even for the first cinema in the city. The interior is surprisingly well preserved, and the small museum in the cellar houses old judge seals and a court record from 1922 – a must for anyone interested in the legal history of the Middle West. Parking is possible directly in front of the building, but there are always a few police officers on court days who control traffic strictly.
For those who prefer to feel the rubber band under the tires, the Starke County Speedway is a real secret tip. The 1⁄4‐Meilen‐Dirt‐Oval attracts a few enthusiastic racers and even more viewers every week who sit on the sides with a cool beer and a portion of hot dogs. I was there on a Friday night when a local driver called “Turbo” Tom turned the round and almost enveloped the whole audience in dust – a spectacle that you should not have missed if you want to experience the real “Rural-Racing”. Parking is right next to the track, but on race nights the field fills up quickly, so better to come early.
A short trip to San Pierre, a tiny little town that has hardly more than a few dozen houses, offers a surprisingly charming Main Street with an old diner that has served the same milk shakes since the 1950s. I tried a milkshake there with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup, which was almost better than anything I found in the big cities. The village has no official parking, but a small farm behind the diner is always free – a perfect place to enjoy the slow life while inhaling the scent of freshly baked cake.
Last but not least, the Kankakee River Golf Club is an 18-hole course that extends over gentle hills and dense trees. I played a few rounds there, while the sun slowly went down and the shadows were longer – a picture that is best enjoyed with a cool beer on the clubhouse terrace. The club is not cheap, but the price-performance ratio is true because the care of the lawn and the kindness of the staff really convince. Parking is directly at the clubhouse, and there is always enough space as long as you do not arrive on Saturday morning when the tournament team arrives from the area.
Those who want to discover the special thing about North Judson will find here a colourful mix of history, nature, sports and small city idyllics – all that makes the heart of a curious traveller beat faster. The places mentioned show that the environment has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance, and they all contribute to the North Judson Attractions become an unforgettable experience.
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