Honestly, if you think that âKnox Sightsâ are just another boring poster in a guide, then you havenât experienced the real heart of Center Township yet. The city was founded in 1857, named after former General Henry Knox, and has since survived more field training for tractors than for tourists â that is at least what the old newspapers from the Starke County Gazette betrayed. I came by the train to Chicago, jumped into Highway 30 and let me drag myself from the endless prairie to Knox; The approach is a bit like a road trip to nowhere, but that makes the charm because you suddenly feel the last piece of normality.
I don't understand the hype about the small town festivals, but the weekly peasant market spectacle next to the old town hall is really great â fresh corn flasks that you can crush with your hands, and a few sloping locals who tell you stories from the time when the county was still dominated by horse cars. And yes, the old railway museum that you might have found in a blog is not the nonplusultra, but the original rails that lie there give you the feeling you would drive through the history of Knox itself. So if you're looking for a place that doesn't try to impress you, but just exists, then you're right here.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Kankakee River State Park, a piece of nature that turns about 20 miles south of Knox into a green band of forests and river lakes. I have to admit that I have never understood the whole hype about âstill waterâ â until I stood there, the sun glittered over the river and an old angler told me that he has been throwing out his rod since the 80s every morning. Park-Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with the families from the surrounding area; then parking becomes a small survival training. I tried the trail along the river, and although the signage is not exactly Pulitzer-worthy, it leads to a hidden viewpoint from which you can see the water like a silver band â a real secret tip for those who like to walk away from the exited paths.
A short detour to the north leads me to the Indiana Dunes National Park, which is a bit further away, but the effort is more than worth. The dune itself is not a romantic work of art, but a rough, sandy hill shaped by wind and waves â a place where one has the feeling that nature finally has the upper hand. I did a picnic there with a friend who said that was âno joke, that is better than any beach promenade in Floridaâ. The park area has several entrances, but the main parking lot at West Beach is mostly good to find as long as you don't show up at the end of the summer weekend. A short walk leads to a small visitor centre, which is surprisingly informative when you try to read the exhibitions.
Continue to Walkerton, where the historic city centre with its old brick façade almost looks like a set of films from the 1920s. The small Train Depot Museum, which is located in a former freight terminal, is particularly recommended. I met an old locomotive driver who proudly told me about the âgolden daysâ when the railway was still the backbone of the region. The museum is free, and parking is a narrow but functional place behind the depot â a real secret tip when you love the charm of small cities. In the main street there is a cafĂ© serving the best apple cake in the area; I ate half a cake there because I thought that was a good âlocalâ experience, and I was not disappointed.
Another highlight that I can't leave is the Starke County Fairgrounds, which becomes a colourful collection of rides, cattle shows and local craft stands every year in August. I spent the first time in the summer of 2019 and was surprised how well organized the whole is â despite the somewhat chaotic atmosphere that one would expect from a County Fair. Parking is virtually right at the entrance, but on the main days the terrain fills up quickly, so you should come early if you don't want to be in traffic. Fairgrounds are not only interesting for the annual fair; Throughout the year smaller events such as old-timer markets and concerts take place, which makes the terrain a permanent attraction.
Last but not least, a detour to Lake James, about 30 miles east of Knox, where the water in summer assumes a tempting, almost crystal clear color. I rented a kayak there and spent a few hours on the lake, while an older couple stood on the shore and said that they would return here every year since their wedding. The boat docker parking is small, but sufficient as long as you do not get to the high season â then you have to run a little further to find a free space. The lake not only offers fishing and boating, but also a small beach bath that is perfect for a spontaneous bath when the sun is right.
So who is special about Knox searches, finds a colourful mix of nature, history and local lifestyle â a kaleidoscope of experiences that extends far beyond the city boundaries. This selection Knox Attractions shows that the environment has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my heart beats a bit faster when I get to the old Strong County Courthouse thinking on Main Street â not because it is an architectural miracle, but because there is the only building here that still has a bit of dignity from the time when people still sent letters by horse mail. I once observed a legal dispute over a run-out chicken, and that was a spectacle I don't forget so fast. Parking is usually easy, except when the annual Strong County Fair weekend starts, then parking becomes a small adventure that you better share with a friend who has a good memory for tight gaps.
Directly next to the court building Strong County Historical Society Museum. I don't quite understand the hype about old agricultural machinery, but the crunching tractor show, which takes place here regularly, has something almost romantic â as if one pulled out a forgotten part of American history. I found an old milk canister there, who was supposed to come from 1912, and I took him home as a souvenir in a short time â of course only because I didn't want to leave him behind after I photographed him extensively.
A short walk leads you to Knox Public Librarya small but fine place where I spent more time than I would like to admit. The librarian, Ms. H., knows every visitor by name and occasionally raises an ironic commentary about the âmodernâ literature that intrudes here. I once borrowed a book about the art of coffee making, only to establish that the only thing that is really well brewed here is the local brewhouse coffee â no joke.
If you're looking for a place where you can rest while absorbing the true âKnox feelingâ, then it is Knox City Park That's right. The small lake there is not exactly a magnet for ducks, but the old wooden bench under the oak tree is perfect to eat a sandwich and watch the passing cars. I once made a picnic with my cousin, and we made fun of the fact that the only âwildlifeâ we saw was a stray dog who picked us for the rest of our bread.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the Knox AttractionsThe St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a beautiful brick building from the 1880s, which sprays a little more charm every time the sun falls through the colourful glass windows. I once experienced a concert from a local youth band, and that was, to say, an acoustic adventure â the acoustics was so good that I almost thought the building was a concert hall.
For those who want a little action, there is Strong County Fairgrounds. I saw the annual cattle competition there for the first time, and that was a spectacle that one does not experience every day. The stands with caramel apples and the loud circle of the carousel are almost part of the local identity. If you plan to park there, be warned: The parking lot fills up faster than you can say âCorn Dogâ, so you better come early.
Last but not least I have to Knox Community Center mentioning that is more than just a gym â it is the social heart of the city. I took part in a yoga course where the trainer knew more about the history of Knox than I did about my own family. The pool is small, but the water is always warm enough to relax after a long day outdoors. And yes, Wi-Fi is sometimes slower than a tractor, but that makes the charm.
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