Honestly, if you're looking for “New Knoxville Sights”, you're not expecting the usual tourist-Kitsch paradise, but a piece of Ohio that secretly adheres to its own history. Founded in 1855 by a handful of pioneers who were more interested in fertile soil than glamour, the town in Washington Township has hardly lost its rural simplicity since then – and that is exactly what I find so charming about this place.
I usually drive over the State Route 67, because the highway here is rather a myth, and this is not even so bad: the journey through endless corn fields looks like a short time jump back to the 19th century. As soon as you see the small sign with “Welcome to New Knoxville”, you immediately feel that everyone knows everyone here – and this is not a cliché, but a living reality.
A short trip to the historic city centre lets you admire the old brick buildings that tell more stories than any brochure. I don't understand the hype about modern art installations, but the honest, handmade furniture in the old post office is a real treasure for me. And yes, the word “sights” sounds almost exaggerated here, but these inconspicuous corners make the appeal.
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The first impression when you leave the dusty land roads around New Knoxville is the quiet sum of the fields, which looks almost as soothing as the occasional horn of a tractor that drags itself through dawning. Right after a few kilometers, it's dipping Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta – yes, the place where the first man was born on the moon. I don't always understand the hype about space, but here you suddenly feel like a child playing with a remotely controlled model rocket toy, just that the exhibits are real and the staff seems to float a bit too much in the 70s. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the school classes and the local senior clubs plan their trips at the same time.
A short detour to the south leads to Auglaize County Historical Society Museum. The building itself is an old farmhouse style that has more stories to tell than you could hear in a whole day in New Knoxville. I found an old map where my great-grandfather was registered as a “farm owner” – a small shock because I thought he was always only a city man. The exhibition is not just interactive, but the handwritten diaries almost make you feel the hard work of the pioneers. And yes, the museum has a small souvenir shop where you can buy handmade wood carvings that you can later exhibit in the living room to emphasize the “rustic charm”.
If you have enough of dusty halls, it is worth a detour to Lake Loramie State Park. The lake is not huge, but the water is clear enough to see how the trouts dance in the sunlight while fishing – a sight that almost seems poetic when you are not being plagued by mosquito bites. I made a picnic with my neighbor there, who claimed he could "knock" the water with bare hands, which I used as an excuse to eat my sandwiches faster. The park offers free parking as long as you don't get to the high season, and the trails are well marked, so you don't accidentally get into a field full of corn.
A little further east lies the Wapakoneta River Trail, a narrow path that runs along the Auglaize River. The trail is ideal for a relaxed bike ride if you have enough energy to climb the light hills, which are referred to as “soft climbs”. I saw an old tractor that was presented by a local historian as “original from the 1930s” – a real eye-catcher that forces tourists to stop and photograph. The trail is free, and parking at the starting point is usually problem-free as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with a group of school classes.
For those who prefer to feel the green under their feet, Wapakoneta Golf Club an underestimated jewel. The place is not excessively magnificent, but the fairways are well maintained and the bunkers have the charm of “lightly overlooked, but difficult to handle”. I played a game there with a local banker who spoke more about his shares than about the game itself – a real conversation when trying to improve the handicap. The clubhouse has a small commission area where you can enjoy a cool beer after the game, and parking is free directly at the clubhouse as long as you do not choose the tournament weekend.
Another highlight you shouldn't overlook is that Auglaize County Fairgrounds. The site is a collection point for local events all year round, from cattle shows to handicraft markets. I visited a street festival where a local baker offered his famous “Kornbrot-Cannoli” – a taste that you don’t forget easily. The approach is uncomplicated, and parking is usually sufficient except when the annual County Fair event runs, then the terrain becomes a true maze of cars and stands.
Whether you're looking for the history of the museum, the nature of the lake, the sporting challenge on the golf course or the colorful driving on the fairgrounds – the surroundings of New Knoxville have something to offer for everyone. And that's exactly what makes New Knoxville Attractions to a small but fine adventure you should not miss.
I must admit right at the beginning that my heart beats for the old school house – that New Knoxville Historical Society Museum is for me the real heart of this sleepy spot in the Middle West. The building itself is a cartiful witness from the 1880s, and there are piles of dusty boxes of photos that show how the city was once dominated by horse cars and not Starbucks. I once discovered an old cart that had more rust than a neglected grill in the backyard, and that immediately reminded me of my big aunt who always said: “If you don’t clean up, that thing will eventually become a museum.” Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole family from the county flows to the “History Day”.
A short walk further (and yes, this is a walk, no marathon) leads you to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. I don't quite understand the hype about gothic churches, but here the whole thing has something that makes me a little bit thoughtful every time – perhaps the colourful glass windows that immerse the light in an almost cheesy color play. I accidentally stole the last piece of cake from the church room cake at the Sunday worship service – no joke, that was a real “I‐bin‐hier‐und‐ich‐mag‐es” moment. The church has a small parking lot behind the churchyard, which is usually free as long as you do not come to the baptism of the neighbor.
If you're looking for a place where you can get rid of your energy without entering a gym, then it's New Knoxville Community Park That's right. The park has a small lake, a few baseball-diamonds and a playground that produces more squeaking child voices than a kindergarten. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and we were overrun by a group of teenagers who played loudly “peace” – that was almost as loud as the radio in the car when you hear the 80s hits. The garage (well, a few parking spaces) is right at the main entrance, and this is practical because after the game you don't have to walk through the whole city to find your car.
Another jewel I like to mention is the New Knoxville Public Library. This is not just a place where you can borrow books – this is a place where you suddenly feel like an educated person because you borrow a book about the history of the corn fields and then discuss it with the baker. I once found a reading group for seniors who spoke more about current Netflix series than about classical literature – that was refreshing. The library has a small parking lot behind the building, and this is usually a free space as long as you don't come to the weekly book club session.
A bit of a slanted story is still in New Knoxville Fire Department. There is an old, rusty fire truck that you could almost think of as an art project. I once met a voluntary firefighter who told me that the device is still “functional” when treating it with enough love and a few doses of WD‐40. This is a perfect place to shoot some Instagram photos that look like you have the real “hero feeling”. Parking is a children's game here because the fire department store has its own farm you almost always have alone.
If you're in town in the summer, you can New Knoxville Farmers Market do not miss. I once bought fresh strawberries that were so sweet that I almost thought I had tasted a piece of heaven. The market is open only on Saturdays from about 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and that means you have to be there early, otherwise you are just witnessing empty stands and bored sellers who hand their last carrots to the garbage can. Parking is usually a bit tight at the marketplace, but this is part of the charm – you can exchange with the other market visitors about the weather and the best recipes.
Last but not least, a small hint for those who really want to see everything: If you are looking for a compact overview, simply tap “New Knoxville Attractions“in your search engine – this will give you a list that you can then compare with my slightly cynical but warm comment. I wrote this here because I believe that even the most inconspicuous places deserve a bit of attention, and because I hope to see a new, slightly slanted detail that I can build up here next time I visit.
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