Honestly, if you're looking for Van Wert sights, you probably think of a few dusty shields and a few old brick houses – and that's not completely wrong, but I promise you this is more than a short stop for the tank. The city was founded in 1836, named after the German officer Isaac Van Wert, and has since received a bit of everything: from the railway boom of 19th. century to the modern field fruits that characterize the surrounding Pleasant Township today. I usually drive over the I‐80, then a short trip to the US‐127, and if I really want to make a impression, I end up at the small but charming Van Wert County Airport – that's almost a statement that you don't just sneak through the area, but get there.
I don't quite understand the hype about the historic city centers, but the small café on Main Street, which has been sitting there since the 50s, serves the best coffee I've ever tasted in a midwestern town – no joke. And while you sit there, you can look out the window and watch the wide field of Pleasant Township, which stretches like a green carpet to the border of Van Wert County. If you have enough of the idyll, take a look at the old railway bridge, which today serves as a photo pot for Instagram-Aficionados – a bit cheesy, but nevertheless a good photo motif. So, grab your curiosity, because there is more to discover here than you would suspect at first glance.
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The first place I have to mention is the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, which stretches practically at the edge of the city in Pleasant Township – a huge piece of lawn, tents and the distinctive aroma of burnt popcorn, which reminds you every time that land life never really sleeps. I survived the annual County Fair spectacle at a hot August weekend; the carousel was a bit rusty, but the sugar cane was a real high enjoyment, and parking? Mostly a Klacks, as long as you don't arrive with the entire Tractor Club on Saturday night – then the field will quickly become a battlefield for pitches.
A short detour to the north leads you to Delphos, where the historic city centre is almost like a forgotten film set. The Delphos Opera House from the 1880s still has the same opulent interior that you know from old silent movies, and the staff there is so friendly that they would almost give you the ticket for the next performance – although the current program is more of local school performances. The St John the Baptist Catholic Churcha neo-Gothic jewel I visited during a rainy afternoon; the echo of the organ is so clear that you feel like floating in another time.
Just about 30 miles east of Van Wert lies the Lake Loramie State Park, a real secret tip for those who want to combine water and nature without entering the next big city jungle. The lake is large enough to fish, paddle or just lazy on the shore, and the visitor centre has a small café that serves surprisingly good coffee – a real life savior after a long trip over the country roads. I set up a tent there, and the nightly cirps of the grills were the loudest sound I've ever heard in a “quiet” park.
A little further southwest, almost on the border with Indiana, lies the Wabash River State Park in Lagro. The river winds through dense forests, and the trails are so well marked that even I, who usually chooses the wrong path, did not lose. The park not only offers beautiful viewpoints, but also a small visitor centre that provides historical information about the region – a nice detail that I had completely overlooked during the first visit, because I was too busy finding the perfect photo scenery.
Back in Ohio, but still outside the actual city boundaries, the Van Wert County Courthouse, an impressive brick building from the 19th century Century, which stands on the National Register of Historic Places. I took a lead there because I thought it was just another old court building, but the history of the local judiciary in the walls is surprisingly captivating – especially the old court records that are kept in the archive. Parking is a children's game here as long as you don't come together with the local politicians who like to use the terrain for spontaneous rallying.
A short detour to the north leads you to Defiance Canal Parkwhere the remains of the old Miami and Erie channel can be visited. I've discovered an old lock system that still works when you set the water right – a real fun for technology nerds. The park has a small museum that explains the history of the canal, and that's exactly what you need if you want to feed yourself with a bit of local history after a short break from car driving.
Another, often overlooked jewel is that Van Wert County Veterans Memorial on the edge of Pleasant Township. The monument is simple, but impressive, and the inscriptions of the names of the fallen allow you to hold in short – a moment that is rare in the midst of all the otherwise so loud attractions. I spent a few minutes to enjoy the silence, and that was the only time I really found the word “quite”.
Lastly, the small but fine Van Wert County Airport mentioned. It is not a place where you expect a luxurious terminal, but a real magnet for aircraft enthusiasts. I once visited a small propeller aircraft showcase where a local pilot proudly presented his restored 1940 aircraft. Parking is virtually always free, and the noise of the starting engines has something soothing, almost nostalgic in itself.
So, the next time you think about what you could do in the surroundings of Van Wert, Pleasant Township, Ohio, remember that the region has more to offer than just the city itself – from historic buildings to idyllic lakes to quiet monuments. All this makes Van Value Attractions to a surprisingly varied destination for anyone looking for a bit of adventure and a bit of history.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Van Wert isn't exactly what you find in every guide – that's that Van Wert County Historical Museum. I came there on a rainy Tuesday because I thought the museum was just a dusty basement full of old maps. Surprise: The exhibition about the railway era has tied me up so that I almost forgot that I wanted to see just a short time. Parking is usually easy, except on the first Saturday of the month when the museum organizes a special excursion for school classes and the parking spaces are then a real battlefield.
Right next to the museum, almost unnoticed, this is Van Wert County Courthouse. I don't understand the hype about old court buildings, but this has a roof that is so magnificent that you almost feel that the judges would conduct a small orchestra every time a process begins. I took a photo that now hangs in my living room – not because the building is particularly photogenic, but because I find the sign “Justice” so ironic.
A short walk on and you land in Van Value Public Library. Yes, this is really a place where you can borrow books, but the real highlight is the small café corner on the ground floor. I drank a cappuccino there while I tried to browse the local archive – and that was a real lucky handle because I found an old city planning document there that explains why the main road runs so crooked. If you're looking for a quiet place to check your emails, this is better than any Co-Working-Space concept I've ever seen.
Now it’s getting green: The Van Wert City Park is what you call “city park” without thinking about a boring lawn. I have made a picnic with friends there, and we have enjoyed the “artistic” design of the playground swings – they look as if someone had tried to make a modern piece of plastic and then to keep the whole halfway functional. The lake in the park is small, but in summer a popular spot for children who want to test their gums. Parking is available at the main entrance, but when you arrive at the weekend you have to hit between cars and picnic blankets.
A bit further north, almost on the edge of Pleasant Township, this is Van Wert Community Center. I took part in a yoga course that was led by a pensioner who seemed to know more about the 80s-Disco than about Asanas. Nevertheless, the Center offers a lot: from basketball Hall to art exhibitions by local artists. I discovered a painting that depicts the Van Wert skyline in neon-colored strips – a real eye-catcher if you are looking for a souvenir that does not consist of a T-shirt with a generic “I <3 Ohio”.
If you want to experience the real heart of Van Wert, you must Van Value Fairgrounds visit – yes, this is not only for the annual County Fair. I was there in autumn when a local peasant market took place and bought fresh apples directly from the producer. The atmosphere is a bit like a mini fairground, only that the stands are operated by people who sell their own products, and not by big chains. Parking is a children's game because the terrain was built for large numbers of visitors.
Finally, a small hint for those who googeln after “Van Value Sights”: The city does not have the dazzling skyline of a metropolis, but the mix of historical substance, local creativity and a pinch of dry humor makes it a place that you should not just go over. I haven't packed my suitcases yet, because I keep discovering new corners that I have overlooked – and that's exactly what I like about this spot.
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