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• Wheatfield Sights: A Trip through Wheatfield Township, Jasper County

Wheatfield Sights: A Trip through Wheatfield Township, Jasper County

Honestly, if you're looking for a place that has more charm than a dusty field, then you're right at Wheatfield – yes, right here where the “Wheatfield Sights” are not just an advertising slogan, but a real promise. The city was built in the middle of 19. Centuries when pioneers populated the fertile land in Jasper County and gave the name to the place, because the grain grew here almost as often as the stories about life in the country. I remember how I left the I‐65 by car, briefly deboged to the US‐231 and then smuggled the quiet road to Wheatfield – a short trip that feels like a little time jump.

Wheatfield Township surrounds the city like a cozy coat, and the whole area is covered by old barns who tell more about the agricultural history than any museum. Jasper, the next bigger town, is just a stone's throw away and offers the perfect counterpart: a bit more hustle, a few nice cafes and then back to the tranquil Wheatfield, where the air still smells like hay. So when you arrive to Chicago by train, just get to the bus to Rensselaer and take the short transfer to Jasper – from there it is a short but worthwhile trip to the heart of Indiana. And yes, the “Wheatfield Sights” are not overrated, they are just authentic, a bit rough and damn honest.

Wheatfield Sights & Attractions

I have to admit that my favorite place in Wheatfield is not some hip Rooftop bar – this is simply not the case – but the old Wheatfield Historical Museumhoused in the former school building from the 1920s. When you stroll through the dusty shelves, you'll feel the clinker of history, and I even found a yellowed yearbook that shows the whole class of 1954 – a real treasure for anyone who likes to go into the past. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local senior meeting takes place in the backyard.

Located next to the museum Wheatfield Community Park, a small green piece that has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, while the kids roamed on the newly renovated playground and played the seniors on the benches chess. The baseball fields are not of MLB standard, but for a bit of sandlot baseball with friends it is enough. And the best thing: The little lake in the park is a popular spot for ducks who almost insult you with their shining looks when you get too close to them.

If you're looking for a little more spiritual rest, look at the St John the Baptist Catholic Church on. The building is a real example of neo-Gothic architecture in the Middle West, and I once experienced a concert from the local youth band – a strange but charming meeting of sacral acoustics and teen rock. The church windows make the light so that you almost feel like standing in a different time, even though you just sneak a cappuccino from the nearby diner.

A short walk leads you to Wheatfield Public Library. I admit I was never a big reader, but the library has a small reading room that is so cozy that I spent more time there than I would like to admit. The friendly librarian has even shown me an old map archive that documents the development of the city from a cornfield to the small place we know today. And yes, Wi-Fi is faster than the Internet in some major cities – a small comfort for digital nomads.

Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the Wheatfield High School Football Stadium and the associated fan culture. I don't quite understand the hype about high-school football, but once you see the “Warriors” in action, you feel the pure energy of a small community that comes together to fire their team. The seats are made of wood, which snares a bit during every rain, and the sound is almost part of the experience. I even won a Hot-Dog-Stände duel there – no joke, I got the last sausage because I was faster than the other fans.

A little off the main road lies the old Grain elevatorA relic from the time Wheatfield was still a pure cornfield. Today, the massive building is more than a photo motif, and I took a few photos that I posted later on Instagram – the comments were mixed, but at least someone used “#Wheatfield Attractions” which gave me the feeling that I discovered something that others did not see immediately.

Last but not least, Wheatfield Fire Department Hall of Heroes forget. The small museum, which is operated by the voluntary firefighters, shows old helmets, hose reels and a few photos of burning barns that were erased at the time. I met a former fireman there who told me how he extinguished a fire in a corn camp in the summer of 1998 – a real adventure he still describes with bright eyes. Parking there is a children's game because the terrain is almost exclusively reserved for use vehicles.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Wheatfield, Indiana

The first stop is the venerable St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which slews a piece outside of Wheatfield into the landscape as if the founders had personally anchored it there. Once on a rainy Sunday morning I tried the crunching wooden benches – the echo of the organ was almost as loud as the thundering of my own thoughts that I wondered if this is really a church house or a hidden concert hall for hobby organists. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't get to the wedding fair, then the small field before the entrance becomes the battlefield quickly.

A short trip east leads to Patoka Lake, the largest reservoir in the south of Indiana. Here you can not only fish, but also enjoy the feeling that the water is so quiet that even the ducks whisper quietly. I rented a kayak there in the summer and spent almost all the time avoiding the sun – not because I am a fan of shadow, but because I had the feeling that the heat turned the water into a hot bath. The access to the boat dock is well signposted, but on weekends parking at the main dock can become a small patience sample when the families move with barbecue equipment.

Just a few miles further, back to the city, the Jasper County Courthouse rises, an imposing brick building that looks like an architect from the Victorian era had had a bad day and decided to make everything a bit bigger. I have observed a trial there – not because I have legal curiosity, but because I wanted to take the opportunity to admire the huge dome from the inside. The courtyard is freely accessible, and parking is almost always easy thanks to the surrounding public parking spaces, except when the annual County Fair event blocks the road.

Right next to the court building, the Jasper County Historical Museum, which is housed in a former prison, is a bit macaber, but this gives the exhibitions a certain charm. I remember as a child the old police marks and the dusty diary of a 19. Century handles browsed and thought that this is the kind of story you can't summarize in an Instagram post. The entrance is free, and parking is virtually right outside the door as long as you do not come to the “Ghost Tour” on Friday night, then the small car park becomes the exclusive VIP area quickly.

A little further south stretches the Hoosier National Forest, a huge green piece that has more trees than I could ever count – and that's a good sign because I'm not just a fan of concrete deserts. I drove the Trail of Tears Scenic Byway there, a way that is not only scenic, but also brings a little history. The trails are well marked, and parking at the trailheads is usually sufficient, except for the autumn weekends, when the foliage attracts people in bulk.

If you are looking for action all year round, the Jasper County Fairgrounds is a must – especially during the annual County Fair, which offers more sugar cane and carousel than you would expect in an amusement park. I once observed a oxen and wondered if this is not a bit too much “Old-West” for Indiana, but the atmosphere is honest and unfaithful. The parking lot is huge, but on the main days, the entry and exit can be a small patience sample because the entry is controlled by a single gate.

For those who love speed, there is the Jasper County Speedway, a drag route that makes the heart of every adrenaline junkie beat faster. I was there on a Saturday night when a local driver tried to break the record – the noise of the engines was so loud that I almost thought the whole valley would be inherited. Parking is next to the route, but on race nights the field fills up faster than a popcorn container in the cinema.

A last, rather underestimated treasure is the network of murals in the historic center of Jasper. These colorful works of art tell stories about the local industry, the farmers and the people who live here. I once fell in love with an image that shows an old tractor next to a futuristic robot – a real indication that the city does not forget its past, but still looks forward. The alleys are freely walkable, and parking is usually not a problem thanks to the many small side streets, unless you get to the “Mural Festival” week, then the whole area becomes a pedestrian paradise.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for historical churches, glittering lakes, imposing court buildings or fast-paced race tracks – the surroundings of Wheatfield, Wheatfield Township and Jasper have something to offer for everyone. The mixture of nature, history and a bit of local madness makes the region a surprisingly versatile destination. So whoever thinks the next time he wants to pack his weekend suitcase, the Wheatfield Attractions do not forget – they are not always found in the guide, but are all the more authentic.