“Elnora Sights” sounds like an inside joke for me, which I like to share with anyone who looks honestly for a real Small-Town experience; the city was founded in 1857 when the railway line cut through the then wild Elmore Township and a few brave pioneers decided to build a piece of home here. I don't quite understand the hype about the old post carriage, but the crunchy wood of the historic buildings has a charm for me, which is in vainly sought out in the sparkling metropolises. If you come by car from Evansville, simply follow the US-50 north – the road leads you directly to the heart of Davies County, where the speed is almost a relic from the past.
Once arrived, I immediately notice the open field that extends behind the small town hall; Here you can enjoy the sun almost until evening, while the locals sounded their barbecue evenings. And yes, I have seen the “Elnora Sights” label at several places, because despite its size, the village offers a surprisingly wide range of small cafés, a well-preserved cemetery and an old farmer market – all with a portion of dry humor that I personally feel as refreshing. So if you're looking for a place that breathes history, but doesn't suffocate in museum posters, you should stop.
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Patoka Lake is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a bit of nature near Elnora – a huge, glittering mirror that stretches over almost 30 km and houses more boats than people. I once tried to overwhelm a pike, and after a felt half day in the mud I came back with a small but proud cash. Parking on the main pea is usually a Klacks as long as you don't arrive on Friday night after work – then the field becomes a small battlefield from SUVs and campers.
A short descent to the south leads you to the Hoosier National Forest, more precisely to the area of the Trail-of-Tears State Forest, which is only about 20 miles from Elnora. Here there are more trees than asphalt, and the trails are so well hidden that I almost lost myself in a circle of oaks until a friendly hunter showed me the way back to the main track. The view from Lookout Tower is not exactly spectacular, but the noise of the leaves has something soothing that you rarely find in the city.
If you have enough of endless green spaces, look at the Gentryville Covered Bridge – a small but charming piece of Indiana story that spans the Little Patoka River. The bridge is not very wide, so you have to carefully maneuver your bike or your small van. I took a photo that now hangs in my living room because I thought it was the perfect symbol for “rustic charm”, and yes, it was.
A few miles east of the bridge is Washington, the district town of Daviess, where the Davies County Historical Museum is a collection of old land machines, photos and a few dusty clothes from the 19th century. House of the century. The museum is not just a hotspot for Instagram, but if you are interested in the history of the region, it is worth the dusty drive. Parking is available right in front of the building, and the staff is friendly enough to tell you the story of the old barn fire, which is supposed to have almost torched the whole village.
A bit further south, about 30 miles from Elnora, lies Lincoln State Park – yes, the same Lincoln that later became president. The park is famous for its hiking trails leading through the forest area that Lincoln knew as a young man. I made a picnic there on a glow, while a few children spoke loudly about the “big trees”. The visitor centre has a small café serving surprisingly good apple cake, and parking is almost never a problem thanks to the wide access roads.
Back in Washington there is the imposing Daviess County Courthouse, a classic example of Greek-revival architecture, which rises majesticly over the main road. The building is not open to visitors, but the exterior is a popular photo stop for people who want to bring a little “official” flair to their Instagram feed. I once made a selfie there that my friends still think to be too dramatic.
Whether you are looking for a quiet lake, a dense forest, a historic wooden ridge or a small museum – the surroundings of Elnora offer more than enough fabric for a varied trip. The mix of nature, history and a bit of local peculiarity makes the region an underestimated jewel in the heart of Indiana. So next time after Elnora Attractions search, should definitely take these places into the itinerary.
I have to confess that I am old railway depot in Elnora almost consider my personal pilgrimage site – not because it is particularly spectacular, but because it is the only piece of real history that is still standing here without a hipster café being built around it. The small brick box from the 1900s, which once brought the coal for the locomotives, is today a silent observer of the main road. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood comes together to grill and the few free places are quickly occupied.
A short walk on and you stumble over the Elnora Public Library. I don't quite understand the hype about hip libraries with cafe corner, but here there is a cozy reading chair piece that almost lets you forget that you're actually just looking for a place to test the WLAN. The shelves are full of local chronicles – perfect to sniff a bit about the city's history while you're wondering why you couldn't just make a picnic in the park.
And that's exactly what I'll bring you to Elnora Community Park. The park is what you could call “small but fine” leisure complex: a playground, a few baseball fields and a small lake, which is populated in the summer by ducks who judge you with their silent views. I once tried to throw a frisbee there and was overtaken by a 10-year-old who apparently trained the whole village. No joke, that was a real humiliation moment, but the children then supplied me with lemonade – all right.
If you have enough of green areas, take a look at Elnora Historical Museum. The museum is housed in a former school building that has more cracking halls than one would expect in an old house. There are old school books, an original school bus and a few yellowed newspaper articles explaining why the city got its name after a local teacher. I found an old photograph where a man with a huge mustache can be seen – I swear he looks like a precursor of Gandalf, only without a magic wand.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Elnora United Methodist Church. The church is not only a place for worship, but also an architectural relic from the 1880s. The high windows make the light so that you almost feel like standing in a movie of 1950. I heard a concert there from the local youth band; the acoustics was surprisingly good, and I wondered why I didn't play more often in churches.
For those who like a bit of industrial charm, there is Elnora Grain Elevator. The silver silo cabinet is a landmark that can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. I spent a few hours there because I thought it was a good photo motif for Instagram – the result was a picture of me standing in front of a huge grain container and pretending to be a farmer. That was embarrassing, but the locals laughed and offered me a piece of corn cake.
Last but not least, Elnora Town Hall Forget that thrones in the heart of the main road. The building is a classic example of the sober government architecture of the early 20th. Century. I visited the city hall meeting there, just to see how serious the city representatives are discussing the new street lighting project. It was almost as exciting as a thriller when you know the right people.
All this together Elnora Attractions a mixture of nostalgic charm and light cynicism, which I can recommend to anyone who wants to make a detour from the highway into a real small town adventure. And if you're in the area the next time, don't forget to let you just drive – the city has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight.
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