Plainville Attractions? Yes, it sounds almost like a contradiction, because there is hardly anything “tourist” in the classic sense, but that is what makes the charm. I'm sitting on my aunt's little farm while the sun is glistening over the endless fields of Steele Township, and I'm telling you why I wouldn't just overrun this place. Founded in 1855, named after the flat, almost boring terrain – this was probably the first attempt by the founders to bring a little honesty into the naming – Plainville has never sought the splendour of a big city. The old postal shed, which closed its doors in 1905, still stands today as a rusty relic that expresses more about the patience of the inhabitants than about any historical glory. When you arrive by car, follow State Road 57 until the intersection with County Road 500; this is the fastest route, and yes, the GPS sometimes leads you to the next cow pasture because the net is more rural than urban. The nearest major station is located in Washington, about 15 miles away, and the smallest airport, the Evansville Regional, is a good bit further, but for a short trip a rental car is completely enough. I don't quite understand the hype about metropolises, but the quiet beauty of Plainville, the quiet noise of the corn fields and the occasional “moo” of a cow – this is the true highlight for me. And yes, if you ask yourself if there is anything to see here at all: Plainville sights are just what you need to feel the real Indiana without the usual tourist strike.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was the glittering Patoka-See-Ufer, where I tried to overwhelm a pike on a hot afternoon of July – with more water on the face than on the boat. The lake is just half an hour drive from Plainville, and parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't get in touch with the families of the County Fair on Saturday night. I have to admit that the rumor about the “infinite sunsets” is a bit exaggerated here, but the clear water and the opportunity to slide over the quiet bays with a quiet motorboat are really great.
A short detour into the southern edge of the Hoosier National Forest feels like you suddenly jump out of everyday life into an old, slightly weathered adventure book. I walked the trail along the Little Knob, where the trees were so dense that the sunlight only kissed the forest floor in narrow strips. The smell of pine and damp moss is a real reset button for the senses – and the best: the paths are well marked, so that you don’t suddenly land in nowhere, which can unfortunately happen in some “wild” forest areas.
Back to the city of Washington, which is just a few minutes from Plainville, the imposing Davies County Courthouse is immediately in the eye. The red brick building, with its slightly neo-Gothic facade, looks almost like a relic from another era. I stood there while a local judge just looked out of the window – a short moment that gave me the feeling of being part of a small but proud story. Parking directly in front of the courthouse is usually easy, except when the city is hosting a festival, then the whole becomes a small mess.
Only a stone's throw away is the Daviess County Historical Museum, a place that I would call a "time capsule for the small town soul". There are old black and white photographs of primary school classes that look like they just discovered the light of the light bulb. I spent almost an hour browsing an old diary handwritten by a peasant from the 1880s – a real look behind the scenes of rural Indiana. The entrance is free, and parking is right next to the museum, which is practical if you want to get a coffee in the nearby bakery after a long walk.
A little off but definitely worth a visit is the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. I came there in a nebulous morning when the ducks turned their morning rounds loudly. The wetland is a paradise for birdwatchers, and I had to admit that the quiet water plough was almost hypnotic. There is a small visitor centre, which is open only at the usual office hours – so better call shortly before to make sure you are not standing in front of closed doors.
If you're in the area in August, you can't miss the Davies County Fairgrounds. I was there during the annual County Fairs, where the air smelled like sugar cane and freshly grilled corn. The rides are not exactly the most modern, but this makes the charm – a bit of nostalgia that you rarely find in the big cities. Parking spaces are in abundance as long as you arrive early enough; Otherwise, the whole thing becomes a small car park camp you should avoid.
At the end of my small tour through the surroundings of Plainville, Steele Township, I must mention the Main Street of Washington, which is a real gem with its antique shops and the old town hall. I found an old, handmade wooden toy there that reminded me of my childhood – a little treasure you don't find anywhere. The road is pedestrian-friendly, and parking is usually easy, except on Saturdays when the city hosts a small street festival.
Whether you are looking for quiet nature experiences, historical depth or a touch of rural festive mood – the surroundings of Plainville offers a colourful mix that surprises every traveller. These personal impressions show that the Plainville Attractions extend far beyond the small village and provide a real adventure for curious explorers.
I have to confess: what I love most about Plainville is the Plainville United Methodist Church. The old brick building from the 1880s stands in the middle of the village like a defensive relic from a time when everyone still believed that a church should be the center of social life. I watched a breakfast meeting of the villagers on a Sunday morning – the people came with homemade muffins that smelled more like “I stole the recipe of Grandma” than something gourmet. The crawling of coffee cups was almost louder than the organ game, and I was wondering why I shouldn't look over more often in such small, slightly dusty churches when I'm in the area.
A short walk on, and you stumble over the Plainville School, which today serves as a community centre. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – a bit exaggerated considering that the only “historical” artefacts I found there were an old globe from the 70s and a few yellowed yearbooks where the class lists looked more like a phone book page than a school directory. Nevertheless, the high, sloping roof and the original wooden windows give the place a charm that you rarely find in modern new buildings. I once experienced a Poetry-Slam event where a 78-year-old pensioner ran over his lost youth in the steel industry – no joke, the audience was thrilled.
If you're looking for something quieter, go to Plainville Cemetery. Yes, a cemetery does not sound like the typical tourist magnet, but here is the history of the place literally in the ground. I found an old tombstone grave there, dating in 1902 and wearing the name “E. J. Harlan” – a local farmer who allegedly drove the first tractor model in Steele Township. This was a small aha moment for me because I never thought about the agricultural pioneering work in this area. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the families then hold their barbecue parties there.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the old Grain elevator at County Road 200 West. The massive wooden skeleton projects like a lost giant over the fields and is a popular photo motif for Instagram users looking for “rustic vibes”. I once met a local farmer who told me that the device is still in operation – yes, actually, that is not a museum, that is a functioning industrial-cram. He even offered me to taste a few grains, and I had to laugh because I could never imagine that corn from a 1950s elevator tastes better than from the supermarket.
And then there is what I love the Plainville Attractions nenne, although the word sounds almost too much for a village that has hardly more than a few dozen houses. I speak of the little one Community Park on Main Street, where an old playground with rusty swings stands and a picnic table that has more bird nests than visitors. On a hot July afternoon, I experienced a spontaneous street musician’s duet between a banjo-playing teenager and an old lady who climped on a harmonica. That was really great because it showed that even in the most inconspicuous corners a little life pulsates.
Last but not least, if you happen to be in the city in August, look for the Summer Fair. This is not a huge folk festival, rather a local herb market where the residents sell homemade jam, hand carved wooden toys and a few forgotten carrot cakes. I once saw a competition for the “largest pumpkin weight” – a 30 kg pumpkin that almost blocked the entire stage. The mood was easy, the conversations were profound (mainly over the weather) and the whole was a perfect example of how a small place maintains its own identity without turning away.
So, next time you ask Indiana and ask yourself if you should make a trip to Plainville, remember that there is more character in a single street sign than in some big city. And that's exactly what I appreciate on this spot Earth – the mix of honest history, a bit of dust and a portion of unexpected cordiality that keeps you coming back, even if you're just there for a short stop.
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