There are all kinds of offbeat attractions in Indiana that are all honestly worth visiting when one has the time. There are easily over 100 choices, but we did some of the hard work for you already! We've created a five-destination road trip in Indiana to several of our favorite weird little Indiana spots, and we're pretty sure at least a few of them will be new to you! For the record, for this article's sake, we're beginning our journey in Jasper, Indiana, and we'll end up in Kokomo. Hop in the car and let's go see some of the best hidden gems in Indiana:
Stop #1: The Providence Home Geode Grotto - Jasper, IN
This stunningly beautiful and super-unique grotto was constructed over a period of one decade. It's made of locally-found geodes, as well as limestone, marble, and found objects. The entire display is absolutely beautiful, and we strongly suggest you bring a camera! The statues present on the grounds were imported all the way from Italy, and visitors are able to admire them throughout the park.
Stop #2: Empire Quarry - Bloomington, IN
Fun fact: some of North America's highest-grade limestone is found right here in Indiana! A lot of it can be found in the hills of Bedford and Bloomington, and literal tons of it have come out of this very quarry. Limestone from Indiana makes up many, many iconic American buildings, including (but not limited to) the Empire State Building, the Pentagon, and 35 state capitol buildings. This particular quarry produced all 18.6 tons of limestone needed for the Empire State Building. Importantly, though, do note that this is on private property - so make sure to admire from a permissible distance.
Stop #3: The Zoom Flume - Bloomington, IN
Our second stop in Bloomington takes us to an abandoned water slide. This slide was operated from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, and poor safety standards are the suspected reason it shut down. It sits right off of State Road 446; park at Cutright S.R.A, (carefully!) cross the highway, and climb the hill. You'll see the graffiti-covered abandoned slide behind a fence; don't enter without permission! This is one weird abandoned place in Indiana you definitely want to check out.
Stop #4. The Ruins - Indianapolis, IN
Our second-to-last stop brings us to good ol' Indy. Tucked in a city park, you'll find the remains of a legitimate New York skyscraper turned into an urban work of art. The sculpture is known as "The Races Of Man," and depicts men from different races working together. Other things have been added to the Ruins in Indiana throughout the years, and visitors are welcome to wander around.
Stop #5: Kokomantis - Kokomo, Indiana
Our final stop brings us to the unique little town of Kokomo, Indiana. It's unmistakable: a 17-foot-tall, 22-foot-long sculpture of a praying mantis looms over the sleepy town, noticed by everyone passing through. This is a fun roadside attraction in Indiana that's definitely worth a gander. It's made of World War II fuel pontoons and metal traffic poles. It is, very literally, one of a kind. The monolith supposedly took 220 hours to create (one for every foot of length!), and the sculpture has a very colorful presence on social media.
If you'd like to see a visual map of the recommended route to take for this intriguing trip, check it out here. Do you have any suggestions for strange, out-of-the-way attractions to visit in Indiana? Tell us all about your favorites in the comments!
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