12 Things To Do In Wabash County

By: Visit Indiana 

Visit the Wabash County Courthouse

I always love to visit a county seat to get a look at the courthouse. Each is so unique and Wabash has the distinction of being the first electrically lighted city in the world. At the Wabash County Courthouse, you’ll find one of the original lights inside that were installed in the courthouse tower in 1880.

Spend the Night in a 1903 Gothic-Style Church

When you are looking at lodging options, consider a stay at The Sanctuary of Wabash. This beautiful former church is a great spot for groups because it has a large sitting area, a large dining table, and a huge kitchen with commercial-grade appliances. Each of the rooms on the main floor features stunning stained glass and it’s a peaceful spot within walking distance of downtown.

See Some Waterfalls

You’ll find a total of public waterfalls in the county, two of which are within city limits. Visit Salamonie Falls in Salamonie State Park where you can also do some hiking, fishing, or camping, or make your way to Charley Creek Gardens where there are no hiking boots needed to see a lovely waterfall surrounded by beautiful flower gardens.

Do Some Shopping

The quaint downtown has a number of charming boutiques and unique specialty shops, lovely cafes and eateries, and a collection of painted elephants on the street in honor of a famous elephant who once escaped from a circus show and roamed the town for several days. Artisan-made and local products can be found in the gift shop at the Wabash County Visitor Center.

Take a Trolley Tour

Trolley No.85 offers a number of fun experiences during the year with different themed rides that include a historic homes tour, a kids farm tour, a wildflower tour, the Boos and Brews tour, Fright Night, and the Jolly Trolley Tour. With a vintage look, you’ll feel like you’re traveling in a time long ago, but with modern comfort.

Attend Bluegrass At Hopewell

Held at the Rustic Barn at Hopewell, this festival in July includes food trucks, trolley rides, spirits, and lots of lively music.

Sip Cocktails at a Speakeasy

A newly-restored building along the Wabash River serves as a social hub for the Lagro community with a family-friendly dining room upstairs serving pizza, sandwiches, salads, and sharables. Enjoy a different vibe on the lower level where you can sip among dark timbers original to the building with photos of outlaws lining the walls. Be sure to visit 950 Speakeasy where there’s also a relaxing patio space to spend time outside or on warm days.

Bike the Wabash River Trail

Hop on the Wabash River Trail in Lagro and follow along into Wabash. It’s a great place for biking. There are new bathroom facilities and a pavilion in Lagro and you’ll find a new bridge installed spanning Kerr Lock. Also, join in on September’s Dam to Dam Ride through the county which is held in conjunction with a four-day festival that features one of the area’s largest car shows.

See a Movie or Show at the Eagle Theatre

The historic Eagles Theatre is part of the Honeywell Foundation and is now a cultural hub for the arts with a stunning ballroom, space for arts education, a 49-seat state-of-the-art theatre with comfortable seating with swivel trays, and the main theatre with balcony suites and a retractable screen to host both live theatre and movie screenings. The foundation also operates a nearby drive-in movie theatre.

Visit the Wabash County Museum

Learn about the local history at this treasure. First, watch a video with background on county history and then explore the exhibits that cover the development of the Wabash Erie Canal, the Big Four Railroad, early industry, influential businesses, notable locals, and kids’ play space.

See the Public Art

Tour the county in search of 15 art wraps on traffic control boxes, more than a half-dozen outdoor murals, and painted miniature elephants honoring Modoc, the circus elephant who went on a rampage through town in 1942. Other unique pieces include the Riverwalk Water Fountain, the Living Tree, the Riverwalk Lightbulb sculpture, and the Abraham Lincoln statue.

Stop at the Carnegie Library

More Carnegie Libraries were built in Indiana than in any other state. The libraries were built between 1890 and 1917 with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie and 164 were built in Indiana, including the Wabash Carnegie Public Library built in 1903.