Here at Only In Your State, we see pretty much everything Indiana has to offer – the good, the bad, and, most fun of all, the weird. Some years ago now, we shared an article with some of the weirdest places and things you could see and do in the Hoosier State, and now we’re back with a handful more! Here are eight more things that might just be the weirdest places you can go in Indiana – check them out if you ever get the chance!
- The Mooresville Gravity Hill
Laurie Piskun/Wikimedia If you’re a fan of tricking your own brain with intriguing optical illusions, you’ll definitely want to visit the “gravity hill” in Mooresville, Indiana. In this weird little place, cars coast and water runs - all uphill. Or is it? Sure does look that way. Read more about this bizarre anomaly here. Keller Hill Road, Keller Hill Rd, Mooresville, IN, USA
- WHO North America
WHO North America Hoosier State Whovians have plentiful reasons to rejoice: Indiana just so happens to be home to the largest shop and museum dedicated entirely to Dr. Who in the world! Who knew? Okay, we’ll show ourselves out, but first, you’ll want to read all about WHO North America here. 8901 IN-67, Camby, IN 46113, USA
- Bloomington’s Brain
Ali Eminov/Flickr So, did you know that Bloomington, Indiana, is home to an enormous, anatomically-correct brain sculpture? Well, now you do. This behemoth art project is made entirely out of Indiana’s own world-famous limestone and weighs an impressive five tons (10,000 pounds). It’s on the Indiana University Bloomington campus and appropriately looms before the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Some people might ask why, but we ask, “Why not?” 1101 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- The Largest Free-Standing Table Rock East of the Mississippi River
Figmig/Wikipedia ….if that’s too much of a mouthful, it also goes by “Jug Rock,” or even “mushroom rock.” Jug Rock is a strange geological feature that exists all by itself in a wooded area in Shoals, Indiana. It’s thought to have formed 325 to 286 million years ago, and it sits comfortably on protected land. It stands an impressive 42 feet high, and unfortunately, climbing on it is not allowed. Read more about Jug Rock and its origins in this article. 722 Albright Ln, Shoals, IN 47581, USA
- France Park
France Park/Facebook France Park is, from the looks of it, just your average park and recreation area. It’s located in Cass County and offers fun stuff like camping, hiking, bird-watching, and… SCUBA diving? Sure does. The swimming hole at France Park is actually an abandoned spring-fed quarry, and it’s a popular spot for SCUBA enthusiasts who love exploring the mining equipment from days of old that’s currently sitting at the bottom. Weird? Totally. Fun? Definitely. Read more about the park here. 4505 US-24, Logansport, IN 46947, USA
- The Indiana Medical History Museum
Indiana Medical History Museum/Facebook We can hear you asking, “What’s so weird about a museum?” Well, in this case, plenty. Located in the Pathology building of what was formerly known as Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane, this museum is a page ripped right out of the book of time. It’s a glimpse at medicine of the past and its relation to medicine of the present, and it’s an intriguing look at a darker side of human curiosity. Get more in-depth coverage of the museum in this article. 3270 Kirkbride Way, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA
- The Catacombs
Nate Davis/Flickr Catacombs? In Indy? It’s true! Sure, they’re not the kind of catacombs as you’ll find in, say, France, but they are still catacombs, and they’re located beneath the ever-popular City Market. Each year, tours are offered for those who are curious about them (because they’re inaccessible to the public the vast majority of the time). It’s a once-a-year chance to check out one of Indiana’s weirdest attractions, and we definitely recommend you go at least once. Click here to learn more about the tours and when the next ones are coming up. 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
- The Zoom Flume
Serena Rayne/Google Local Tucked away within the woods of Bloomington, Indiana, is an interesting - if not strange - place that even most locals don’t know about. It was incredibly popular when it was open from the late ’70s into the early ’80s; it likely closed due to safety and liability concerns. Nowadays, the remains of the “Zoom Flume” water slide are covered in ever-changing graffiti, and should you be able to get permission to access the land, it’s incredibly photo-worthy. Do keep in mind this one is on private property nowadays, but you can still see it from outside the chain-link fence that surrounds it if you’re unable to acquire permission. South Knightridge Road, S Knightridge Rd, Indiana 47401, USA
What are your thoughts? What are the weirdest places in Indiana that come to mind when YOU think about it? Tell us your picks in the comments! We love hearing from you (and learning about new places).
Laurie Piskun/Wikimedia
If you’re a fan of tricking your own brain with intriguing optical illusions, you’ll definitely want to visit the “gravity hill” in Mooresville, Indiana. In this weird little place, cars coast and water runs - all uphill. Or is it? Sure does look that way. Read more about this bizarre anomaly here.
Keller Hill Road, Keller Hill Rd, Mooresville, IN, USA
WHO North America
Hoosier State Whovians have plentiful reasons to rejoice: Indiana just so happens to be home to the largest shop and museum dedicated entirely to Dr. Who in the world! Who knew? Okay, we’ll show ourselves out, but first, you’ll want to read all about WHO North America here.
8901 IN-67, Camby, IN 46113, USA
Ali Eminov/Flickr
So, did you know that Bloomington, Indiana, is home to an enormous, anatomically-correct brain sculpture? Well, now you do. This behemoth art project is made entirely out of Indiana’s own world-famous limestone and weighs an impressive five tons (10,000 pounds). It’s on the Indiana University Bloomington campus and appropriately looms before the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Some people might ask why, but we ask, “Why not?”
1101 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Figmig/Wikipedia
….if that’s too much of a mouthful, it also goes by “Jug Rock,” or even “mushroom rock.” Jug Rock is a strange geological feature that exists all by itself in a wooded area in Shoals, Indiana. It’s thought to have formed 325 to 286 million years ago, and it sits comfortably on protected land. It stands an impressive 42 feet high, and unfortunately, climbing on it is not allowed. Read more about Jug Rock and its origins in this article.
722 Albright Ln, Shoals, IN 47581, USA
France Park/Facebook
France Park is, from the looks of it, just your average park and recreation area. It’s located in Cass County and offers fun stuff like camping, hiking, bird-watching, and… SCUBA diving? Sure does. The swimming hole at France Park is actually an abandoned spring-fed quarry, and it’s a popular spot for SCUBA enthusiasts who love exploring the mining equipment from days of old that’s currently sitting at the bottom. Weird? Totally. Fun? Definitely. Read more about the park here.
4505 US-24, Logansport, IN 46947, USA
Indiana Medical History Museum/Facebook
We can hear you asking, “What’s so weird about a museum?” Well, in this case, plenty. Located in the Pathology building of what was formerly known as Central Indiana Hospital for the Insane, this museum is a page ripped right out of the book of time. It’s a glimpse at medicine of the past and its relation to medicine of the present, and it’s an intriguing look at a darker side of human curiosity. Get more in-depth coverage of the museum in this article.
3270 Kirkbride Way, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA
Nate Davis/Flickr
Catacombs? In Indy? It’s true! Sure, they’re not the kind of catacombs as you’ll find in, say, France, but they are still catacombs, and they’re located beneath the ever-popular City Market. Each year, tours are offered for those who are curious about them (because they’re inaccessible to the public the vast majority of the time). It’s a once-a-year chance to check out one of Indiana’s weirdest attractions, and we definitely recommend you go at least once. Click here to learn more about the tours and when the next ones are coming up.
222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
Serena Rayne/Google Local
Tucked away within the woods of Bloomington, Indiana, is an interesting - if not strange - place that even most locals don’t know about. It was incredibly popular when it was open from the late ’70s into the early ’80s; it likely closed due to safety and liability concerns. Nowadays, the remains of the “Zoom Flume” water slide are covered in ever-changing graffiti, and should you be able to get permission to access the land, it’s incredibly photo-worthy. Do keep in mind this one is on private property nowadays, but you can still see it from outside the chain-link fence that surrounds it if you’re unable to acquire permission.
South Knightridge Road, S Knightridge Rd, Indiana 47401, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
