Sightseeing Sunday: Weird Things to Do in Indiana
Looking for weird things to do in Indiana? We’ve been collecting roadside oddities, oversized objects, offbeat attractions, and stops that make you wonder how a state ended up with rotating jails and a martini-drinking elephant.
Fun Facts About Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana — one of the stops on this list — is the only city in the world with that name, and its post office gets thousands of letters addressed to Santa every December.
The Indianapolis 500 has been run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1911, making it one of the oldest major auto races in the world.
Indiana produces more than 20% of the popcorn grown in the U.S.
The world’s first train robbery happened in Jackson County, Indiana, in 1866.
Indiana brings the roadside weird — world’s largest ball of paint, rotating jails, and a town literally called Santa Claus. Some of these we’ve visited, others are still on our list. When we’ve been somewhere, the link takes you to our photo page with details and snark. Otherwise, you’ll head to their official site — assuming one exists, since sometimes that’s half the adventure.
Unique Attractions & Weird Things to Do in Indiana
Weird Roadside & Oddities
Alexandria
World’s Largest Ball of Paint – Located at 10696 N 200 W.
Bloomington
Brain Sculpture – World’s largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture at Indiana University. Coordinates: 39.1721, -86.5202
The Garret – Unique antique store inside an ornate limestone building.
Zoom Flume – Abandoned 1980s waterslide covered in graffiti (on private property, viewable from outside fence). Coordinates: 39.0695, -86.4024
Clarksville
Colgate-Palmolive Clock – 2nd largest clock in the world.
Columbus
World’s Largest Toilet – Located inside kidscommons Children’s Museum.
Crawfordsville
Rotary Jail Museum – One of only 3 remaining rotary jails, the only one that still rotates.
Elkhart
Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum – First superhero museum ever created.
Fishers
Conner Prairie – Living history museum where you step into the story.
Fortville
Martini-drinking Pink Elephant – Located at 308 W. Broadway St.
Greencastle
Periodic Museum of Elements – Display of actual periodic table elements at DePauw University’s Julian Science Center.
Indianapolis
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – World’s largest children’s museum.
Holliday Park – Home of The Ruins, architectural pieces from a 1950s NYC skyscraper.
Indiana Medical History Museum – Explore the origins of modern medicine (by appointment only).
Indiana State Museum – Houses the state’s largest IMAX screen.
Indianapolis Art Center – Unique sculptures including the Twisted House you can enter.
Indianapolis Moon Tree – Sycamore tree grown from seed taken to the moon on Apollo 14, located at Indiana Statehouse.
K1 Speed – Race go-karts up to 45 mph.
Kokomo
Kokomantis – Very large praying mantis sculpture.
World’s Largest Preserved Steer – Old Ben Drive.
World’s Largest Sycamore Stump – Old Ben Drive.
Mentone
World’s Largest Egg – Giant egg monument.
Nashville
The Sock Barn – Trade a dirty sock for a geode. Coordinates: 39.1518, -86.3466
New Harmony
Harmonist Labyrinth – Large labyrinth open year-round. Coordinates: 38.1224, -87.9359
Santa Claus
Santa Claus Central – Christmas-themed town attractions.
Factory Tours & Behind-the-Scenes
Bristol
Thor Motor Coach Tour – Also offered in Elkhart and Wakarusa.
Centerville
Warm Glow Candle Company – Large textured candle leads to shop with unique scents.
Elkhart
Thor Motor Coach Tour – Also offered in Bristol and Wakarusa.
Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks Farms – Multiple tour and activity options, dog park on site.
Fort Wayne
DeBrand Fine Chocolates Tour – Factory tour and chocolate tasting.
Indianapolis
City Market Catacombs – Tour the catacombs beneath Indianapolis. Closed for redevelopment as of 3/1/24.
City Market Tours – Topside tour of market history. Closed for redevelopment as of 3/1/24.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tours – Behind-the-scenes racing experience.
Lilly House – Guided tour depicting life 100 years ago.
Lucas Oil Speedway – Ride along or race in a dragster at up to 140 mph.
Newfields – Multiple attractions including Lilly House.
Jeffersonville
Schimpff’s Confectionary – Old-fashioned candy store with tours.
Kokomo
Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company Tour – Watch glass-making in action.
Lafayette
Subaru of Indiana Factory Tour – See how Subarus are made.
Ligonier
Annie Oakley Perfume Factory Tour – Behind-the-scenes perfume making.
Middlebury
Jayco RV’s Factory Tour – See RV manufacturing process.
Nappanee
Newmar RV Factory Tour – Tour luxury RV production.
South Bend
South Bend Chocolate Factory Tour – Watch chocolate being made.
St Joe
Sechler’s Pickle Factory Tour – Offered one week per year during St Joe Pickle Festival.
Wakarusa
Wakarusa RV Factory Tours – RV manufacturing tours and jumbo jelly beans, because Indiana does not do subtlety.
Parks, Trails & Waterfalls
Bedford
Bluespring Cavern – Largest navigable underground river in the United States.
Elkhart
Wellfield Botanical Gardens – Working hydropower source producing 75% of Elkhart’s drinking water.
Plan Your Indiana Road Trip
We’re always adding new weird things to do in Indiana to this list, so check back for more roadside attractions, quirky museums, oversized oddities, and future road trip discoveries.
Where to next? Check out our Iowa roadside attractions guide for more Midwest weird, browse our complete roadside attractions by state guide, get tips for traveling with pets, or head back to the Right At The Light homepage.
Interactive Map: Weird Roadside Stops We’re Tracking
This map includes weird roadside attractions, big-rig friendly stops, and places still on our running road trip list across the country.