7 Quirkiest Indiana Towns To Visit In 2025

The Midwestern state of Indiana is no stranger to unusual places. After all, since it's the Crossroads of America, all sorts of people travel here and set down roots. For visitors looking for a different sort of experience, Indiana has several quirky small towns that are worth visiting. Within these towns, one can find a hilarious museum, a quilted garden, old utopian monuments, and even the world's most inconvenient inn. Here are 7 of the quirkiest towns in Indiana to check out.

Santa Claus

Few towns have such a festive name as Santa Claus. According to a local legend, when residents had gathered to decide a name for the town in the church, children thought they heard the bells from Santa Claus' reindeer, so the name Santa Claus was chosen. Within the quirky Christmas Village, visitors can step inside that historic church, as well as the 1856 post office, where the young and young at heart can mail letters to St. Nick. Speaking of festivities, Holiday World is the most popular attraction in Santa Claus. This amusement park has plenty of thrills with roller coasters, water rides, and free unlimited soft drinks. Lastly, history buffs will want to see the nearby community of Lincoln City where the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial lies. Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years here in Indiana, thus making it an ideal place to learn about the president.

Vincennes

As the oldest founded town in Indiana, Vincennes has seen a lot of changes since it was established by the French in 1732. It would serve as the capital of the Northwest Territory prior to Indiana becoming a state. Some of the oldest buildings in Indiana are here, like the Original Territory Capitol Building, a red timber frame structure from 1805, and the 1801 Jefferson Academy, established by Governor William Henry Harrison. There are two other unique places here in Vincennes. One is the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park, the site of the largest national monument west of Washington, D.C., and the other is the Red Skelton Museum of Comedy. This fun interactive museum will teach you about the comic's life, trials, tribulations, and how he kept the laughter through it all.

Angola

Angola is nestled within a rich lakeside environment. In fact, there are more than 101 lakes in larger Steuben County, which makes Angola a favorite spot for fishing, boating, and other water activities. For visitors looking to enjoy a day on the lake, Pokagon State Park sits right on Lake James and features boating, more than 13 miles of hiking trails, and the quirkiest attraction in the area: a refrigerated toboggan run. During winter months, you can hit the 90-foot-tall twin track for a fun and thrilling ride. Speaking of thrills, racing fans can see cars careen around a 3/8 mile track at the Angola Motorsport Speedway. If you're in the mood for a less heart-pounding experience, visit The Gallery to see crafts and art from more than 20 local artists.

Shipshewana

When most folks go on a trip, they don’t typically think of Amish country as a place to visit due to the insular nature of Amish communities. However, Shipshewana is sure to surprise anyone with its hospitality within one of the largest Amish communities in the United States. There are several Amish-themed attractions in town, such as the Menno-Hof Interpretative Center, which has exhibits on Mennonite lifestyles along with a 17th-century boat, Amish homestyle cooking at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, and other spots. Quilting is also a big deal in Shipshewana, and visitors can enjoy a beautiful and unique site at the Quilt Gardens in the Heritage Trail. These 16 gardens are designed to look just like a quilt of many colors. Speaking of trails, visitors can enjoy the sites of Amish country on foot by exploring the paved Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, which runs for 17 miles to Goshen.

Nashville

Nashville is a marvelous Hoosier getaway, situated amid the rolling hills of Brown County. Between its natural beauty and artisan village, it has a lot in common with Eastern Tennessee towns like Gatlinburg. In fact, its most famous park, Brown County State Park, is often compared with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for its scenic overlooks. Visitors can see one of the best views by ascending a 90-foot fire tower or by taking the CCC trail that passes by several lookout towers. If you're willing to go exploring in the park off the beaten track, you can find Story Inn. Located within a ghost town, this inn calls itself the world's most inconvenient inn still in operation, which also features a restaurant in an old-timey general store next door. There are also a few ghost stories about this old inn that are sure to chill your spine! Lastly, don't forget to explore downtown Nashville and pick up a souvenir, such as an Indonesian chess set from Bali Makasih Island Imports.

Corydon

This quirky town has great pride in its history. Much as Vincennes was the territorial capital, Corydon was the first state capital of Indiana from 1816 to 1825. Even though that era is long in the past, Corydon keeps many of these buildings intact. Visitors can tour the grounds of these structures, such as the First State Capitol Building and the 1817 First State Office Building. One of the quirkier historical monuments is the Constitution Elm. Indiana's state constitution was signed beneath this massive tree. Today, the trunk has been protected by a sandstone monument around it. After exploring the historic grounds of downtown Corydon, get out into the wild trails of O'Bannon Woods, which has 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, or explore the depths of the Indiana Caverns, which offers an underground boat ride.

New Harmony

New Harmony is perhaps the quirkiest town in all of Indiana, due in no small part to its intriguing history. The town's founders include not one but two utopian-minded groups: the Harmonists and Owenites. The Harmonists were a celibate German Christian group, while the Owenites were a progressive political movement from the 1800s. Their legacy is reflected in the landscape of New Harmony, including quirky places like the Harmonist Labyrinth, originally built by the Harmonists, featuring a stone structure in the center, with a private hedge maze around it. Visitors love to get lost in this maze.

Many of the other attractions in town are meant to encourage meditation such as the open air Roofless Church or the outdoor Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary, a walled in outdoor gallery with gardens and sculptures. If you'd rather just be in nature, then go for a hike at the scenic Harmonie State Park by the shores of the Wabash River.

Anyone who is looking for a more unique experience is going to enjoy these small Indiana towns. This is especially the case for outdoorsy folks with a taste for more than just your standard park. They can get lost in the outdoor Harmonist Labyrinth of New Harmony, see the beautiful quilted pattern gardens of Shipshewana, or even see an old inn nestled deep in the woods of Nashville. These towns are quirky, welcoming, and perfect for any vacation or day trip.