The Best Small Town In Indiana For A 3-Day Weekend
Although it was named for the Tennessee city, Nashville, Indiana, bears little resemblance to the larger “Music City” of the South. In fact, the Indiana Nashville is better known for its history as an artists’ colony than for any relation to music history. With a population of 1,256 people as of the 2020 census, the Hoosier State’s Nashville is much smaller, as well.
The population grows during tourist season, when opportunities abound for exploring the outdoors and the art gallery at the heart of the community. From hiking and camping in Brown County State Park, or touring the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, to grabbing delicious pastries at Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls & Cafe, or tasting fresh whiskey at Hard Times Distillery, the best small town in Indiana provides a delightful 3-day excursion for outdoor enthusiasts, art aficionados, and families.
A History of Art
Historically an artists’ colony, Nashville is still a refuge for working artists. The Brown County Art Gallery first opened as a home for impressionists in the early 20th century, but as more artists found the town with its natural beauty, they began moving in and bringing friends. The gallery now represents the works of 60 artists in residence over 15,000 square feet and houses a permanent collection of historic pieces. It is open for special exhibits, educational offerings, and displays of local artists’ works. After a visit to the Art Gallery, take a tour of the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, the retreat home of T.C. Steele and his wife, who spurred the artistic movement in the town. The artist built his studio here, and his impressionist-style paintings were inspired by the surrounding countryside.
Commune with Nature
Any visit to Nashville should include wandering through Brown County State Park with its 16,000 acres. It’s often compared to the Great Smoky Mountains because of its hills, ravines, ridges, and fall leaf colors. The park also offers lodging, campgrounds, an indoor water park, and trails for hiking and biking. One campground features 70 miles of horse trails for guided and unguided rides. For the true adventurer, the county’s Lilly Lookout fire tower is 75 feet tall and offers expansive views of the park and surrounding land.
Yellowwood State Forest is another nature spot not to be missed. Its 24,162 acres are home to the 133-acre Yellowwood Lake. The lake features a boat launch and boat, kayak, and paddleboat rentals, and is open for fishing by permit. Like Brown County State Park, Yellowwood has campsites, horse and hiking trails, and a lodge (The Lodge at Yellowwood), plus gold panning is permitted with a license.
Stay in Nashville
If staying close to the parks is a priority, book a room at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. It was built in 1932 from wood and stone taken from the park and offers cabins in addition to 80 hotel rooms. It’s family-friendly, with a water park featuring a lazy river and slides, plus a game room. The Lodge’s Little Gem Restaurant is a rustic spot to grab a meal all day or host an event.
The Artists Colony Inn offers accommodations in downtown Nashville, with Shaker-inspired furniture and Impressionist art throughout the rooms and facilities. Many of the rooms feature balconies, offering views of the goings-on in downtown. The Artists Colony Restaurant on-site features scratch-made American fare and an outdoor seating area for enjoying the town’s 4-season weather.
Downtown Fun
Explore downtown’s shops and restaurants by booking tickets for a show at The Brown County Music Center, which is a 2,017-seat venue that hosts national and local musicians throughout the year. Located along the banks of Salt Creek, it was built after the Little Nashville Opry burned down in 2009 and includes a family garden and a beer garden.
Take some time to do some shopping, too. Doc Tilton House Curio Shop is filled with locally made crafts, vintage items, and even a museum with facts about Brown County. For canine pals, The Bone Appetit Bakery is the spot for natural dog treats, with more than 20 flavors, shapes, and sizes. The shop even offers special occasion treats, like iced cookies in fun, “dog-friendly” shapes. If human goodies take priority, head to Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls & Cafe for breakfast and choose from more than 20 flavors of the sticky confections, as well as breads, muffins, and sandwiches.
The Nashville House restaurant has been in town since 1927 and is known for its comfort food, including its well-known fried biscuits and the delicious Apple Butter Bacon Burger. The bar offers craft beer and cocktails, and wine. For more alcoholic pursuits, take a tour of the Hard Truth Distilling Co. to learn about the distillery’s sweet mash rye whiskey and bourbon. Tourists even get to sample the goods. The distillery even offers a Tiki Bar, which features rum cocktails. Guests can reach the Tiki Bar via the themed Tiki Cruise, led by a Hard Truth tour guide, for a fun and interesting experience.
Nashville, Indiana, may be small in size, but it delivers an outstanding blend of natural beauty, artistic heritage, and small-town charm. Whether wandering through galleries that celebrate more than a century of artistic tradition, savoring delicious food downtown, or taking in mountaintop views from a fire tower, this Brown County gem offers something memorable in every season.
