The One Indiana Town Everyone Should Visit At Least Once
Discover the small town of Nashville, no, not that one, but rather Nashville, Indiana. Located in Brown County, which has been hailed as the “Art Colony of the Midwest”, Nashville has been attracting artists and craftsmen for over a century. They come for the culture, lifestyle, camaraderie, and stay for the natural beauty of the hilly, glacial valley. Join the movement and see why so many are flocking to this one Indiana town everyone should visit at least once.
Arts & Culture
Although walking through Nashville, Indiana, doesn’t quite have the same effect as walking down Broadway Street in Tennessee, it was once dubbed “Little Nashville” by country music fans. It housed its own Little Nashville Opry for 25 years before a fire claimed the venue. Today, guests looking for live entertainment can visit the Brown County Playhouse for plays, musicals, concerts, and special events hosted all year long. Inside the playhouse, exhibits also display art from local artists of the Artist Associates of Brown County. The 400-seat venue provides an intimate evening for patrons to enjoy the arts.
Enjoy more of the arts at the Brown County Art Gallery. Supporting local artists since 1926, the gallery features past, present, and future creators, and the facility houses works of over 60 current artists as part of the permanent collection of historic art. Permanent collections include the work of woodblock artist Gustave Baumann, who began his career in Brown County in the early 1900s, as well as works of William Zimmerman, one of the U.S.’s most famed bird artists.
Food & Drink
Enjoy a mix of history and classic food with a fine dining experience at The Nashville House. Savory home cooking, antique collectibles, and good old hospitality are just a few of the things guest will receive upon their visit. Reconstructed in 1943 after a fire, the third-generation-owned restaurant has been brought back to life and slightly modernized, while still harboring the charm, warmth, and friendliness it has always been known for. Enjoy the home cooking and fried biscuits in the restaurant, and then head to the Old Country Store and pick up some homemade jam, local honey, oven-fresh breads, pies and cookies, and candy.
Music, dinner, drinks, and unmatched views are just a few of the amenities guests can receive at Hard Truth on the Rocks. The outdoor terrace features live music every Friday and Saturday night during their On The Rocks concert series to allow visitors the enjoyment of entertainment to go along with their cocktails and dinner. Tour the distillery and pick your favorite bourbon to pair with your beer-battered fish and chips or Busted Knuckle Chili.
Outdoor Adventure
Take in the natural beauty offered in Nashville with a hike around Yellowwood State Forest. Over 23,000 acres of land await you with adventures of hiking, camping, horseback riding, and wildlife watching, while the 133-acre man-made lake is available for fishing, rowing, and canoeing. Over 2,000 of those acres were dedicated to the planting and regeneration of pine, black locust, black walnut, white, and red oak trees. Unfortunately, most of those have succumbed to insects, disease, and harsh winters. However, they do still provide a unique learning experience for visitors.
Take advantage of even more outdoor wonder at Brown County State Park. Sometimes referred to as the “Little Smokies” due to their resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, these 16,000 acres comprise rugged hills, ridges, and ravines. Ancient glaciers used their meltwater to create the narrow ridges, steep slopes, and deep gullies of the park. Almost 20 miles of tree-lined roads run through Indiana’s largest park and provide multiple viewpoints and vistas. Enjoy some of the most popular attractions in the park, including the 90-foot fire tower, the rare Yellowwood tree, and the nature center with endangered timber rattlesnake, or stay at the Abe Martin Lodge.
Nearby Towns
Just outside of Nashville is the college town of Bloomington. The home of Indiana University provides plenty of entertainment for visitors, locals, and college students. Spend a day relaxing at Leonard Springs Nature Park or take one of two small trails through the 95.5-acre park. The Leonard Springs is a rugged, natural trail equipped with steep slopes and stairs providing views of a wetland, caves, Shirley Springs, and other natural wonders. Cap off the day with a drink at Oliver Winery. Explore the wondrous gardens on the grounds, or spread out on the hillside picnic area with a wine flight for a leisurely afternoon.
Head out about 30 minutes outside of Nashville to Columbus and see why Mill Race Park was named one of the top 100 parks in the U.S. for design, reputation, and accessibility. The 85-acre riverfront park blends intricate design with natural beauty and features an 84-foot observation tower, a historic covered bridge, walking trails, an amphitheater, and more. Another focal point in town is the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum. Dedicated to the memory of all who served in any capacity in the wars from 1942 to 1970, the museum includes history, photos, and personal stories of those memorialized.
For those looking to get out and explore new locations, make sure to opt for the towns that might be unheard of, lesser known, or isolated. In most cases, this translates to more relaxing, peaceful, quiet, and enjoyable. With plenty of activities to participate in, outdoor sights to take in, and dining to indulge in, see why Nashville is the one Indiana town everyone should visit at least once. Pack your bags and explore this arts and music town, and enjoy the amenities of the surrounding towns as well.
