Plan a Day Away to Jasper Indiana

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Welcome to the “Wood Capital of the World,” Jasper, Indiana! That moniker was coined because of all the furniture companies located here. But there’s more to this town than household accessories. Jasper also has the only municipally supported Arts Council in the Hoosier State. And Jasper is home to several attractions, recreation and shopping venues, all close to home. In fact, it’s an easy 25 mile drive down SR 56.
 

Jasper City Mill
First stop, the Jasper City Mill, a renovated building filled with history. In 1828, a young Abraham Lincoln traveled with his father to the mill to have the family’s grain ground. Visitors can take a tour of the mill and watch as the waterwheel provides power to the millstones that grind the corn into meal. Mill memorabilia is also on display and visitors may purchase mill-ground cornmeal in the gift shop.
 

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy time spent at the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, which features close to 200 Hoosier inductees. There's plenty to see with interactive presentations, an Indiana Hall of Fame, baseball memorabilia and Hoosier baseball exhibits, which include high school, college and professional athletes.
 

Dubois County Museum Display
The Dubois County Museum is home to more than 38,000 artifacts pertaining to the fourteen communities that make up the county. Exhibits cover the Ice Age to modern day events and provide visitors with a glimpse of the rich heritage that is Dubois County. The museum also houses a 17 room Main Street display where guests can “step back in time” to the 1890s. There’s also a huge model train display and a wild game safari exhibit.
 

Spirit of Jasper
All aboard the Spirit of Jasper for a scenic trip through Southern Indiana. Pulled by a 1956 General Electric 80-ton diesel-electric engine, the train consists of three renovated rail cars; a club car from the 1940s, the lounge car built in the early 1920s and the parlor car believed to have been built in the 1940s. Ride the rails through the second longest tunnel in Indiana, crossing several railroad trestles and bridges along the way. Train excursions will begin again in the spring.
 

Schnitz Tasting Flight
Basketcase Brewing Company is a local nanobrewery that produces 1.5 barrels of beer at a time. Their offerings include Revolution English Pale Ale, Busta Nut Brown Ale, Maneater Blonde Ale, Hoppy By Nature IPA, with a seasonal Scarecrow Wheat offering.
 

Schnitz Brewery and Pub is another local brewery that features four regular and seasonal house-brewed beers. Try a beer flight and sample these Indiana microbrewed beers on tap. Schnitz offers a wheat, blonde, IPA and porter, along with a seasonal offering, and homemade root beer. Enjoy pizza, appetizers and burgers in the restaurant.
 

Jasper Riverwalk
During warmer weather, stroll along Jasper’s beautiful Riverwalk, a 2 mile scenic path that winds along the Patoka River. There’s also plenty of dining options in town, and numerous events and festivals held throughout the year. Plan a day away in historic Jasper. For more information, contact the Dubois County Visitor’s Center.
By Joy Neighbors
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