Indiana is a delightful place to live and a fun place to visit (no matter what anyone who [wrongly] calls it “Flyover Country” says). In just about every nook and cranny, you’ll find something fun to do, from the outrageous to the courageous to the downright weird, and in this case, we went ahead and compiled a list of six of our favorite weird and wacky roadside attractions in the Hoosier State. This ultra-fun (and ultra-weird) road trip in Indiana is perfect for a weekend or even just one day – the drive time is only about six hours total, ensuring you can do it all at once or stretch it out however you please. Follow along on the official Google Map!
Buckle up and let’s go get some weird, wild, and wonderful fun.
Google Maps
- Our first stop: the world’s largest sycamore… stump.
The B/TripAdvisor Imagine that you’re a tree. Then, imagine that you’re a tree so legendary that, once you die, your stump is still kept forever and turned into an attraction. Enter the world’s largest sycamore stump, a tree that was thought to be up to 1,500 years old when it was felled in a storm some decades ago. It’s more than 50 feet in diameter, and seriously - it is a sight to behold. It may not sound all that interesting upon first read, but trust us… this one will drop your jaw. It’s just one of many oddities in Indiana that qualify as a “biggest.” 1402 W Defenbaugh St, Kokomo, IN 46902, USA
- Next, we’ll be heading to an out-of-this-world candy factory named after the punniest planet: Uranus.
Uranus Indiana/Facebook
Uranus Indiana/Facebook If you’re a fan of ridiculously stupid puns - more puns than you ever knew you needed in your life - then head over to Uranus. No, it’s not the seventh planet from the sun (though that would be pretty cool), it’s just an amazing candy, fudge, and chocolate factory - perfect for anyone with even a hint of a sweet tooth. Bring your sense of humor to Uranus Fudge Factory… you’re gonna need it. 1423 W 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013, USA
- Next up, something on the spooky side: the allegedly haunted “screaming bridge” of Avon.
toledo589ad/Flickr This supposedly creepy local landmark is known to locals as one of the most haunted places in Indiana. Come check it out… if you’re brave enough. 271 S County Rd 625 E, Avon, IN 46123, USA
- The next stop is a little on the dark side, though we’re not sure it’s much darker than the screaming bridge.
Allen County Public Library Digital Collections In 1978, a small plane carrying nine important figures in the Indiana racing scene crashed, ironically, into a cemetery, killing all on board. The bodies were, unfortunately, in incredibly rough shape, unable to be formally identified, and buried together in an unmarked grave at the Arlington East Hill Cemetery. Make this stop and check out the spooky (and fascinating) memorial marker placed on the grounds to commemorate them. 6350 US-52, Arlington, IN 46104, USA
- And now for something completely different: a stunning art installation lovingly (if not mistakenly) known as “The Hubcap Lady.”
LuAnn Snawder Photography/Flickr Nestled between a lumber yard and some railroad tracks is a stunning work of art that folks often call “The Hubcap Lady,” though she was not, in fact, made from recycled hubcaps. She’s a legend and a tribute to women and womanhood everywhere, standing tall and strong and visible among the rest of the average world. She’s a fun, psychedelic attraction in Indiana that’s sure to make an impression. 1275 Dutch Ln, Jeffersonville, IN 47130, USA
- Finally, we’ll meander down to another unique art installation in Indiana: the Shoe Tree.
Traveler/Google Local
Traveler/Google Local This large, mature maple tree near Milltown, Indiana, has been covered in various folks’ shoes over the years, and you can add yours to the mix, too! After the original tree was struck by lightning, the works simply spread to other trees in the vicinity - and now it’s more like a shoe forest. This is a fun, weird little hidden gem in Indiana you’ll be happy to check out at least once. 3826 S Devils Hollow Rd, Milltown, IN 47145, USA
So there you have it: a fun, quirky road trip in Indiana to do over a weekend when you’re otherwise bored with nothing to do. Which of these stops did you enjoy the most? What would you add to the itinerary? Let us know in the comments!
Google Maps
The B/TripAdvisor
Imagine that you’re a tree. Then, imagine that you’re a tree so legendary that, once you die, your stump is still kept forever and turned into an attraction. Enter the world’s largest sycamore stump, a tree that was thought to be up to 1,500 years old when it was felled in a storm some decades ago. It’s more than 50 feet in diameter, and seriously - it is a sight to behold. It may not sound all that interesting upon first read, but trust us… this one will drop your jaw. It’s just one of many oddities in Indiana that qualify as a “biggest.”
1402 W Defenbaugh St, Kokomo, IN 46902, USA
Uranus Indiana/Facebook
If you’re a fan of ridiculously stupid puns - more puns than you ever knew you needed in your life - then head over to Uranus. No, it’s not the seventh planet from the sun (though that would be pretty cool), it’s just an amazing candy, fudge, and chocolate factory - perfect for anyone with even a hint of a sweet tooth. Bring your sense of humor to Uranus Fudge Factory… you’re gonna need it.
1423 W 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013, USA
toledo589ad/Flickr
This supposedly creepy local landmark is known to locals as one of the most haunted places in Indiana. Come check it out… if you’re brave enough.
271 S County Rd 625 E, Avon, IN 46123, USA
Allen County Public Library Digital Collections
In 1978, a small plane carrying nine important figures in the Indiana racing scene crashed, ironically, into a cemetery, killing all on board. The bodies were, unfortunately, in incredibly rough shape, unable to be formally identified, and buried together in an unmarked grave at the Arlington East Hill Cemetery. Make this stop and check out the spooky (and fascinating) memorial marker placed on the grounds to commemorate them.
6350 US-52, Arlington, IN 46104, USA
LuAnn Snawder Photography/Flickr
Nestled between a lumber yard and some railroad tracks is a stunning work of art that folks often call “The Hubcap Lady,” though she was not, in fact, made from recycled hubcaps. She’s a legend and a tribute to women and womanhood everywhere, standing tall and strong and visible among the rest of the average world. She’s a fun, psychedelic attraction in Indiana that’s sure to make an impression.
1275 Dutch Ln, Jeffersonville, IN 47130, USA
Traveler/Google Local
This large, mature maple tree near Milltown, Indiana, has been covered in various folks’ shoes over the years, and you can add yours to the mix, too! After the original tree was struck by lightning, the works simply spread to other trees in the vicinity - and now it’s more like a shoe forest. This is a fun, weird little hidden gem in Indiana you’ll be happy to check out at least once.
3826 S Devils Hollow Rd, Milltown, IN 47145, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.