story by GLENDA WINDERS
As you hit the road in 2025, we’ve rounded up some of Indiana’s newest—and best—reasons to travel.
When we asked the question, “What’s new in Indiana?” boy, did we get answers! Turns out that in the past year all kinds of new attractions have sprung up from one end of the state to the other.
From fun experiences and comfortable places to stay to good dining spots and wonders to see, much awaits travelers who take to the roads in the new year.
For some of those wonders, the Indiana Dinosaur Museum in South Bend would be a great place to start. Come here to step back thousands of years and browse among real and lifelike specimens, or book a tour guided by the museum’s founder. Another option is to go behind the scenes, where you’ll meet a paleontologist and do a little archeological digging of your own.
Angola is now home to Cork and Barrel, an over-21 place to sip and socialize. Signature cocktails include the Bloody-o-Palomine, Smoked Maple Old Fashioned and Boujee Bubbles, and the bar food is anything but ordinary. Goat Cheese Fig Log, anyone? They also serve dessert – Carrot Cake Cheesecake and Lemon Bars, among others.
The Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart have been around for a while, but their new Events and Visitors Center has not. The 12,000-square-foot center has event capacity, a small café and gift shop, and an open-air pavilion for concerts and special events along with more parking spaces. If you’ve been to this beautiful spot before, go back again for an even better experience.
Elkhart’s preeminent historic home, Ruthmere, has a new upgrade, too. The Havilah Beardsley stables and carriage house on the campus have been repurposed as the Beardsley Discovery
Center. In addition to welcoming visitors to Ruthmere and serving as a gathering spot for tours, it also houses a state-of-the-art genealogy research center and rare-treasures gift shop. Note that the home is closed seasonally January-March, and will reopen for the season in April.
Bat-fans will find a different kind of adventure at the Fiberglass Freaks Batman Museum in Logansport. Here two floors house Batman sets, props, statues, cars, and memorabilia from the comic books, TV show and movies.
Syracuse in Kosciusko County is now home to South Shore Social, billed as “the ultimate hangout place,” and just listen to all it has: multisport simulators, indoor golf, interactive darts, shuffleboard, a martini and bourbon lounge, upscale nibbles and handcrafted cocktails. Nearby Warsaw boasts the new Falling Rabbit, another cozy place to hang out and sip creative cocktails while you munch on bar snacks.
PHOTO: Fiberglass Freaks Batman Museum
Bruno’s has been serving up pizza and other Italian dishes since 1955, and now they have a new location next to the Brokerage Brewing Co. in West Lafayette. Indulge in one of their specialty pizzas or opt for homemade lasagna, mushroom ravioli or cheese tortellini, among many other items on the menu. Whatever you choose, begin your meal with an order of Bruno Dough, their homemade pizza dough deep-fried and brushed with melted garlic butter and Parmesan cheese.
Lafayette news of a different variety concerns the 74 bronze sculptures of dancers, bathers and horses by French Impressionist Edgar Degas that are currently on display at the Purdue Galleries. Valued at $21 million, the iconic collection represents the largest gift ever presented to Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts.
Until Jan. 26, 2025, the Crisis Canning Exhibit at Muncie’s acclaimed Minnestrista Museum and Gardens illustrates the ancient and global tradition of food preservation through artifacts from the museum’s collection. The exhibit focuses on times of hardship — wars, pandemics, and economic struggles.
Three new spots for drinking and dining out have also sprung up in Muncie. Little Chicago’s Italian Restaurant is the place to go for something more special than takeout. Their specialty is a 7-inch deep-dish personal pizza, but their menu goes way beyond that to pastas and salads along with wine and beer. Baryo (“village” in English) is the new Filipino eatery where you’ll find authentic dishes such as lechon kawali (pork belly), fried pompano (“the world’s most eatable fish”), pancit malabon (thick rice noodles in a savory sauce) and pancit palabok (noodles with shrimp).
Music is on the menu at Room 5 Piano Bar here. Local owner Louis Garcia has realized his dream of creating a gathering place where locals and Ball State students could hang out together and enjoy entertainment. Musician and co-owner Jay Jones “can play anything,” according to those who have been, and outside artists and students often perform here, too. Cocktails and bar food are top-notch.
Something is always happening in Hamilton County. The big news this year has been the Fishers Event Center, a venue for sporting events, concerts, Cirque du Soleil performances, and much more. Also new is The Nickel Plate Hotel adjacent to the Nickel Plate Trail and close to shopping and entertainment.
The year has seen a ton of new Hamilton County restaurants open their doors, too. Carmel’s Arts & Design District welcomed Tre on Main, Goodness Gracious Cupboard & Kitchen and the Bloomington, Ind. favorite, Buffalouie’s. Carmel City Center added to its roster of restaurants, Aroma Experience, Hanami Sushi & Sake Bar, and Lone Pine, followed by upscale steakhouse, Charred, in early 2025.
In Westfield, check out Urban Apples, Hamilton County’s first, and only, cidery. The 25-acre property is home to the cidery, a restaurant, apple orchard, fishing ponds, musical amphitheater, and kids’ play area.
New in Terre Haute is the Larry Bird Museum, which celebrates the life and contributions of the Indiana State legend, Boston Celtics superstar and Indiana Pacers coach. The museum was the brainchild of loyal fans and the Terre Haute community, and it contains exhibits that showcase rare memorabilia, iconic moments, interviews and highlights of Bird’s career. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.
Amusements of a different kind are waiting to be discovered at the new Terre Haute Casino Resort. Here you’ll find 1,000 slots that include video poker, 36 live gaming tables, six bars and five restaurants that range from the elegant Four Cornered Steakhouse to The Soda Shop for snacks and light bites.
In downtown Lawrenceburg, a historic gem has re-opened to the public as a brand new attraction and event space. Located on Walnut Street in the City’s historic district, the Liberty Theater will be a premier, original live music site in addition to hosting a draft beer, bourbon, and whiskey bar plus regular brunches and special events. Originally built in 1893 as home to the Liedertafel Society, this historic landmark has been home to many businesses and endured decades of wear and tear. Over the past year, the theater has undergone a complete overhaul with extensive renovations spearheaded by new owner Dan McCabe, who has revived the long- dormant theater into a versatile venue dedicated to artist development and the celebration of all
things “Whiskey City.”
The folks at the White Diamond Lavender Farm in Hope have now opened a three-bedroom retreat home that’s perfect for such events as family get-togethers, girlfriends’ getaways and bridal parties. Complete with fireplace, balcony and deck as well as a full kitchen and amenities like WiFi, laundry and air conditioning, the house provides everything you need for whatever gathering you are planning.
Huntingburg Fourth Street is quickly emerging as a foodie destination with new restaurants such as Butcher & Barrel.
Here guests dine on locally sourced ingredients and thoughtfully crafted dishes that include their prime cuts and smoked meats. The ambience is warm but upscale, and a “spirits adviser” purveys beer, wine and specialty cocktails.
Also on Fourth Street are the already-established Mama T’s Italian Steakhouse, the Huntingburg Grind Coffee & Tea Co., Yard Goat Artisan Ales, The Gaslight Pizza & Grill, and Fry’d. And if that isn’t enough, a creamery, Spanish tapas bar and Cuban eatery are due to arrive in 2025.
