Attractions in Pulaski County are plentiful enough to keep you entertained and engaged, whatever your interests. This is the home of Kersting’s Cycle Center and the World of Motorcycles Museum, dubbed by Rider magazine “one of the best bike museums in the Midwest.” Here founder Jim Kersting began displaying his collection of nearly 100 bikes from eight countries and nearly 90 years of manufacturing in 1962. He added more bikes and memorabilia every year until his death in 2021. Read more about Kersting’s Cycle Center here: travelindiana.com/experience-speed-in-pulaski-county/.
Kersting’s childhood love of making things work led him to create his first bike with an old motorcycle frame and the motor from his mother’s washing machine — without her permission. He went on to parlay this love of machines into a motorcycle mecca that now spreads over 40 acres and fills a 40,000-square-foot indoor space outside of Winimac.
You don’t have to be a rider yourself to enjoy a Friday or Saturday afternoon marveling at the 1926 Harley-Davidson BA, the 1931 Indian four-cylinder, the 1916 H.-D. Model J, or the scores of other vintage bikes. You’ll also discover photographs and memorabilia as well as vintage automobiles.
If you are already a rider or catch the bug while you’re here, however, they’ll be happy to sell you a new bike or have your old one repaired. They’ve also got a shop filled with every kind of equipment you can imagine — ranging from chaps, boots and jackets to T-shirts, sunglasses and bicycles for kids.
Gear-heads looking for attractions in Pulaski County will also enjoy the excitement of the stock-car races at Shadyhill Speedway. Situated on 40 acres in the north central part of the county and surrounded by forests and fields, the speedway roars to life on Saturday nights like an internal-combustion lion in the Midwestern jungle.
From mid-May through late September, multiple stock cars speed around the oval dirt track, with their drivers seeking to set new records — or at least to leave their competitors in their dust. Offering concessions (including of the libatious variety), access to the pits, and all the speed and noise you could ever want, Shadyhill keeps bringing visitors back to rural Medaryville.
Among the most popular attractions in Pulaski County is Fort Knox, which bills itself as the World’s Premier Paintball Park. Their 14 themed locations for battling it out with paint-filled weapons include Alcatraz, Bridge on the River Kwai, Deadwood, Bermuda, Area 51, the Temple of Doom and a P.O.W. Camp.
State-of-the art facilities guarantee shooters a safe and exciting experience, and when they want to take a break they can play laser tag or go inside for refreshments, video games and shopping. Walk-ons are welcome, and they are also set up to host your next private event.
For animal-lovers seeking a quieter kind of fun, one of the top attractions in Pulaski County is the non-profit Peaceable Primate Sanctuary, also in Winimac. The organization was formed in 2002 with a mission to rescue baboons that had been used in medical trials or as pets or for entertainment. Because of their size, these majestic primates can’t be housed in typical animal shelters.
Located on 39 acres, the facility encompasses housing for 15 baboons with names such as Gondwana, Babbles and A.J., each with his or her own distinctive personality. Also on the property are a food preparation and storage facility, an office, perimeter fencing and gardens. Future plans include a clinic where sick and injured animals can be treated.
Visitors who come here can learn about the animals’ social systems, behavior and ecology, mating, birth and relationships with humans. The sanctuary is private, but you can arrange a tour if you call ahead.
