Are you wondering how to spend a day in Van Wert & Delphos Ohio? I was pleasantly surprised to find so many hidden gems. Come with me as we explore a day in Van Wert and Delphos Ohio along the Miami and Erie Canal…
What Delphos, Ohio has to offer…
The Axe Cave -an ax-throwing experience that is something new and different for local entertainment. The Kangaroo Cave, at the same location, is an indoor play place for children with lots of bouncy things.
Delphos Waterworks Park– a playground, covered picnic tables, and a large skate ramp. There were lots of kids playing when I visited.
St. John’s Catholic Church– another grand and amazing church inside a small town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its Romanesque Revival architectural significance, the church’s exterior is striking. It includes an altar built to resemble that of Rome’s Basilica di San Clemente. Tours may be arranged by calling the church office. Immaculate Conception is another gorgeous church in nearby tiny Ottoville.
Marks Family House– 233 N Franklin St -a historic house built in the Queen Anne style of architecture with a well-preserved exterior and original interior. It has a tower and wrap-around porch.
Delphos Canal Museum– features 3 floors of folklore and history of the Miami-Erie Canal and the city of Delphos. 9 am-Noon Saturday and 1 – 3 pm Sunday. A hidden gem.
Delphos Museum of Postal History– “Very cool, interesting and cheap”- TripAdvisor
Bredeick–Lang House– 508 W 2nd St- an elegant historic house built in 1859, of the Italian Villa style of architecture. One of the oldest buildings in Delphos.
The Murals of Oscar Velasquez on Main & Fifth Streets
You will find Mr. Velasquez’s unique style and massive murals from Ohio to Bosnia. Just behind the Delphos Veterans’ Memorial is a three‐story mural (on the Delphos Herald Newspaper building) showing the early days of the Miami Erie Canal. Diagonally across the intersection is another Valasquez mural that shows a local “mom and pop” grocery, filling station, and post office. A third mural is in the Museum of Postal History.
Good Eats in Delphos, Ohio.
Cabo Mexican Restaurant
Delphos Dairy Hut or The Creamery 5 Stars Icecream
The biggest surprise was the super cute/cool and delicious – More To Love Catering and Luncheonette. They appear to be open for dine-in breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Saturday. Pete’s Mayflower (Hong Kong Restaurant) also looked interesting.
What Van Wert has to offer…
Van Wert County Fairgrounds hosts the county fair as well as other events.
Central Insurance Company Fire Museum in 1876 Central Insurance Company was a fire insurance company. The president started collecting (now primitive) fire equipment. He built the Fire Museum full of antique fire toys, fireman helmets, leather buckets, and “fire-marks” dating back to the 1700s. You can find the museum inside the insurance company building.
Wassenberg Art Center shows about eight free upscale exhibits each year. A permanent exhibit, Faces of Little Bighorn, features several original paintings, sketches, movie posters, and film footage of the Lakota Sioux and Plains Indians by David Humphreys Miller. The art center offers Sip and Paint Art Classes. Similar to this, The Warehouse hosts a hands-on, mixed media studio where you can create pieces of art (low-stress) while sipping your favorite beverage.
Camp Clay Aqua Park boasts an inflatable water playground and has multiple slides, rocket rockers, and splash mats. The 5-acre park has a blob bag and zip line. In addition, there is a 6000 sq. ft. white sandy beach. A kid zone for toddlers adjacent to the splash pad is also available. There is a paddleboat and canoe area. The aqua park is owned by the YMCA but is open to the public. If you are interested in using the YMCA gym, you can purchase a daily guest pass if you aren’t a member….
But Wait…There’s More!
Bowling Olympic Lanes offers 16 lanes, a lounge and snack bar, plus pool tables, bumper bowling, and video games. It is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. There is also bowling at the Delphos Rec Center with 16 lanes. Pizza and snacks are available for purchase.
Van Wert Cinema is a five-screen theater showing first-run movies.
Hat Creek Rodeo is open every Saturday night (November through April). It has indoor bull riding, kid’s activities, and concessions.
Brumback Library is in the style of Gothic and Romanesque and is the first county library in the United States. The castle-like structure has turreted towers and a Ludowici roof surrounded by large mature trees. It was selected by the Library Journal as the number one library in the state of Ohio and number eight in the United States.
Van Wert County Historical Society is located in a Victorian home and features many displays. The Annex building features a historical walking tour of early Van Wert. There is also a Pennsylvania Railroad caboose, a 1906 one-room school, an 1860 log house, and an 1875 gazebo.
Blue Creek Wind Farm– From U.S. Highway 30 you can easily see the vast expense of wind farms (approximately 400 turbines).
Van Wert Main Street
Check out this link to find all of the shopping, eateries, and events on Van Wert’s Main Street. The Garden of the Senses can be viewed on Main Street just east of the 133 Bistro. This lovely oasis contains trees, flowers, herbs, and shrubs with raised beds and brick walkways curving around the flowers and trees with benches.
Shows
Niswonger Performing Arts Center– This ten-million-dollar facility seats 1200 attendees and boasts an opulent wood and marble lobby and entertainment venue for the performing arts. See all of the high-quality shows that are coming here.
Van Wert Civic Theatre Inc This award-winning, 170-seat playhouse, is one of the premiere community theatres in the state. It has consistently won awards for both acting and technical performances. The all-volunteer theatre group produces five shows per season of comedy, drama, and music.
Van-Del Drive-In– Literally at the Middle Point between Delphos and Van Wert, you will find this throw-back drive-in movie theater. Super fun!
Parks
Hiestand Park – This park, with pavilions/picnic tables, and playgrounds, has a nice path through the woods. The path connects with the Van Wert Health/Reservoir Trail. It is located on Hospital Drive, just east of the Van Wert County Hospital parking lot.
Dog Park/ Rotary Park – The entrance to the park may be hard to find. It is just south of the Van Wert County Hospital. Rotary Park is small, but it offers a pavilion, restrooms, grill, parking, and access to the Van Wert Health/Reservoir Trail. It is home to the new Van Wert Dog Park.
Smiley Park (Between Leeson and Woodland Avenue) – This large park features softball and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, pavilions with picnic tables, and grills. There is a pond for fishing. Smiley Park is also the home of the award‐winning Children’s Garden that encompasses the Butterfly House and numerous themed gardens. This children’s garden is so wonderful it deserved its own blog post here. Next to the park is a great bike trail. If you start at Smiley park, the trail will take you between Richey and John Brown just north of Old Tile Factory Road.
Franklin Park – This new park contains two age-appropriate playgrounds, a walking path, a basketball court, pickleball courts, and a shelter house. The park also has a skate park, splash pad, and lots of open space.
Fountain Park is located on the corner of Main Street and Jefferson Street. This 2-acre park contains a fountain plaza, gazebo, bandshell, a concession stand, and picnic tables. Summer concerts in the park are held in June, July, and early August.
Good Eats
133 Bistro serves large and fresh breakfasts and lunches offering omelets, skillets, waffles, pancakes, salads, sandwiches, soups, and daily specials. I heard that the sandwiches at Collins Fine Foods are the best! Other places include Wild Hare BBQ, Black Angus on Main, Peking Chinese, and Mi Ranchito. Check out other dining options here. For desserts try Sycamore, or Truly Divine.
The Well Nutrition offers healthy replacement meal shakes with 24 grams of protein and full vitamins and minerals. They have 50 delicious flavors.
Nearby
Lincoln Ridge Farms specializes in the sustainable growth of fruits and vegetables along with an apple and peach orchard, raspberries, blackberries and a vineyard. Their seasonal market begins with u-pick strawberries in June through u‐pick pumpkins in fall. It is located on historic Lincoln Highway at 6837 Lincoln Highway near Convoy, Ohio.
Auglaize Canoe and Kayak is located on a historic 100‐year old family farm. Ride along on a trip down the Auglaize River.
I hope you enjoyed, “A Day in Van Wert & Delphos Ohio”!
Thank you for this lovely trip to Van Wert through photos! I am writing a document for the county and wondered if I could get permission to use one or more of your photos in the document?
Thank you! Yes. That would be fine.