A Day Trip to Richmond, Indiana

A Day Trip to Richmond, Indiana is super doable for Ohio residents because it is just over the state line, about 35 minutes west of Huber Heights/Dayton area. I traveled there on one of those spring days when it snows off and on in-between warm and sunny 50-degree weather. It is a time when most of Ohio is still closed for the season, but Richmond, Indiana is open.

I found things to do and see all day with and without my dogs. Granted, there is going to be more to do in the summer, but sometimes during the spring you just want to get out of the house and go somewhere interesting that’s actually open. Richmond, Indiana is your place.

My first stop was Today’s Harvest, one of those cool little cozy-country-barn-like shops with delicious baked goods, and old-fashioned products. Technically this place is in New Paris, Ohio, but it was on my way. Yes, I bought doughnuts.

My next destination was the Gaar House Museum. Okay, this was closed, but it was only closed because I didn’t make an appointment. Apparently, you have to make an appointment to tour this haunted-looking house museum and it costs $10. So I just took a picture from the outside.

Next was Middlefork Reservoir which looks like a great place for boating in the summer. You can rent all kinds of boats here- paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats. On this day (with the snow and all) we just visited the dog park for a while. Hill’s Bark Park, Richmond’s only dog park, is also located at Middlefork Reservoir. It was a pretty good park, but there weren’t any other dogs there.

It was time for a super easy hike to a waterfall (Thistlethwaite Falls) and some walking around a nearby lake (Springwood Park) to see the ducks and geese and such.

Now onto the historic downtown (Richmond Depot District). Just walking around this place was cool as you can see by the store shops and murals. Of note- The Two Sisters book store, Firehouse BBQ (ironically they experienced a real fire recently so they are renovating), and the Model T Ford Museum. Further downtown you will find the Murray Theater, The Tin Cup Tea and Gift Shop, the Wayne County Courthouse, and the Old Richmond Inn voted “One Of The Top 25 Destination Restaurants Worth The Drive” by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.

The Wayne County Historical Museum – an adventure in time – was next on the docket. It is open Tuesday – Friday 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Saturday Noon – 4:00 pm. Adults $7.00, Seniors, Veterans, & Active Military $5.00, Students 6 -17 $4.0, Children 5 & under
FREE.

It was very interesting to visit the ruins of the Starr-Gennett Building and the Gennett Records Walk of Fame (all FREE). You can see the building, the walkway with the records, and the giant border wall that is all that remains of the previously massive Gennett Record company. Read all the plaques to get the history when you visit. Then keep walking and the path leads you on some cool trails over bridges and through the woods.

I followed the signs to the Veteran’s Park and walked around some war vehicles, but it started snowing again so it was off to some indoor museums.

The Richmond Art Museum was open, free of charge, and definitely worth my time (open T-Sat 10-5). The Joseph Moore Museum is a small natural history museum on the Earlham College campus and is open M, W, F, Sa, Su noon-4. I also noted Richmond’s Civic Hall Performing Arts Center.

Next, I drove along the historic National Road to Glen Miller Park which hosts the Madonna Of The Trail statue (one of a series of 12 identical monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women installed in 12 states along the National Old Trails Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Upland, California) and I didn’t miss the amazing Rose Garden. It was a nice place to walk the dogs. I also noticed frisbee golf, a pond, a skate park, restrooms, playgrounds, and a bandshell where summer programs are probably held.

My favorite spot was the free Hayes Regional Arboretum (Open Tuesday – Saturday 9 am-5 pm). This is a great little nature center and a great place to walk your dogs. However, if you don’t want to explore the paths on foot they provide an auto tour of the grounds so you can drive around and see the beauty from your car.

My final destinations were the Old National Road Welcome Center open M-F 8:30 – 5, Sat 9-5, 24 Hour Information Foyer (I realize this should have been my first stop as it acts as a visitor center for Richmond, so you can be smarter than me and do this first- plus they offer a free coupon book)  and finally Galo’s Italian Grill. Delicioso!

I hope you enjoyed A Day Trip to Richmond, Indiana! Click here to see my post about Greenville, Ohio, a nearby destination.

Note: Sorry I left out the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in Richmond, Indiana. I’m not a football fan okay! But maybe you are, and if so (and you don’t hate Indiana football), you will also want to check this place out! Enjoy!