My mother and I spent a lovely day sightseeing in Dubois County, Indiana, which includes the towns of Ferdinand, Jasper and Huntingburg, all located off exit 63 to the north of I-64 and on Eastern Time. For our outing, we stuck with new-to-me Dubois County, and we were delighted at what we discovered. I recommend checking out the Visitors Center for expert advice on a day that will meet your interests. I’d like to give a special shoutout to Whitney Lubbers, executive director of the Dubois County Visitors Center, who took great care of us.
About a 25 minute drive from exit 63 lies the town of Jasper. We were treated to a tour of The Spirit of Jasper passenger train, which has an exciting fall and summer excursion schedule available on their website. Highlights include trips to Dubois County League Stadium and Bombers Baseball, Chocolate and Wine Ride and Dine, Pizza and Beer Ride and Dine, Strassenfest Rides, and Spirit of Autumn rides.
Downtown Jasper is a walkable area that includes the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, home to numerous galleries, studios, workshops, and a black box theater. Located behind the Thyen Center is the Alexander Schoolhouse, a historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1918 and a popular destination for school field trips. Nearby, the Jasper City Mill, completed in 2009, is the third mill to occupy its current site on the Patoka River, with the earliest mill constructed in 1815. The old mill’s most famous visitor is said to be Abraham Lincoln, who came with his father in 1828 to grind the family’s grain. The current Jasper City Mill incorporates features of the two earlier mills, including a water-powered wheel and grindstones. The mill stones are originally from France and are approximately 200 years old. Visitors can tour the mill and enjoy the peaceful setting on the Patoka River.
When in Jasper, eat at the Schnitzelbank Restaurant! We couldn’t resist lunching at this well-known eatery, featuring authentic German cuisine along with a gift shop offering German-inspired specialty items such as chocolates, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, and more. The restaurant also offers the “Wunderbar” salad bar and other American cuisine. The site of the Schnitzelbank Restaurant was originally a tavern when purchased by the Hanselman family in 1961, but has grown into a full service restaurant, event venue, and catering business that cooks onsite, serving Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.
Story and photos by Patti Hartog
P.S. While in Dubois County, you may also be interested in visiting this first town off exit 63.
Leave a Reply