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HomeViagens12 Good Issues to do in New Concord, Indiana

12 Good Issues to do in New Concord, Indiana


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Two Utopian Societies with two totally different labyrinths. A roofless church with gilded gates. One unusual place. 

Located alongside the Wabash River about 35 minutes outdoors of Evansville, Indiana, the city of New Concord, Indiana looks as if another well-manicured midwestern city. However its spic and span look is not only group delight – however hearkens again to when it was a real-life utopian society. Properly, really, two of them.

Throughout city lush flowers are planted in opposition to the picket houses of the previous Utopia members, with a contemporary labyrinth close to the center of city. And proper outdoors town middle stands a second historic box-hedge labyrinth with a hut standing within the center. It’s no shock that artists nonetheless flock right here to hunt inspiration at present on this strange city.

Fortunately our Editor-in-Chief Richie Goff spent a weekend right here to inform you all about the very best issues to do in New Concord, Indiana. Take it away, Richie!

Psst: in search of extra weekend journeys close to Indiana, Kentucky, or Tennessee? Take a look at our different posts:

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Man walking at the catherdral labyrinth in new harmony indiana.
New Concord is known for having two labyrinths, that are used for meditation and non secular perception. That is the Cathedral Labyrinth in the course of city.

What’s the historical past of New Concord, Indiana?

Indiana was initially inhabited by prehistoric mound builders, and later by the Piankeshaw Tribe lengthy earlier than it was ever a Utopian society, however with the Treaty of 1818, these Indigenous Individuals have been pressured from their land and out of Indiana. Whereas there isn’t any proof that individuals lived precisely the place New Concord stands at present, it appears seemingly that Native Individuals as soon as handed by means of these elements.

What we do know is that in 1814 the city of New Concord, Indiana was shaped by Father Johann George Rapp. Father Rapp was a charismatic chief who initially lead his congregation of Lutheran separatists from Germany to their first utopian settlement in Concord, Pennsylvania in 1804. They stayed till 1814 when he then moved the group once more to Indiana believing that the climate can be extra temperate to develop grapes, and “New Concord” was born. 

Father Rapp and his congregation of “Harmonists” or “Rappites” believed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, and labored exhausting for ten years constructing their mannequin group to realize the Christian ideology of perfectionism. Nonetheless, every part wasn’t good.

Whereas the 850 Harmonists have been fully self-sufficient and produced all kinds of products, like textiles, spirits, horticultural merchandise, and leather-based items that have been acknowledged worldwide for his or her high-quality high quality, they began to comprehend that Indiana was a bit extra distant than Pennsylvania so far as commerce and trade went. Additionally, malaria carried by mosquitos residing by the swampy river killed about 200 members, in order that wasn’t good both.

Portrait father rapp in new harmony indiana
A portrait of Father Rapp within the Working Males’s Institue exhibits him in his conventional, er, gnome garb?

So regardless of creating a big, orderly, and high-functioning society, they moved again to Pennsylvania in 1824 to start out a brand new utopian metropolis, “Economic system.” This transfer was to be nearer to different German People and the japanese market, and due to an interpretation of the bible the place the “Sunwoman” fled into the wilderness a number of occasions, which they recognized with since Economic system was actually their third commune.

Father Rapp additionally had one other imaginative and prescient of the second coming of Christ, which he believed would occur September fifteenth, 1829, so I assume they thought the third utopia can be the allure…

The very subsequent yr, a Welsch social reformist named Robert Owen moved to America and simply occurred to be available in the market for a utopian group. What luck! He and his enterprise companion William Maclure bought New Concord to start out their very own utopian social experiment, although secular versus spiritual. 

Owen believed that one of the simplest ways to alter the world was by means of training, and introduced with him academics and scientists to show each girls and boys in regards to the world by means of hands-on studying (which was fairly revolutionary on the time). He additionally began the US’s first kindergarten and ladies may put on pants (yay pockets!).

Sadly, this utopian experiment fizzled out after solely two years, as they’d bother establishing how the group would really run, had bother securing donations, and customarily had extra “thinkers and scientists” than staff.

In solely 13 years, two utopian societies had did not launch.

When’s the Finest Time to Go to New Concord, Indiana?

Initially, your finest wager is to reach on a Friday and keep by means of early Sunday, or go to on considered one of as of late. Since so lots of the excursions, outlets, and eating places are solely open on the weekend for vacationers, it’s crucial that you just come on these days and never throughout the week.

So far as time of the yr goes, Spring and Fall would be the most temperate, however fall is even higher if you happen to plan to take a ghost tour whilst you’re right here. Utopian vibes mixing with altering foliage and cooler temperatures will make the expertise much more unusual and weird.

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New harmony sign in new harmony indiana
The labyrinth is a giant a part of New Concord – you’ll see its symbology all over the place!

How Do I Get to New Concord, Indiana?

New Concord, Indiana is positioned about 35 minutes outdoors of Evansville, Indiana, two hours from St. Louis, Missouri within the west, and two hours from Louisville within the East. It’s an excellent simple drive there from any of those areas.

Whilst you may fly into Evansville Regional Airport, visiting New Concord might be finest paired with a visit to Louisville or stopping by whereas testing another Weekend Getaways in Indiana. New Concord is nice for a weekend getaway and will simply take a look at some neighboring small cities.

How Do I Get round New Concord, Indiana?

The city of New Concord is fully walkable, because it’s below a sq. mile in dimension! Park your automobile within the downtown space and also you’ll be capable of simply get across the lovable group and see all of the issues to do in New Concord, Indiana.

You too can hire a golf cart from New Concord Inn Resort & Convention Middle to get across the total city in a flash. In the event you keep on the resort, you can too borrow a motorbike free of charge!

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The atheneum in new harmony indiana
The Atheneum Guests Middle in New Concord, Indiana is sort of a modernist iceberg amongst the outdated, picket buildings.

Issues to do in New Concord, Indiana

New Concord is small with solely 753 residents, and the principle draw is tourism between the outdated Harmonist Village and outlets they’ve on the town. It’s exhausting to withstand the city’s allure and draw — you possibly can very a lot see the remnants of when hope for Utopia nonetheless existed. Most of the authentic Harmonist buildings nonetheless stand with superbly manicured gardens, and at present it attracts every kind of artists, from writers to potters.

harminst homes and gardens in new harmony indiana
Your tour round New Concord will embrace a tram journey and visiting contained in the Harmonists’ houses and beautiful gardens.

Take a Tour of the City

A wonderful first cease in New Concord is the very odd-looking Atheneum Guests Middle, named after the goddess Athena, the Greek goddess of knowledge and conflict. The stark white, boxy constructing was accomplished in 1979, standing out in opposition to the backdrop of picket Harmonist houses like a modernist iceberg. 

Inside you’ll discover miniature replicas of the city and pop artwork prints of Robert Owen’s face, however that is additionally the assembly place for the tour of New Concord. Your information will first take you across the small museum and present the miniature-scale mannequin of the city, explaining how the city was specified by a symmetrical style, and the way they constructed over 180 log body and brick constructions of their settlement on 20,000 acres. 

Additionally within the Atheneum, you’ll be proven a brief movie explaining the historical past of New Concord, earlier than you board a tram outdoors which can take you to totally different elements of the city. Alongside the way in which, you’ll cease at picket cabins to see how the Harmonists lived, with their easy furnishings and splendid gardens (that are nonetheless maintained to this present day).

As a Harmonist, nobody was allowed to personal private property apart from fundamental requirements, however working for the group meant you have been taken care of for all times. In the event you ever determined to go away the group, you’d be returned the property you place in and given a lump sum to start out your new life.

The Harmonists believed in celibacy with a purpose to be “pure” for the approaching of Christ, and marriages and having youngsters have been discouraged, although eight infants have been born in the middle of their ten-year keep. Households lived in their very own separate homes (which you’ll go to on the tour), although they have been additionally anticipated to be celibate, and their marriages have been dissolved by the group.

You’ll additionally make a cease at one of many group homes. The group homes have been an attention-grabbing characteristic of the city, as they have been constructed for single members of society and housed each women and men in a communal surroundings.

If you go to the group home, you’ll additionally make a cease up within the attic the place the second utopian chief, Robert Owen, began his utopian paper known as “The Disseminator of Helpful Information,” the motto of which was “Ignorance is the fruitful reason for human distress.” Mainly, Robert Owen believed that training would set everybody free.

He believed this a lot that his enterprise companion, William Maclure, rounded up internationally recognized educators and pure scientists, put them on a ship known as the Philanthropist, and shipped them to New Concord. Owen dubbed this his “Boatload of Information,” boasting “no boat ever carried a lot information”.

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diarama in the wolff house in new harmony indiana
This huge, spherical, transferring diorama within the Salomon Wolf home looks like one thing you’d discover at Disney World.

One of many weirdest, and most fantastic, stops on the tour is the brick residence of Salomon Wolf, who was the city shepherd. My journey buddy stated, “He was a shepherd and his title was Wolf?” which our tour information thought was hysterical however had by no means considered himself. I wager he makes use of that on his excursions now! 

Anyway, on the within, it’s been transformed right into a 360-degree theatre of a diorama of New Concord and the encompassing land, within the fashion of a Disney-esque land-of-tomorrow present with spotlights and dramatic voiceover. At one level your complete mannequin even lowers so you possibly can see the group from above. It’s very informative, participating, and very, very kitschy.

The tour is sort of lengthy, so be able to spend at the very least two hours exploring the city along with your information. Carry an umbrella if it appears like rain, one thing we undoubtedly regretted on the open-air tram!

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the harmonist labyrinth with grotto in the middle  in new harmony indiana
The unique Harmonist Labyrinth constructed by the Harmonists in 1815 resides on the outskirts of city, with a stone grotto within the center.

Go to a Labyrinth (or Two)

Most likely one of many coolest, and most mysterious, issues to do in New Concord, Indiana is visiting its labyrinths. Sure, labyrinths, they’ve two! The unique Harmonists Labyrinth is a big box-hedge labyrinth constructed by the Harmonists in 1815, whereas the newer Catherdral Labyrinth was in-built 1998 by Jane Blaffer Owen, whose husband was of Robert Owen’s descendants. So in the long run, each utopias obtained their very personal labyrinth!

It’s good to grasp first that the labyrinth is just not the identical as a maze. Whereas a maze consists of lifeless ends and totally different paths, a labyrinth is unicursal and solely consists of one path to the middle and again out once more. In keeping with The Labyrinth Society (sure that’s a factor), labyrinths are “an historical archetype relationship again 4,000 years or extra, used symbolically, as a strolling meditation, choreographed dance, or website of rituals and ceremony”.

The unique labyrinth of New Concord was constructed round 1815, however the one which stands at present needed to be restored in 1939 because it had gone into disrepair within the years following the Harmonists’ departure. The Harmonists constructed a labyrinth in every of their three utopian cities, and to them, the labyrinth symbolized their troublesome journey to New Concord (and one’s spiritual journey generally). It was a spot of reflection— a spot the Harmonists may go and ponder their journey, life and God.

In the midst of the Harmonist Labyrinth is a grotto, which is a stone hut that doesn’t appear to be a lot as you wander by means of the hedged path. However upon wanting by means of the home windows, you see a extra elaborate inside, with blue paint and Greek keys on the partitions, which symbolizes the heaven inside.

Jane Owen commissioned theCatherdral Labyrinth, which duplicates the one on the Chartres Cathedral, constructed within the twelfth century close to Paris, France, in the course of city in 1998, together with the Roofless church and several other different non secular items (we’ll get to these). She felt the labyrinth inspired non secular awakening and constructed for meditation and prayer, the identical because the Harmonists did. 

Whereas the labyrinth on the town is far smaller with no central grotto, it’s made with lovely grey granite with a fountain close to the beginning the place you possibly can wash your ft earlier than you stroll the trail. Traversing the labyrinth barefoot is good, and if you are able to do it by the sunshine of the total moon it’s much more advisable!

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the gilded fates with the roofless church in the background in new harmony indiana
The Roofless Church in New Concord, Indiana is unquestionably considered one of a form!

Discover the Roofless Church

Whereas the roofless church could sound like a wierd kind of place in principle, it’s precisely what it appears like— an out of doors church with no roof! Commissioned by Jane Owen and constructed by postmodern architect Philip Johnson, who earlier than turning into an architect, was a journalist throughout WWII and a Nazi sympathizer, eek. He ultimately retracted his views and stated to Vainness Honest, “I’ve no excuse (for) such unbelievable stupidity. … I don’t understand how you expiate guilt”.

The Roofless Church was accomplished in 1960, surrounded by tall brick partitions amidst the unique Harmonist homes. What catches your eye instantly are the massive, gilded gates, with emblems of angels and a lamb mounted on high. The phrase “pearly gates” undoubtedly involves thoughts, and the primary time we pulled into New Concord I stated “what’s THAT?” and needed to go discover.

Contained in the 9,800 sq. foot rectangle, you will discover varied gardens, a statue of Jesus, and within the middle, an open-air constructing with a… roof. Beneath this roof, which appears like a fabric draped over a ball, you’ll discover a statue known as The descent of the Holy Spirit by Jacques Lipchitz, which as you possibly can surmise by the title, appears like an summary angel. 

Off to at least one aspect of the courtyard, you’ll additionally discover a gap within the brick wall which overlooks a really scenic cornfield that’s surrounded by forest. I imply, that is Indiana in any case. 

The Roofless Church actually provides to the non secular high quality of New Concord, and it actually feeds into the larger-than-life and utopian vibes of the city, the place outdated and new converge.

bust of tillich at tillich park new harmony indiana
The bust of Paul Tillich with the lake and Chapel of Little Portion within the background.

Wander round Tillich Park and Our Lord’s Woods

Positioned proper behind the New Concord Inn Resort & Convention Middle and throughout the highway from the Roofless Church, you’ll discover Tillich Park, which commemorates Paul Johannes Tillich who was a German-American Christian existentialist thinker and Lutheran Protestant theologian (that’s… fairly a title).

Tillich was a great pal of Jane Owen, who was accountable for creating new non secular areas of New Concord within the second half of the twentieth century, and she or he devoted this park to him in 1963.

The looping paths by means of Norwegian Spruce timber have stones engraved with Tillich’s quotes, akin to “Man and nature belong collectively of their created glory – of their tragedy and of their salvation”. A big bust of Tillich can be positioned in a clearing by the lake, exhibiting the extreme and considerate face of the late thinker. 

Additionally behind the New Concord Inn, you’ll discover Our Lord’s Woods subsequent to Tillich Park, with winding paths over bridges by the lake, with the Chapel of Little Portion standing on the opposite aspect of the water.

Even if you happen to aren’t significantly spiritual, this space is a superb place to take a soothing, meditative stroll, and soak within the non secular essence of New Concord.

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working mans institute museum new harmony indiana
On the museum, you will discover a skeleton of a conflict hero horse, in addition to loads of taxidermied critters and the historical past of the realm!

Discover Indiana’s Oldest Library (and Museum)

The Working Males’s Institue was based in 1838 by William Maclure, Robert Owen’s enterprise companion and the person who bought New Concord and rounded up the “Boatload of Information”. He believed that having a library for the working class as an alternative of simply the rich would assist society, think about that. Of the 144 WMIs in Indiana and 16 in Illinois, that is the one remaining one.

Inside you possibly can discover the library after all, however the spotlight is the free museum which is decked out with historic artifacts from the time of the Harmonists to the current. Head as much as the second flooring and see work of Father Rapp in his conventional gnome garb; taxidermied animals like angry-looking wolves, peacocks, and crocodiles; snakes in jars; tiny brooms; and even the total skeleton of a war-hero horse (with a photograph of the horse subsequent to it no much less).

You too can see conventional instruments Harmonists used to work the land, and random contraptions like {an electrical} machine from 1856 used to generate static electrical energy, for some purpose. There are many academic indicators exhibiting the prehistoric historical past of the area and geology, which was a budding area of research and one which Maclure was very fascinated with. 

One room is devoted to art work collected by the Owenites, with work of goddesses, flowers, nonetheless lifes, and folks being fancy and making their approach on this planet. There are additionally objects owned by the Owenites, like a hearth engine from 1814, which appears rather a lot much less like a contemporary one and much more like a metallic water barrel on wheels. 

That is actually the most effective locations in New Concord to get a extra full image of what went on right here, particularly within the Owenite group. So cease by and ponder all of the bizarre sh*t on this constructing!

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new harmony clay project in new harmony indiana
The New Concord Clay Challenge. You’ll be able to see some pupil works on the left and their kiln on the appropriate.

Take a Pottery Class

New Concord retains the group arts training going with the New Concord Clay Challenge, positioned in an excellent cute and vibrant studio proper outdoors the partitions of the Roofless Church. On most days you possibly can stroll by and see the brand new pottery sitting outdoors subsequent to the kiln, colourful designs as whimsical and numerous as New Concord itself.

In the event you haven’t taken a pottery class earlier than, New Concord is the proper place to take one, since they do date night time lessons which can be one-off lessons. There may be a lot to encourage you, from the unusual postmodern structure, utopian beliefs, and loads of nature and flowers. Get bizarre! Experiment! Heaven is aware of the 2 utopian societies did.

From Could-August they’ve their date night time lessons, the place singles, pals, or {couples} can have their probability to study the artwork of throwing pottery. They’ll educate you the right way to middle your clay and throw a bit of your very personal creation, after which on the finish of the night time, they serve wine and lightweight hors d’oeuvres and briefly overview the night time’s work. I’m in!

In case you are enamored with any items you make, you may get it trimmed, glazed, and fired for a further small price, and a month later you possibly can decide up your immortalized undertaking! This actually feeds into the soul of New Concord, the place artwork and inspiration take flight. So get artsy!

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Monte Cristo sandwich and Florentine Benedict brunch at the red geranium in new harmony indiana
Brunch on the Purple Geranium is pleasant, take a look at the Monte Cristo sandwich and Florentine Benedict!

Eat a Good Meal

New Concord is a small city, with restricted eating choices. So small the truth is, that two of their fuel stations are listed below their “foods and drinks” part on their web site.  

That’s why it’s crucial to go to throughout the weekend, and never throughout the week! My husband, who’s from Evansville and used to go to the city on college area journeys rising up, took me on the way in which residence from visiting his household on a Monday and actually one place was open to eat (moreover the fuel stations after all). So if you would like one thing that extra intently resembles meals, come Friday by means of Sunday!

For lunch, The Yellow Tavern has typical bar meals like pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches. The Rueben sandwich and buffalo wings with onion rings have been each tasty and completely acceptable! In addition they have a sandwich listed on the menu that simply says “mind”, which I didn’t strive.

For dinner, we ate at The Purple Geranium (there appears to be a shade theme on this city), which is the city’s hottest restaurant because it is part of the New Concord Inn Resort and Convention Middle. We had the french onion soup and backyard salad (which is recent from the Harmonist gardens), and for our entrees had a 6 oz bacon-wrapped filet and a rack of lamb. This, together with Mary Scott’s, are most likely your finest bets for high-quality eating (or, any eating) in New Concord!

For brunch, it was again to The Purple Geranium, however this time on their lovely patio overlooking the Roofless Church. Brunch right here is basically scrumptious and extra inexpensive, and we liked our Monte Cristo sandwich and our Florentine Benedict. Undoubtedly our favourite meal whereas we have been on the town!

Whereas New Concord is not any foodie metropolis, these are good choices to gasoline up whilst you’re right here!

man holding coffee from Black Lodge Coffee Roasters in new harmony indiana
Espresso from Black Lodge Espresso Roasters is a pleasant discover in a small city!

Seize a Good Cup of Espresso

In the event you’re like me (or Lia for that matter), you’re gonna want to search out the closest GOOD espresso. No fuel station espresso, none of that cremated crap in your resort room, however some fancy, obnoxiously brewed fair-trade espresso that tastes fantastic and perks you up.

Fortunately, New Concord has simply that in Black Lodge Espresso Roasters. The baristas have been tremendous pleasant and useful as quickly as we walked by means of the door, with the scent of Brazilian fair-trade espresso filling the air.

They supplied to make us one thing particular, OR, make us a shock fancy drink based mostly on what we like. Naturally, we selected a shock drink, they usually made us one thing with hazelnut syrup that was candy and scrumptious.

Essentially the most noticeable factor about Black Lodge is that it’s a reference to the Black Lodge in Twin Peaks. The partitions are painted in reds and blacks, with plenty of symbolism and reference to the present. I’ve by no means seen Twin Peaks, however my journey buddy has, and she or he was obsessive about the decor and vibe. 

Simply one other a kind of quirky, random belongings you don’t look forward to finding in small-town America!

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the mews new harmony indiana
The Mews is 11 outlets in a single in a sprawling constructing they name their very own “labyrinth”.

Store Native & Quirky!

In a small city like New Concord, there’s little or no company presence and numerous good, native procuring alternatives! 

Being an artist’s residence, you possibly can look forward to finding numerous regionally crafted objects, in addition to loads of vintage shops to pique your curiosity. A few of the finest are:

  • BackBeats Information and Simply Trying Antiques is your one-stop store for classic and quirky finds. Their slogan is “A collection of issues with a questionable previous…”, which isn’t solely hysterical, however true. They’ve an enormous classic e-book assortment, and loads of classic toys, and that is the place I purchased a Muppets Take Manhattan puzzle. Price it.
  • The Mews is basically 11 outlets in a single, with loads of cool New Concord themed merchandise, clothes, and even posters up explaining the historical past of New Concord. The shop simply retains going – it’s large! – they usually check with it as their very personal New Concord Labyrinth. I purchased a Lacroix puzzle right here; I swear I don’t normally purchase this many puzzles.
  • If you wanna get clear, go to the New Concord Cleaning soap Firm! Their soaps are constructed from natural oil and uncooked Shea butter, then infused with nutrient-rich botanical formulations which have been optimized for pores and skin absorption. In addition they make room spray, physique wash, bathtub bombs, roll-ons, lotion, with superb fragrances like Wabash Woods (Spruce and Fir tree scent), rosemary mint, and grapefruit jasmine.
  • New Concord’s Farmers and Artisans Market usually runs between April and November, and is the very best place to get recent produce and all types of handmade items. You could find issues like jewellery, clothes, picket kitchen objects, baskets, and soaps. I even purchased a neighborhood cookbook from the market!

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woman sitting on the banks of the wabash river new harmony indiana
Chillin’ by the Wabash River is a good way to spend the afternoon on the pristine Harmonie State Park.

Go to Harmonie State Park

Harmonie State Park is positioned 4 miles outdoors of New Concord, located alongside the pristine and rolling Wabash River. It’s the sort of state park that, very like New Concord, is quaint and quiet with few crowds and many allure. We visited on a Sunday morning and there have been few folks there.

Like most state parks, there are a number of mountaineering trails you possibly can take, averaging a few mile in size, with the longest being 2.5 miles winding by means of the hilly, forested Indiana hillside. However the true allure is the Wabash River.

The Wabash River is the biggest river in Indiana and drains a lot of the state into the Ohio River. Harmonie State Park contains a .25 mile river stroll, which follows the Wabash River from the picnic space to the boat ramp.

Your entire space is quiet, scenic, and completely pristine. As somebody who has frolicked across the Ohio River, I can inform you this space is trash-free, surrounded by forest, solely the sound of nature and wilderness round you.

It’s the proper place to convey a picnic lunch and sit by the waters, pondering nature and life, in an surroundings that really feels one with nature.

man playing dulcimer at creation station in new harmony indiana
Rick Huffman will fortunately offer you a dulcimer lesson and a efficiency, or three!

Be taught to Play the Dulcimer

New Concord is an artist’s paradise, so it’s no shock that New Concord additionally has a reasonably particular music scene. This consists of being the house of the New Concord Dulcimer Firm, the place they make a few of the finest dulcimers on this planet, and even internet hosting an annual dulcimer pageant, Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash.

The dulcimer is an extended, fretted instrument, usually with three strings. It’s thought of to be one of many solely (or the solely) true American devices, developed in Appalachia. What’s extra, because the Appalachian dulcimer solely has three strings it’s easy to play – you possibly can study a fundamental track in minutes!

Fortunately, if you go to Creation Station likelihood is store proprietor Rick Huffman shall be there and he’s more than pleased to bathe you with dulcimer information, and sit you down for a lesson, or three! His enthusiasm is contagious, and you may simply spend an hour there letting him chat your ear off. 

He’ll sit you down and get a dulcimer in your lap, explaining the fundamentals of the instrument and exhibiting you ways simply you possibly can fret chords. After a couple of minutes, you’ll be enjoying people Appalachian tunes, even when it’s the primary time selecting up an instrument.

Rick can be blissful to indicate you round his retailer, and provide the historical past of New Concord, or allow you to in that the one true option to stroll a labyrinth is barefoot by the sunshine of the total moon. You significantly can ask him something!

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Take a Ghost Tour

In a city as outdated as 1814, there are certain to be some ghosts, and pair that with its utopian begin you get an eerily creepy allure. So if you would like one of many scariest issues to do in New Concord, Indiana, look no additional…

New Concord has one ghost tour firm known as Haunted New Concord Ghost Walks & Investigations, began by Joni Mahan who has actually written the e-book on Haunted New Concord. We have been fortunate sufficient to have Joni as our tour information (which you’ll see who your information shall be if you e-book your tour), and very like the daytime tour from the Vistors Middle, you’ll be touring a lot of the city, however in the dead of night and creepier!

The tour begins on the Opera Home, which was initially constructed as a group home proper earlier than the Harmonists left. Robert Owen’s son later turned it into theatre, and at present there’s stated to be a phantom of the opera that also resides there (nicely, not that phantom, however you get it).

Apparently, the ghost of a girl named Frances Golden of the Golden Theatrical Troupe haunts the theatre, and folks have stated to listen to strolling and voices, together with a candy fragrance, by the stage.

Investigators have left a be aware asking if a ghost resided within the corridor, and the following day they discovered it crumpled up. Creeeeeeepy! There are additionally different basic theatrical ghosts who go to now and again simply to relive good recollections. If I do know something about actors, they’ll by no means get sufficient stage time!

The group homes the place the Harmosists lived even have their justifiable share of hauntings. In group home quantity 2 they’ve noticed a bit of woman in white by the hearth, a mysterious individual joined the tour however disappeared midway by means of, and a determine was seen on the second flooring. It looks as if ghosts additionally get pleasure from taking ghost excursions, who would have thought?

Ribeyre Gymnasium new harmony indiana
One way or the other the Ribeyre Gymnasium simply appears extra sinister at night time…

Alongside your tour, you’ll cease on the Harmonist Cemetery, the place round 200 of the 850 Harmonists have been buried after an outbreak of malaria. Not one of the graves are marked as they believed within the equality of all members in each life and dying, so the walled-in cemetery appears extra identical to a grassy area. Nonetheless, within the cemetery, there are additionally Native American burial mounds, which date again to the Center Woodland Interval, over two thousand years in the past. So there’s a lot happening there!

One of many creepier stops alongside your tour is on the Ribeyre Gymnasium, constructed in 1924. It was solely open a yr earlier than a category 5 twister flattened the close by city of Griffin on March 18th, 1925, killing 52 folks, together with a college bus full of youngsters. The model new fitness center was then employed to accommodate the lifeless and the injured, some so gruesomely mangled that it was exhausting to inform who was lifeless or residing.

One paralyzed girl was mistaken for lifeless and positioned down there among the many decomposing our bodies for 3 days earlier than she was discovered blinking. They have been capable of repair her spinal damage and ultimately would stroll once more, however who can know what number of haunting nightmares she had for the remainder of her life!

The commonest ghost sightings on the gymnasium are of youngsters who by no means had the prospect to develop up, operating round in Twenties clothes. Throughout one investigation they rolled a ball into the shadows and it saved rolling again. Creepy ghost youngster? Or simply the wall… I assume you’ll have to go to and discover out!

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14 Charming Issues to Do in Traverse Metropolis, Michigan (A Locals Information)

new harmony inn indiana
The New Concord Inn Resort & Convention Middle is simply as charming as the remainder of the city!

The place to Keep in New Concord

To remain proper in the course of all of the motion, I like to recommend staying on the New Concord Inn Resort & Convention Middle, for a lot of causes, moreover the very fact it could be the one place to remain in New Concord.

You’ll be proper in the course of city, inside strolling distance of the guests middle, the Cathedral Labyrinth, the Roofless Church, and just about every part. In addition they have free bikes you possibly can borrow and journey across the city, or you possibly can hire golf carts to benefit from the city that approach.

The rooms are easy with picket decor, and plenty of overlook the lake within the again and are simply plain serene. More often than not you possibly can e-book a bundle, which provides you a present certificates to the Purple Geranium for dinner and brunch, which is a fully stellar deal.

Probably my favourite characteristic is the lined and heated pool that sits by the lake, actually nothing is extra stress-free than getting to sit down within the pool or sizzling tub after an extended day of utopian exploring.

If you would like one thing a bit of extra non-public you possibly can e-book this “Haven in Concord” charming blue cottage, with a beautiful hearth pit out again!

In regards to the Writer: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with an excellent love of the outside. When he’s not rising flowers for enjoyable, he’s the Editor-in-Chief of Sensible Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a pal of Lia’s since highschool, they usually have taken loads of their very own disaster-prone adventures collectively!

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Able to go take a look at the strange New Concord, Indiana? Which of our issues to do in New Concord, Indiana sounds coolest to you? Drop us a remark under!

Searching for extra weekend journeys close to Indiana? Take a look at our different posts:

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There are so many things to do in New Harmony, Indiana, from visiting the Atheneum, to walking around their two labyrinths, to visiting the roofless church. This former utopian society has plenty of secrets to explore!

Searching for extra USA inspiration? We now have a MASSIVE journey information for all our favourite locations within the US and helpful recommendation, packing ideas and journey guides. Click on the hyperlink under to obtain!

Our Prime Journey Ideas & Sources

Listed here are our favourite journey ideas & assets for saving cash and planning journey logistics! For extra ideas, take a look at our journey ideas useful resource web page or our information to planning a visit.

  • Reserving Flights: To attain flight offers, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Cash-saving ideas: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on solely on a finances airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Lodging: We normally keep in budget-friendly trip leases, boutique resorts or non-public rooms in hostels. We use Reserving.com to e-book resorts (we love their versatile cancellation coverage) and Hostelworld to e-book hostels (low deposit, simple change/cancellation, and glorious critiques). For trip leases, we desire to e-book utilizing VRBO as a result of they have decrease charges and higher help than Airbnb, and we’re not followers of Airbnb’s unethical monitor report. You too can e-book trip leases on Expedia and Lodges.com. We additionally use TrustedHousesitters as each hosts (for our residence and our fur-child) and vacationers!
  • Journey Insurance coverage: We all the time, all the time, ALWAYS purchase journey insurance coverage for worldwide journeys, and we STRONGLY counsel it – go to our Journey Insurance coverage Information to search out out why. We advocate both World Nomads or SafetyWing for worldwide journey insurance coverage. SafetyWing is likely one of the few insurance policies that covers Covid-19, they usually have glorious month-to-month insurance policies which can be good for Digital Nomads and long run vacationers!
  • Journey Credit score Card: We e-book all of our journeys on our favourite journey bank card. Not solely can we earn money again that we will spend on extra journey, however the card provides unbelievable journey perks like journey insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation protection, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and rental automobile protection, which helps shield us on our travels. Be taught extra right here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the journey guides on the CDC web site to analysis really useful medicines and vaccines for worldwide journeys. We all the time advocate getting each vaccine really useful by the CDC! You will get them at your major care physician’s workplace or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Excursions: We love reserving guided excursions, particularly meals excursions and strolling excursions, to get a neighborhood’s perspective and a historical past lesson whereas sight-seeing! We e-book our excursions utilizing Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to determine the right way to get from place to put, and e-book native transportation on-line utilizing Bookaway wherever we will. Once we e-book a rental automobile, we use Kayak to check rental firms and discover the very best deal.
  • Baggage Storage: Every time we’re testing early or profiting from an extended layover, we use LuggageHero to securely retailer our baggage whereas we’re operating round. Use the code PRACTICALW for two hours of free baggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN retains your digital info (like web site login particulars, financial institution information, and so on) protected, even if you’re related to an unsecured community whereas touring. Plus, it enables you to use Netflix & different streaming websites overseas! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO if you enroll!
  • What to Pack: Listed here are the journey necessities that we convey on each journey. We even have packing lists for sizzling climate, chilly climate, and plenty of extra. Check out all of our packing guides!
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