Tourist Attractions

Developer planning resort waterpark in Hamilton County

April 18, 2025 | Daniel Bradley

Developer Monarch Ventures LLC, which has submitted plans to build Skylake Adventure Park on 126 acres of agricultural land, expects the park to attract about 500,000 visitors per year.

Read More

State tourism agency adds workforce needs to its goals for promoting Indiana

March 24, 2023 | Peter Blanchard

The agency tasked with this growing responsibility is the Indiana Destination Development Corp., a quasi-government entity formed in 2019—in the mold of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.—to replace the Office of Tourism Development.

Read More

Zoo announcing $53M campaign to fund chimp exhibit, welcome center and more

December 1, 2022 | Mickey Shuey

Already, the zoo has raised 60%, or $31.8 million, of its goal, with gifts from several institutions, including the Lilly Endowment.

Read More

New CEO says Newfields has a role to play in cultural renaissance

October 7, 2022 | Dave Lindquist

Colette Pierce Burnette sees her hiring as the new president and CEO of Newfields as an example of the difference between equality and the more modern progress toward equity, or the practice of providing fair access and opportunities.

Read More

Updated Eiteljorg galleries reframe the context of Native art

June 30, 2022 | Dave Lindquist

The $6 million upgrade of the Eiteljorg’ second floor exhibition space focuses on themes of Relation, Continuation and Innovation.

Read More

IBJ Podcast: Children’s Museum CEO talks dinos, COVID and the price of admission

March 21, 2022 | IBJ Staff

CEO Jennifer Pace Robinson, who took on the museum’s top job about a year ago, talks with Mason King about the importance of the exhibit, the logistics of hanging all those bones, and what makes the experience different than visitors might find at other museums.

Read More

Dispute troubles Greenfield museum honoring Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley

January 30, 2022 | Associated Press

Greenfield city officials argue that a local not-for-profit group can’t provide proof of ownership for much of the collection of writings, furniture, paintings and other items stored at the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum.

Read More

Fan Central is hub for those looking for ‘unique vibe,’ shelter from cold

January 9, 2022 | Mickey Shuey

The convention center is home to Playoff Fan Central—a free event featuring obstacle courses, photo opportunities, a store, food and drink and various other activities.

Read More

Editorial: Give Irsay museum a serious look

September 24, 2021

Whatever the approach, it will take the cooperation of city leaders, the philanthropic community, developers and Irsay to come up with a proposal that accomplishes the Colts’ owner’s primary goal and is beneficial to the city and its taxpayers.

Read More

The outdoor activities you must do in Indianapolis

March 27, 2021 | Samm Quinn

If you’re looking for some of Indy’s best outdoor activities, which are great for social distancing if you’re still waiting for your vaccine, we’ve got you covered.

Read More

In town for the tourney? Here are the attractions you should check out

March 22, 2021 | Samm Quinn

Indianapolis is home to several must-do attractions, including special restaurants, the Speedway, several museums and more. Here’s a list of attractions the IBJ staff recommends checking out. 

Read More

IMS Museum selling dozens of vehicles to help upgrade collection

September 18, 2020 | Mickey Shuey

The basement of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is jam-packed with hundreds of vehicles that never go on display. Some of those cars are going on the auction block.

Read More

Casino in Terre Haute will feature outdoor ‘smoking patio’ with slots

September 18, 2020 | IBJ Staff

The Rocksino—a partnership between Hard Rock Casino and Terre Haute development firm Spectacle Jack LLC—will be the first in the state to have a smoke-free interior. Casinos are an exception to the state’s smoking ban.

Read More

Q&A: Digging for dinosaur fossils

September 18, 2020 | Samm Quinn

Jenn Anné, lead paleontologist and manager of the Natural Science Collections at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, recently returned from Wyoming where she and her team dug for fossils to bring back to the museum. The trip garnered more than two tons of findings.

Read More

Vonnegut Museum shifts gears on Bluebeard-managed cafe plans

August 6, 2020 | Susan Orr

Fletcher Place restaurant Bluebeard, which was the museum’s original choice of cafe operator, says it can’t tackle the project right now because of uncertainty around the pandemic.

Read More

Indy-area museums, attractions will restart in phases—often with members-only events first

June 19, 2020 | Kurt Christian

Though the city will allow museums and cultural institutions to operate at 50% occupancy starting June 19, many are planning to wait a few days or test the waters with a select group of members.

Read More

New Noblesville mayor makes push to restore Hobbs Station, 10-acre railyard

April 10, 2020 | Kurt Christian

A planned $1.5 million investment in Noblesville’s historic railyard is designed to draw visitors into downtown, but it also might put the city’s rocky relationship with rail back on track.

Read More

Museums, performance venues expect to withstand closures

April 3, 2020 | Mickey Shuey

Facing millions of dollars in lost revenue from the COVID-19 outbreak, major arts and cultural attractions throughout Indianapolis are slashing budgets, cutting staff and dipping into reserves or endowments to make ends meet.

Read More

Children’s Museum prepares to invest millions on new programs, exhibits, upgrades

February 7, 2020 | Mickey Shuey

Three temporary exhibits will open this year, and a handful of existing spaces will receive substantial upgrades—including the popular Dinosphere space.

Read More

Brown County State Park, lodge to stay closed through Sunday

June 20, 2019

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says Brown County State Park and its Abe Martin Lodge will remain closed because of a lack of a potable water supply caused by recent heavy rainfall.

Read More