The Fountain County Courthouse is amazing, jaw dropping, a true experience. Like most in Indiana,…read morethe Courthouse sits on a large Square. From the outside, the courthouse looks modern, though built in 1936. Inside, after passing through security, the first floor is filled with cases of historical artifacts from each of the townships in Fountain County. On the second floor begins the most phenomenal collection of murals. The showcase murals flanking the entrance of the building were painted by the famous muralist, Eugene Savage. Turns out that Savage grew up in Fountain County. Then there are murals covering all the walls of the second and third floor that capture the evolution of Fountain County. The artwork is amazing. There is a pamphlet that walks visitors through the history of the murals or an audio tour can be pulled up on your phone. People were walking through the halls with their kids explaining local history. There is a sense of energy and community pride here. In addition to the art, the building is incredible, filled with art deco shapes. A central large atrium is naturally lit by glass skylights. The marble staircases and columns could be out of a Gatsby movie. The building was designed by Louis L. Johnson and Walter Scholes (Lafayette). We were lucky enough to meet the court clerk. She let us in to see the (all original) courtroom. The courtroom is immense with lots of beautiful wood. (Photos are not allowed.) The clerk, who is second generation clerk, also told us that this is the fourth courthouse. One of the previous courthouses burned down shortly after it opened. She also told us stories of the ghost that visits the Courthouse. The staff is knowledgable, friendly and interesting. A visit to the Fountain County Courthouse is a great experience. There is history, government, art and many friendly staffers. Put a visit on your Indiana bucket list. Parking is free.

If you are a fan of art, history, local culture, or just fun things to do, make a point of stopping…read moreby the Fountain County Courthouse Mural exhibit in downtown Covington. This free exhibit (donations are accepted) can be self-guided by picking up a brochure in the main lobby of the first floor. If you would like a more group oriented tour, a docent from the Fountain County Art Council, Inc can be scheduled through the Auditor's Office (765-793-6243). In a time right at the end of the Great Depression, many artists were provided opportunities to paint murals inside the post offices of the state. Though the Covington PO did not receive a mural, the local leaders of the town decided to have muralist Eugene Savage organize an enormous mural covering 2500 square feet, which includes the entryway, and the interior walls of the courtyard on the first and second floors. The majority of the artists who assisted Savage were women (including two of Savage's nieces. Though Savage is given credit for both sides of the entryway, the rest of the murals were done by the ladies. Beginning in 1937, there was a 2-year process of planning and organizing the works which began in 1939. By the time the works were finished in June 1940, the cost had reached $90,000. As time passed, the murals needed attention to preserve them so in 1983, with a cost of nearly three times the original price, the local groups raised money to preserve the murals into their excellent state that can be seen today. The style of the work is very fitting for the times. Depicting time periods of the history of the area, the artists mix images of different aspects of life for the period juxtaposed with same era, but not necessarily images you would see together in a more realistic setting. The images have a softened look, looking more like caricatures in a flat 2 dimensional style than trying to look lifelike. Very similar in style to period artists like Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Christian. I like that each section of mural identifies the period and the artists associated with the paintings. I also like that the folks of Fountain County realize that they have a piece of history quite unique in its scope and preservation efforts. It is truly worth stopping by if you are in the area to view this massive art installation in person. Review #949

Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

Camped at Charlarose Lake many times over years. Camped at several different spot and locations in…read morepark. They have a variety of hook up and level sites. Currently adding a new section with full hook ups. The owners always on site and overseeing all activity's going on in park. Big things coming to park in future. Excellent customer service.

WARNING!!!! They discriminate against people who own bikes. Also tents. After a VERY long drive…read morethrough Wisconsin, Illinois and finally Indiana my older biker/traveler father finally arrived at this campground. After dark they told my dad NO to his motorcycle and tent. So just don't come here unless you have enough money to waste on a yuppy camper!!! No light travelers allowed here! Not to mention my dad is respectful and has always taught me to leave a campsite better than you left it. So sad to see the discrimination in this world. Shame to this campsite!!!!

The amount of work the new owners have put into improving this campground is truly impressive. We…read morehave camped there several weekends now, and we've found it to be one of the most welcoming campgrounds around. The owners are very deliberate about keeping the environment relaxing and family friendly. They have lots of nice things for kids such as a swimming pool, playground, fishing pond, fields to play in, and a nature trail. Don't try to camp here if you're looking to have a loud party in your campsite! For families, you won't find a better place to bring your camper for a trip.

Enjoy the family feeling. Areas are clean. So much for the kids to do swimming,, biking,fishing…read moreplayground and a store that sells ice cream our family favorite. Many campers that many new friends are always around. Holidays are always special and full of fun.

Public libraries are usually awesome for free unfiltered wifi and accessible power outlets…read more Danville does a really good job of this as I was in a bind. It's been cloudy the last two days and the solar panels on my RV haven't been able to charge the battery. So I stopped in here to recharge my laptops and phone and took advantage of the opportunity to surf while taking some electricity with me. There are a number of desks for study but none of them seemed to have power nearby. Fortunately, there are four bar stools set up at a counter in the stairwell and I was able to camp out there for a bit. The library is on two floors and has sections for children, young adults, fiction, reference and other media. It's mostly quiet, other than the occasional cart clatter as it moves books. They have a large free parking lot and the building is handicap accessible. [Review 17016 overall - 102 in Illinois - 532 of 2022.]

great people and the childrens section is great sensory is really good. My son loves it…read more Everybody is always a great place to visit.