Why visit the Hoosier Wilderness?

Horseback Riding.  The Story Village is located on the south side of the Brown County State Park, about two miles from the largest horse camp in the Midwest. The Park offers many miles of fine riding trails for equine aficionados; one of which, (the "E" Trail) ends at Story Village. On a typical weekend afternoon, there may be as many horses as cars at Story. We even offer hitching posts for our galloping gourmets!  There are also many fine trails in the Hoosier National Forest right next door.  NOTE: The Story Inn now offers trail passes to the Hoosier National Forest.  

Open Road Bicycling.  Biking is a very popular activity in Southern Indiana. Its rolling hills are a challenge to athletes; others are drawn by the picturesque scenery and the quaint covered bridges. The "Little 500" is a major event at Indiana University each spring, popularized by the movie "Breaking Away."  Each May, as the redbuds and dogwoods bloom in the forest and the goldenrod paints the fields the color of sunshine, you can participate in the Brown County Hills Challenge, a formidable bicycle race through the hilly byways of our bucolic county.  That event benefits the Brown County Citizen’s Scholarship Fund and the Brown County Parks and Recreation.   The shortest route is 24 miles, the longest is 60, all starting from the County Fairgrounds in Nashville.  More event information is available at bcparksrec.com.  Each October, as fall colors reach heir peak, thousands of athletes and weekend warriors converge on Bloomington for the "Hilly Hundred," a hundred mile bike race through the hills and hollows of Southern Indiana attended by thousands of bicyclists.  There are several other organized open road biking tours. Check out the weekly Bloomington Bicycle Club events at bloomington.in.us/~bbc.  Also check out the semi-annual rides (June and September) sponsored by Touring Ride in Rural Indiana, or TRIRI.  This year's September tour (September 12-17) takes participants through the Brown County State Park and past the Story Inn.  More details are available online at triri.org.

Brown County State Park. "Located in the beautiful hills of Brown County off Highway 46, you will especially enjoy the variety offered in Indiana's largest state park, including nearly 20 miles of roads, with numerous scenic vistas. Hiking trails, interpretive services, and extensive horse riding facilities are some of the things that make Brown County State Park popular year-round.

Nearby Nashville, Indiana, features quaint specialty shops, art galleries, entertainment, and historic homes. A visit to T.C. Steele State Memorial or Yellowwood State Forest make your visit complete."  Quote from the official Brown County State Park website.

Mountain Biking.  Without a doubt, the Hoosier National Forest contains the finest mountain biking trails in the State.  The area was spared during the last glacial period, leaving a topography that will challenge the most ambitious mountain bikers.  Nebo Ridge is just a couple of miles from Story. Watch those fallen logs!  NOTE: The Story Inn now offers trail passes to the Hoosier National Forest. 

In late 2004, the Brown County State Park opened its first dedicated mountain biking trail.  With luck, we'll be seeing new trails opening in the Park as well.

You can check out trail conditions or browse through some reviews of the challenges at Story by visiting the following websites: Indy Cycle Specialist, Trail Reviews, Mountain Bike Review,  Hoosier Mountain Bike Association.  The Hoosier National Forest even has a mountain bike page.  Don't miss the Dino Mountain Bike Series.

Motorcycling.  Don those leather chaps and hit the road!  Southern Brown County contains a network of smooth, windy and infrequently traveled roads -- the most scenic byways the Hoosier State has to offer.  Rider Magazine described the road to Story as one of the finest rides around.  Please be considerate of those who share the road with you!  For more information about motorcycling in Southern Indiana check the Abate website at abateofindiana.org.

Hiking.  Brown County is more than 85% forested, and there are many fine hiking trails throughout the region.  Story Inn guests can enter the Hoosier National Forest on foot, which contains miles of fine hiking trails.  There are also lovely and challenging trails located in the Brown County State Park, at Yellowwood State Forest, and other nearby places in Brown, Jackson and Monroe Counties.  In Southern Indiana, you will find many quaint villages, weather beaten barns, clapboard churches, covered bridges and old cemeteries. Enjoy them on foot!

Everything you ever wanted to know about Brown County Hiking can be found at browncountystatepark.com.  Also, there are organized  hikes in the Brown County State Park, including one in mid-January for hearty souls. Another great link for Brown County hiking is Indiana Outfitters.

Nature Watching/Photography.  The Story Inn is adjacent to the Brown County State Park -- Indiana’s largest and most scenic state park. Story is also located in the heart of the Hoosier National Forest.  There is an elegance to the Indiana landscape that can only be experienced by seeing it for yourself. The forests are full of birds, deer, and other creatures great and small. Much of our local wildlife has, sadly, become scarce (in other place) or even endangered. Fortunately, this ecosystem is well protected, and is there much for you to enjoy.  We even have several nesting pairs of American Bald Eagles in the area!  Pack a lunch, and grab your birding book and camera!

Lake Monroe Story is just a few miles from Lake Monroe, Indiana's second largest lake.  There you can enjoy boating, swimming, water skiing, tubing and fishing.  The closest public boat ramp directly onto Lake Monroe is located at Belmont, near the TC Steele Museum. 

Golf.  The Salt Creek Country Club [10 miles North of Story] has a splendid 18 hole golf course and driving range   The course is open to the public. Call (812) 988-7888 for details.

Artists.  Brown County, Indiana is called "The Art Colony of the Midwest" for good reason.  For more than a century, poets, artists, authors and craftsmen have been attracted to this beautiful region.  In keeping with this tradition, five outstanding local artists have opened a studio in the Blue House right here at Story!  The rest of the county is dotted with art studios, which you can tour at your leisure.  We recommend visiting the T.C. Steele Memorial as well.   

Local Color.  If local culture is your passion, you can watch master potters at work just down the road from Story, at Spears Gallery.   Call (812) 988-1287 for more information.  In the Spring, the Hoosier National Forest is a great place to hunt for morel mushrooms, a seasonal delicacy.  If you come up empty-handed, you can always stop by at the Inn to enjoy an appetizer or entree with fresh local morels.

Wine Tours.  Indiana wines have definitely come of age.  On the last Saturday of each April, the Story Inn hosts the Indiana Wine Fair, an event which showcases Hoosier vintners.  We deem it to be our moral imperative to wean the public from Miller Lite, a Sisyphean effort indeed.  There are many fine wineries within an hour's drive of Story: Brown County Winery (Nashville), Butler Winery (Bloomington), Chateau Thomas (Nashville), Simmons Winery (Columbus), Oliver Winery (Bloomington) and Carousel Winery (Bedford).  Take a day trip to visit these fine wineries, and be back in time for dinner!         

How do I get there?  Other area sites and attractions are illustrated on a map entitled, Ten Miles on Roads Less Traveled...