Chandler IndianaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Chandler, Indiana.
1. Chandler Celebration Days Festival
ANNUAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
The Chandler Celebration Days Festival is a cherished annual event that brings the community together for fun and festivities. Visitors can enjoy various activities, food vendors, and entertainment during this local celebration. This festival showcases the small-town charm that Chandler is known for while providing a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and tourists.
2. Lakeview Inn
LOCAL DINING FAVORITE
Lakeview Inn is one of the most popular dining establishments in Chandler, offering visitors a taste of local cuisine. The restaurant provides a comfortable atmosphere where guests can enjoy hearty meals while experiencing authentic Indiana hospitality. Lakeview Inn serves as a gathering place for both locals and travelers looking to savor traditional Midwestern flavors.
3. Old Lighthouse Museum
HISTORIC MARITIME LANDMARK
The Old Lighthouse Museum stands as a historic maritime landmark near Chandler, preserving the rich nautical heritage of the region. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing lighthouse artifacts, maritime history, and the lives of lighthouse keepers who once maintained this important navigational aid. The museum offers breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and serves as a reminder of the area's significant role in Great Lakes shipping history.
4. Burdette Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION COMPLEX
Burdette Park is a comprehensive outdoor recreation complex located near Chandler, offering numerous activities for visitors of all ages. The park features an aquatic center with water slides, swimming pools, and splash areas that provide refreshing fun during hot summer days. Visitors can also enjoy camping, hiking trails, sports facilities, and picnic areas spread throughout this expansive and well-maintained public space.
5. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
WILDLIFE AND NATURE EXPERIENCE
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden offers an immersive wildlife experience with over 200 species from around the world in naturalistic habitats. The zoo combines animal exhibits with beautiful botanical displays, creating an educational and visually stunning environment for visitors. Guests can explore the Amazonia rainforest exhibit, enjoy the children's petting zoo, or stroll through themed gardens featuring native and exotic plant collections.
6. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORICAL SITE
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial preserves the site where Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years from ages 7 to 21, shaping the character of the future president. Visitors can explore the memorial building, which houses exhibits about Lincoln's life in Indiana, and walk through the living historical farm that recreates 1820s pioneer life. The tranquil grounds also include the grave of Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and hiking trails through the same woods where young Abraham once walked.
7. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
THEMED AMUSEMENT PARK
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a renowned theme park located near Chandler that combines holiday-themed attractions with an expansive water park. The park features world-class wooden roller coasters, water slides, and family rides across sections dedicated to Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. Visitors appreciate the park's reputation for cleanliness, free soft drinks, free sunscreen, and exceptional customer service that has earned it numerous industry awards.
8. Angel Mounds State Historic Site
ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT
Angel Mounds State Historic Site preserves one of the best-preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States, once occupied by Mississippian culture people from 1000 to 1450 AD. Visitors can explore reconstructed buildings, earthen mounds, and an interpretive center that showcases the history and artifacts of this ancient settlement. The site offers archaeological tours, cultural programs, and hiking trails that provide insight into the sophisticated society that once thrived along the Ohio River.
9. Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
URBAN OLD-GROWTH FOREST
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve protects a rare 200-acre old-growth urban forest, one of the largest tracts of original forest remaining inside any city limits in the United States. Visitors can explore over 6 miles of trails that wind through majestic hardwood trees, some over 400 years old, while observing diverse wildlife in their natural habitat. The nature center offers educational exhibits, programs, and events designed to foster environmental awareness and conservation efforts.
10. New Harmony Historic District
UTOPIAN COMMUNITY HERITAGE
The New Harmony Historic District preserves the remarkable legacy of two utopian communities that attempted to create ideal societies in the early 19th century. Visitors can tour historic buildings, gardens, and museums that tell the story of the Harmonists and Owenites who sought to establish perfect social order through communal living and progressive ideals. The picturesque town continues to embrace its heritage of innovation, spirituality, and education through art installations, cultural programs, and architectural preservation.
11. Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CULTURAL CENTER
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science offers a comprehensive cultural experience with diverse collections spanning multiple disciplines under one roof. Art enthusiasts can view fine art exhibitions featuring works from the 16th century to contemporary pieces, while history galleries showcase the region's rich heritage from prehistoric times through the 20th century. The Koch Immersive Theater and Planetarium adds a scientific dimension with its state-of-the-art digital projection system presenting astronomical shows and educational programs.
12. Harmonie State Park
RIVERSIDE NATURAL RETREAT
Harmonie State Park encompasses 3,465 acres of natural beauty along the winding Wabash River, offering outdoor enthusiasts a peaceful retreat near Chandler. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, swimming, and boating, or explore the extensive trail system that winds through diverse landscapes of bottomland forests and scenic river views. The park's rich wildlife population and seasonal wildflower displays make it a favorite destination for nature photographers, birdwatchers, and anyone seeking a tranquil connection with nature.
13. Audubon State Park
BIRD ARTIST'S HERITAGE SITE
Audubon State Park celebrates the legacy of renowned naturalist and artist John James Audubon with a museum housing the world's largest collection of his original works and artifacts. The 692-acre park features scenic hiking trails through forests where Audubon once studied and sketched the birds that would make him famous. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking facilities while experiencing the same natural landscapes that inspired Audubon's groundbreaking ornithological illustrations.
14. Santa Claus Museum & Village
CHRISTMAS TOWN HERITAGE
The Santa Claus Museum & Village preserves the unique history of the town that bears the name of Christmas's most beloved figure. Visitors can explore the original 1880s Santa Claus Church, the historic post office where volunteers have answered children's letters to Santa since 1914, and a museum filled with fascinating Christmas memorabilia. The attraction also features a 22-foot Santa statue, providing the perfect photo opportunity for families visiting this one-of-a-kind Christmas-themed destination.
15. Lincoln State Park
PRESIDENTIAL CHILDHOOD LANDSCAPE
Lincoln State Park encompasses the wilderness that shaped Abraham Lincoln's character during his formative years in Southern Indiana from 1816 to 1830. Visitors can explore over 10 miles of hiking trails, swim in Lake Lincoln, rent boats, camp, or picnic while surrounded by the same natural beauty that young Lincoln experienced. The park includes historical sites such as the Little Pigeon Baptist Church cemetery where Lincoln's sister Sarah is buried and the Trail of Twelve Stones featuring markers from important locations in Lincoln's life.