By JD Dotson
Corydon, Indiana, a charming town neighboring my childhood home in Lanesville, holds many memories for me growing up. Many of my school field trips were spent exploring Indiana’s first state capitol and the fascinating Squire Boone Caverns. Trips to the dentist, grocery store visits, and lazy summers tubing down Indian Creek or Blue River all paint a vivid picture of my connection to this town. Today’s adventure began with a delightful stop at KentJava Bar in downtown Corydon. The food, caffeine, and smoothies nourished our bodies, while the live music and local art nourished our souls. It was the perfect start to our day in Corydon!
With some time to spare before our scheduled Squire Boone Caverns tour, we decided to explore the Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park. This park boasts an array of attractions, including an underground cave boat tour, gemstone mining, pygmy goats, a Plunge adventure, and an escape room. However, the thrill that caught my eye was the Bat Chaser. Indiana’s only single rail zip coaster begins with a 50-foot climb, followed by safety checks, strapping in, and a helmet secured tightly. With a firm grip on the handlebars, you’re released from the tower for a 600-foot long “hang glide-like” zip through the trees. It truly feels like flying through the trees like a bat chasing a bug, ending with a safe landing on the other side. My advice? Get the two-ride pass for a few bucks more because you will definitely want to experience it again. After the adrenaline rush of the Bat Chaser, the pygmy goats provided a calm and peaceful distraction, grounding us before our next adventure.
Just down the road from Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park, and nestled among winding country roads, lies the entrance to Squire Boone Caverns in Mauckport, Indiana. We paused to admire the old moss-covered mill and the surrounding creek and woods. Built in 1804, the working mill is powered by water rushing from the caverns, turning the half-ton millstone. Up the hill, past the soap and candle-making cabin and pens of pigs and goats, we met our tour guide (and the resident cavern kitty) for a short hike down to the cavern entrance. Inside, the wet, cold, and incredibly beautiful caverns are illuminated to highlight the stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and various formations. As we traversed the paved paths and stairs, the sound of rushing water filled the space. It was a magical experience, surrounded by cascading water from above, below, and all around us.
Our tour guide was fantastic, explaining everything from the history of the cave and its discovery to the natural formations and Squire Boone’s history as the younger brother of Daniel Boone and his final resting place. She even shared personal anecdotes and some spooky tales of haunted happenings inside the cavern. The hour-long tour was easily navigable with defined walkways, bridges, and stairs. With a temperature of 54 degrees inside, a light jacket is recommended for the ⅓-mile trek. Squire Boone Caverns also features a zip line tour and canopy course, but the underground wonders are the main attraction for me.
Our next stop was the Hayswood Nature Reserve and Indian Creek Trail. Just past the expansive children’s play area (mental note: bring a kid next time as an excuse to play), the hill slopes down into a parking lot, lake, and the beginning of the paved path. We greeted ducks and geese by the fishing lake and followed the winding, mostly shaded and flat, paved path along Indian Creek. As we walked away from the highway, the sounds of nature replaced the hum of passing cars. Birds, critters, fish splashing in the creek, and buzzing insects created a symphony that was a refreshing break from the hum of daily life. We walked the 1.1-mile path, greeting hikers, bikers, walkers, runners, and their four-legged friends. The second bridge connects to the one-mile Bill Gerdon Trail, leading to the Ohio River Scenic Byway, where the 0.62-mile Doolittle Trail took us up to the railroad bridge and onto Capitol Drive, right into downtown Corydon.
Knowing our adventure would end with some delicious food, we made a pit stop at Chestnut Street Market for some local honey. Our allergies are crazy, so we’re willing to try anything, and cooking with honey is always a treat. Chestnut Street Market is a go-to for all things cooking, sweets, wine, spirits, bath, and body, with many items locally sourced. As we headed to the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry Streets, we were greeted by murals from Southern Indiana muralist Carrie Johns, whose work is displayed all over SoIN. At the top of the hill on our way home, we popped into Shireman’s Farm Market, picking up a bounty of vegetables—potatoes, squash, corn, onion, tomato, pepper, and broccolini. The vibrant flowers on display were eye-catching, ready to be taken home by someone with a greener thumb than us. Pit stops became the theme of our adventure, so we decided on two more before heading home.
Turtle Run Winery, located on a curvy road near the edge of Lanesville, was our next stop for a quick visit to pick up a bottle or two. Our quick pit stop turned into a longer visit, thanks to a big band and an even bigger crowd. Turtle Run’s Summer Concert Series was in full swing, with Brass Pack playing music that had the crowd dancing. Bring your own chairs, picnic, and wine glass—Turtle Run provides the wine, and the fun is guaranteed. The concerts occur every Sunday, weather permitting, through the first week of November, with a schedule of performers available on their website. We had one more pit stop to make before heading home. I couldn’t be this close to my mom and a winery without bringing her a bottle and visiting for a bit.
Exhausted, we finally made our way home for a shower and a well-deserved nap (it was Sunday, so napping was allowed). While I’m not much of a cook, I can handle cutting, shucking, and following directions. Jonny, however, takes care of all the creativity in the kitchen. We feasted on roasted squash and onion glazed in honey, rosemary, and thyme, grilled broccolini, corn on the cob, juicy tomatoes, and a delicious potato au gratin. The meal was perfectly paired with a glass of Turtle Run Chardonnay and a grapefruit, lime, and mint fizz mocktail. It was the perfect end to a perfectly wonderful adventure in Corydon, Indiana.
