Greenfield serves as the county seat of Hancock County, named for John Hancock, the first person to put his signature on the Declaration of Independence. The county is best known as the birthplace of the famous poet James Whitcomb Riley, whom many refer to simply as the Hoosier Poet.
Located about 25 miles east of Indianapolis, Greenfield sits like a little moon orbiting around a much larger planet – but bigger isn’t always better. You’ll be over the moon with a trip to Greenfield, which has culture, history, nightlife and entertainment, similar to its big brother but without the big-city stress.
“James Whitcomb Riley described Greenfield as ‘the best home outside of heaven.’ For those of us who live in Greenfield and Hancock County, we know this to be true,” says Brigette Cook Jones, executive director of the Hancock County Tourism & Visitor Center. “It’s a hometown feel with lots of Hoosier hospitality. There’s always something to see and do in Greenfield.”
Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
1. Get Festive
Every year, beginning on the first Thursday of October, Greenfield celebrates fall and James Whitcomb Riley’s birthday (Oct. 7, 1849) at the annual Riley Festival. The festival features parades, pageants, live entertainment and 460 vendors selling food and crafts. Riley’s poem chosen to serve as the theme for 2023 is Nine Little Goblins.
2. No Place Like Home
Visit where the poetry began. Riley was born in 1849 in a cabin on the property of what is now the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum. In 1850, Riley’s father, Ruben, built the house where Riley spent his early years. The home and museum feature original artifacts and items from the Riley family, along with a historic 19th-century home preserved to look as it would have when the poet lived there.
3. How About Them Apples?
What says fall more than a crisp Indiana day in the apple orchard picking apples, sipping fresh-pressed cider and selecting the perfect gourd? Celebrate the season at Tuttle Orchard with apple picking, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. You can even watch a colony of bees making honey. While visiting, check out the farm store while, which sells more than 2,000 products.
See more: Made in Indiana: Tuttle Orchard
4. Happy as a Lark
There is endless fun at Lark Ranch, including rides, a rock wall, pumpkin-picking, pedal carts, a carousel, a corn maze and more. Ride the mechanical bull, the mini-train or a pony. Visit the farm animals or cruise down the slide. There are trampolines for jumping and gems for mining. And since it’s fall, no visit would be complete without shooting apples out of the apple cannons.
5. Local Color
Named after one of James Whitcomb Riley’s 1,000 poems, Griggsby’s Station is a 21-and-up restaurant and bar focusing on going local. They source their fresh and sustainable ingredients from local farms and their beers from Indiana breweries. It’s a family-run business that wants to become your new favorite spot in Greenfield. Grab a cocktail and toast to the poet who made it all possible.
See more: Autumn Adventure Awaits in Owen County
6. Word on the Street
Downtown Greenfield is full of history and charm. Stroll the classically quaint Main Street and stop in some of the many boutiques, museums or cafes. You’ll feel like a kid in a candy store at J. Evelyn Confections, which sells homemade chocolates, toffees and truffles. Or go retro at J.W. Riley’s Emporium and Antiques with more than 10,000 square feet of antiques and unique finds.
7. Grain of Truth
Dinner in a grain elevator? Only in Greenfield. The Depot is a family restaurant in a beautifully restored and converted 1906 grain elevator. What used to store up to 40,000 bushels of wheat now hosts diners to enjoy tasty American cuisine from an appetizing menu that includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings and steaks – all with a side of history.
8. State of the Arts
The 1946 art deco building known as the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts is already an artistic masterpiece on its own, but what happens on the inside is even more artsy. The arts center serves as both a cinema and a stage, offering live theater, stand-up comedy, musicals and other performances, along with independent films and major Hollywood productions. There’s even a gallery of old movie posters on the second floor.
9. Go on Strike
You’ll be bowled over at Strike Force Lanes, Greenfield’s 32-lane bowling extravaganza. Complete with automatic scoring, a pro shop, an arcade, a snack bar and a banquet room, Strike Force has everything you need to strike it lucky. Bowl a game, join a league or celebrate your special event at the town’s best and only bowling alley.
10. Outside Chances
For the active, the sporty or those just looking to get back to nature, Brandywine Park is 60 acres of outdoor fun. There are soccer and softball fields, nature trails, a playground and Brandywine Creek. If all that fresh air makes you hungry, the park offers concessions, or you can bring your own and take advantage of the picnic tables and pavilions. Brandywine also provides on-site restrooms and drinking fountains.
To learn more, check out visitinhancock.org.
