Story, Indiana: Population 3 Humans, 4 Dogs

In the spring of 2018, I took a trip down to Indianapolis for the Indiana Media Marketplace and the opening of a new outdoor sports exhibit at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. I decided to tack on one more night to the trip and head toward Nashville, Indiana since I'd heard so much about it. In researching Brown County, I stumbled upon the story of Story, Indiana. It seemed the this little town had a fabulous farm-to-table restaurant. So, I worked in dinner at the Story Inn to my itinerary.

It was a long out-of-the-way drive to get there, but that's what I love most about it. There's one road going into town that dead ends just past town. It's isolated and peaceful and historic and tranquil. The entire town is an inn. Fourteen structures exist in Story. There's a former general store that houses a restaurant, tavern and has rooms on the second floor and there are also several rental cottages and a century-plus old barn that is a setting for weddings.

The community dates back to 1851. The lumber town was founded by Dr. George Stay and had a church, grain mill, blacksmith shop, two general stores, butcher shop and post office. After the Great Depression there weren't many people left in Story and the county lost half its population between 1930 and 1940. When the road leading out of the area was cut off and the town became surrounded on three sides by state and national forest, it became pretty much a ghost town. A "hippie" couple later opened a bed and breakfast there, but by the early 1990s it had closed and Story Inn sat empty until it was purchased by Rick Hofstetter in 1999. He purchased not used the former general store, but the rest of the town, too. 

When I visited I was greeted by Hofstetter who told me that the current population was three humans and four dogs. Yes, the dogs outnumber the people there. It's totally frozen in time and such a unique place to visit and stay.

You can now rent the entire town for a wedding, visit for brunch or dinner or enjoy cocktails at the Story Still. Read more about the dinner I had at the Story Inn here. The co-owners of the Story Inn (and the other two residents of the town) are Jacob and Kate Ebel, both chefs who met when working in Alaska. 

Kate Ebel

I've seen posts online this past week about the town being for sale. It sounds like the inn/restaurant is there to stay, though. So, put it on your travel list for this year. It's a getaway like no other that will provide lasting memories. For more info, visit storyinn.com.

Pause

Current Time0:00

/

Duration Time0:00

Stream TypeLIVE

Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

0:00

Fullscreen

00:00

Mute

“Everything that Eric creates comes from his mind. We’re not asking him to make anything specific, so he gets to come in and make what he wants to make and my favorite things that he does are the beer dinners and wine dinners and distillery dinners because he can create things that he could never put on the menu,” Kate Ebel said. The pairing dinners often have dishes with alcohol incorporated in the recipe and have five or six courses.

On weekends from roughly May to October there’s live music on the patio with a summer grill for casual food. On the other side of the garden are yard games and a bonfire area.

At the height of their season, there are up to 50 employees. Jacob Ebel serves as general manager and Kate as the director of sales and events. On a tour of the grounds led by Kate, it becomes apparent that she wears other hats as well. She coordinates the 45 or so weddings a year that are held outdoors on the grounds or in the garden or in a barn built around 1905 that sits behind the inn and is being refurbished using reclaimed wood from barns in the area. She does all the decorating. She also waits tables or cooks when needed and whatever other tasks needs come up.

With Ind. 135 hitting a dead end just up the road, Story is secluded and peaceful. The road that once led to Bloomington was flooded in 1960 to create Lake Monroe and now Story is surrounded on three sides by national and state forests. The “distraction-free” destination has no televisions, phones or alarm clocks in rooms, which are decorated in Victorian country styles.

Story Inn hosts the Indiana Wine Fair each year, a huge event that draws thousands to try wines from around 30 different vintners in Indiana. The 16th annual Indiana Wine Fair will take place May 12. The Story Inn also hosts a popular Hoosier Hop Beer Fest that is on hiatus this year and will return in 2019.

A Wisconsin Road Trip with Betty the Mazda6

We are in the season of restaurant weeks, where many cities and counties are holding events with special menus and pricing to draw in customers during a slow time of the year and introduce them to dishes they may not have tried before.

I was invited up to Kenosha, Wisconsin to preview some restaurants that were participating in their restaurant week. We planned to be there for two days and visit six eateries, So, yeah, a trip to do nothing but eat. How could I pass that up?

For the trip, Mazda provided a 2018 Madza6 Signature for me to use for the trip. We've had a lot of snow or really cold temps and despite the slick roads, Betty made it through like a champ. Yes, I called her Betty. I've decided that when I get a car to drive, it must have a name. This car was the epitome of cool and Betty White came to mind when I looked at it because - who wouldn't want to be as cool as her? Another really nice feature of driving Betty in the winter is that she had heated seats AND a heated steering wheel. One day the high was 8 degrees and i was so glad to warm my hands up on the steering wheel. She had heated side mirrors, too - another convenient feature.

I loved Betty's color. It was a blueish gray hue called Blue Reflex Mica. That color along with the sleek design made her look pretty sharp and it made me smile each time I walked toward her to get in the driver's seat.

With a touchscreen, back-up camera, moonroof, Apple CarPlay and keyless entry, it had all the bells and whistles that help ensure an easy, luxurious driving experience. Safety features included the lane keep assist, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring. 

Betty was comfortable and roomy and I really didn't want to let her go. I could absolutely see myself driving this everyday and loving every minute of it. For more information, visit mazdausa.com.

And just in case you were wondering what we at on our trip. Here's a little bit of what we enjoyed.

No One Celebrates Groundhog Day Like Woodstock, IL

Groundhog Day is here and outside of Punxsutawney, PA, there's another place where this ritual is a really big deal. Woodstock, Illinois is where much of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray was filmed. They go all out with a four-day festival dedicated to this furry rodent, his weather prediction and the movie that has become a classic and is still well-loved more than 25 years after its release.

Throughout Woodstock, there are many filming sites that are marked letting you know that they are the spots where scenes took place, including a sidewalk marker showing the scene where Murray repeatedly schleps through slushy snow. During the festival guided tours take visitors through many of those filming spots.

The Cherry Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast

On a media visit I took last year with the county's convention and visitor bureau, we got to see some of those sites - including the town square which served as Gobbler's Knob in the movie and the Public House where the toast to world peace took place. I also had the pleasure of staying at the Cherry Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast. It's the inn that was featured in the movie at 344 Fremont St. The lovely victorian home has four rooms and you wake up to a gourmet meal the next day.

This year's Groundhog Days also included an opportunity to meet Stephen Tolowsky, who played Woodstock’s favorite insurance agent, Ned Ryerson, in the movie.

The event involves a prognostication ceremony early on Groundhog Day complete with a polka band and an appearance by Woodstock Willie, the town's own weather-predicting groundhog. Even if you aren't there visiting for the Groundhog Day events, it's a lovely place to visit any time of year. The downtown square is lined with quaint shops and eateries and you'll find Bill Murray's face on a large mural just off the square. For more info on the fest, go to woodstockgroundhog.com and for more on the area to to visitmchenrycounty.com. 

From the inbox: Wilderness Resort adds new attractions and activities

This year I wanted to bring back my "From the Inbox" series of posts on here and on my food blog, ChicagoFoodieSisters.com.

I get so much great information in my inbox, but don't have time to write about it all. Each week, I'll share something from my inbox and let you get a peek at a press release about something really cool and exciting. Here's the first one for the year. It's been quite a while since we've been to Wisconsin Dells, but it's definitely been one of our favorite destinations that we have visited as a family. We have stayed at Wilderness Resort before and they're adding more fun this year. Read on..

Experience New Attractions and Activities
This Winter at the Wilderness Resort

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — Waterpark enthusiasts looking for a break from winter and a chance to try some new things need to head to Wilderness Resort, America’s Largest Waterpark Resort located in Wisconsin Dells.

During the week of January 21 the resort will be adding three climbing walls to its Timberland Playhouse area.

According to Chris Ebben, the resort’s attractions director, “Each of the walls will vary in difficulty and appearance, and all are certain to provide a memorable experience for participants by offering a wide variety of challenges.”

Wall options will include: The Circuit Breaker, which has a tech feel with lights featured throughout connection lines and handholds. Participants may choose either the round flashing holds or solid square holds to reach the top. The Speed Climb, which is intended for the naturally competitive and encourages climbers to race to the top as fast as possible. The LED lights in the corners and timer help create a fast-paced, high-energy experience for participants. And, The Time Traveler, which offers a fast challenge, participants must reach the top before the countdown clock runs out. The adjustable clock and optical sensors task participants with trying to gain points by "capturing" the sensors on the interchange symbols.

Each wall will be 24 feet tall. It will cost $5 to climb one wall or $12 for three climbs. In order to set up the new climbing walls, some hours will be adjusted in this portion of the hotel from January 22-25. This information is listed on the resort’s blog at https://www.wildernessresort.com/blog/new-climbing-walls-coming-in-january/. 

  Also new at the Wilderness, The Wild Kids Club is now offering family yoga and family dance parties. The family yoga classes are held from 8-8:30 am on Saturday mornings in the Wild WaterDome and include avariety of stretches and poses to help increase flexibility, muscle strength and tone. The Wilderness supplies the yoga mats so all families need to do is show up in comfy workout clothes.  The family dance parties are held on Friday and Saturday evenings from 8-8:30 pm in the Wild West lobby. They feature popular music for littles to get their groove on. It’s a great way to get the last of the wiggles out of the kids before they head off to bed. 

Those with a sweet tooth will love the other new attraction at the resort: the Candy Cabin, in the Wild West lobby. It features all sorts of heavenly hand-dipped delights including homemade turtles and sea salt caramels. There is also an area where guests can watch candy makers in action whipping up amazing treats like Frogs, Bears and Moose that are made just for kids!

Finally, those with an eye on springtime will be happy to hear that the Wilderness Resort’s Wild Rock Golf Club just found it has been selected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to host a qualifying round for the 2019 US Open on May 8, 2019. The course will also be hosting WSGA’s Net Partners 2- Man Championship on September 15 and 16, WSGA Net Partners Championship September 18 and WSGA’s Senior Championship September 19. For more information on any of these events visit WSGA.org

            The Wilderness Resort consists of over 600 wooded acres in Wisconsin Dells and is home to Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, which features 444 guest rooms, 40 Vacation Villas, 76 Frontier Condominiums and 35 cabins. It is also home to Wilderness on the Lake which features 108 luxurious two and three bedroom condominium units overlooking Lake Delton; and Glacier Canyon Lodge, which features 460 upscale condominium units. 

            Combined, these three properties offer four indoor and four outdoor waterparks that total nearly 500,000 square feet – that’s over 12 football fields of extreme water fun! The Resort is also home to Wild Rock Golf Club; The Woods 9-Hole Executive Course; Dodge ‘Em City; Timberland Play Park, a 35,000 square-foot, four story adventure with ball blasters, slides and crawl spaces; the OK Corral Lazer Tag Arena; Marshall Training Lazer Maze; The Wild Abyss and Wild Buccaneer indoor 3-D black light mini golf courses; bumper boats; indoor and outdoor go-karts and kiddy-karts; Wisconsin’s first canopy zip line tour; Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course, three room escapes and outdoor Jurassic mini golf. 

Travel & Adventure Show Coming to Chicago January 12 & 13

Cultural entertainment takes place throughout the weekend
on the Global Beats Stage. (photo provided)

Where you do start when you want to plan a trip? You probably take to the Internet hoping to find some of the information you're looking for. But nothing beats face to face conversation from experts that have been there are represent exciting destinations. That's what is so great about the Travel & Adventure Show. It returns this month to Chicago for the 15th time! Chicago is one of nine cities that will host this exciting show.

The two-day show features domestic and international locations with over 350 exhibitors ready to share travel tips, answer questions and help you get started on planning a dream vacation - whether it be through the Great Lakes states, the Western U.S., Europe or Taiwan. If you're looking for a fun hiking adventure, a luxurious cruise or a getaway to a tropical place, there's plenty of info to get you thinking about places you may not have ever thought about putting on your travel bucket list.

Throughout the weekend there will be cultural entertainment on the Global Beats Stage, travel theatre with talks from experts, appearances from travel celebrities, such as Samantha Brown and Rick Steves, and fun activities, including scuba diving and camel rides that are included in show admission. The show is open to all ages and fun for families, couples and singles.

Fun activites, such as scuba diving and camel rides, are included
with show admission. (photo provided)

"The Travel & Adventure Show is like the Internet come to life! Discover hundreds of destinations from around the world and meet one-on-one with travel experts who will help you find, personalize, and book your next trip at a price that you won’t find anywhere else," said Jim Forberg, COO of Unicomm, the parent company of the show. "Learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of interactive seminars on 4 dedicated travel stages right on the show floor.  There is also activities for the entire family including the chance to take your fist scuba-dive in our heated pool, camel rides and more."

For info and show tickets, visit www.travelshows.com 

Beat Winter With a Stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee

We've hit the official beginning of winter and sadly that means months of cold and snowy weather are ahead. If you want to escape for a night or two from the Midwest winter without traveling to the Caribbean, you'll want to make plans for a visit to Great Wolf Lodge, which opened in July in Gurnee, Illinois. 

The Great Wolf Lodge has so many features and activities that there's something for everyone - no matter what age. I was there shortly after they opened with three teenagers and they had a blast. 

The attractions include mini-golf, bowling, gemstone mining, ropes course, Creation Station (where you make your own stuffed animal), arcade and more. The biggest hit with them was MagiQuest, which I enjoyed myself. Each player gets a special wand and it's like a virtual scavenger hunt where you have to stop at various portals for clues.

The Snowland celebration in underway and runs through January 4 with daily snow showers in the Grand Lobby and visits from Santa Claus. There’s also a life-sized gingerbread house constructed from more than 600 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1,300 pounds of sugar. 

Guest can enjoy Hot Cocoa with the Great Wolf Kid, Cookies with Mrs. Claus and the Polar Wolf Walk. There will also be holiday movies playing in the decked out Grand Lobby. Kids can attend North Pole University to earn a Snowploma.

Other fun everyday activities such as kids’ yoga, story time and family bingo will keep the kids busy when they're not in the water.  And in the water park are pools and slides and play areas for splashing. There's a four-story tandem tube ride, a family raft ride, wave pool, a lazy river, kids’ play pool and more. Cabana rentals are also available.

Keep in mind that when you reserve a room, you get access to the water park for both the day you check in and the day you check out. If you want to arrive early and splash around you can do that and if after you check out, you're not quite ready to head back out into the cold, you can stay and enjoy the water park until closing time. For more info on rooms and amenities  go to GreatWolf.com.

Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort

While we all have Santa on the brain during the holiday season, I wanted to share a little about one of my favorite little towns, Santa Claus, Indiana where we've spent time in the summer and fall seasons. It's the place where it's Christmas all year long and even in July you'll spot Mr. Claus. One place you may happen to see him is at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort where he may be cruising around on a golf cart. 

The resort is situated right next to the town's big attraction - Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, which makes it a super convenient place for lodging when you visit the area. There's a walkway that leads to the amusement and water park and there are also shuttles that run throughout the day. There's also a lot of activities in the resort itself if you plan to spend a day or more hanging out there, including a water park, two playgrounds, two basketball courts, a family pool and kiddie pool, a fishing lake, miniature golf, paddleboat and kayak rentals and more. 

Although it's an RV park, you don't need an RV or even a tent. More than half of the sites are RV rentals or cabins. Rudolph's Christmas Cabins feature electric fireplaces, upscale appliances, Christmas decor and a large covered deck - definitely the way to go if you are more of a glamper than a camper.

Cabins do book up in advance for the summer season, so if you're planning out your travel for 2019, now is the best time to make your reservations. Keep in mind that they also have a full itinerary of fall fun during their Halloween Weekends.

The resort has been named National RV Park of the Year and has been named Best RV Park in Indiana by Reader's Digest.

For more information, visit lakerudolph.com.