Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Bedford, Indiana

Located in South Central Indiana, the city of Bedford is synonymous with Indiana limestone. The high-quality stone mined from the area has its origins in an inland sea that existed approximately 350 million years ago.

Bedford stone has been utilized in a multitude of renowned American landmarks, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the National Cathedral, and Biltmore Estate.

A limestone-themed tourist trail connects Bedford to Bloomington to the north, revealing cave systems, sinkholes, springs, and impressive stone structures along the route.

The Limestone Heritage Festival celebrates Bedford stone through a two-day event held on the historic Courthouse Square at the end of June.

1. Bluespring Caverns

The longest navigable underground river in the United States flows near Bedford. This river winds through a karst cave system, featuring approximately 21 miles of explored passages.

During a boat ride along the river, you can experience the thrill of exploration, immersed in darkness except for the light from your vessel. Throughout the one-hour journey, your guide will highlight local wildlife such as bats and cave salamanders.

The caves maintain a steady temperature of 54 °F throughout the year, and the adventure begins with a descent of 400 feet beneath the earth’s surface.

Above ground, visitors can also admire one of Indiana’s largest sinkholes, which spans 15 acres and serves as an entrance to the subterranean world below.

2. Spring Mill State Park

South of Bedford lies a captivating karst landscape enriched with springs that have formed accessible caves and sinkholes.

The continuously flowing water at Spring Mill proved ideal for establishing water mills in the early 19th century, a period commemorated by a reconstructed pioneer village.

The surrounding old growth forest was cleared during that time, allowing visitors to juxtapose a small area of virgin timber with the regenerated forest that has since developed.

A key feature is the Twin Caves boat tour, which explores 500 feet into a mysterious cave system. Additionally, there is a memorial for Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom, a campground, and a Nature Center featuring natural history displays and live animal exhibits.

3. Bedford Courthouse Square

The central square in downtown Bedford immediately impresses visitors with its scale and historical significance.

This National Historic District comprises the city’s original plat from 200 years ago. The square is flanked by architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much of which features locally quarried limestone.

The historic buildings on the east side are noteworthy, particularly the impressive Masonic Lodge, constructed in 1918, distinguished by its four massive limestone columns adorned with composite capitals.

The square is anchored by a Neoclassical courthouse completed in 1930, which features a balustrade and ornamental urns on the roof.

4. Limestone Heritage Trail

The high-quality limestone found in Lawrence and Monroe counties belongs to the Salem Formation.

This extensive strata measures ten miles in width and 35 miles in length, formed from the fossils of a shallow inland sea approximately 350 million years ago.

This impressive corridor connecting Bedford and Bloomington can be explored via a visitor-friendly tourism trail.

Noteworthy stops along the route include the Land of Limestone exhibit at Oakland City University’s Bedford Campus, the early 20th-century architecture on Bedford Courthouse Square, 14th Street with its ornate limestone moldings, and Bedford’s Greenhill Cemetery, rich in limestone funerary art.

5. Limestone Heritage Festival

The Limestone Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of Bedford’s geological roots, held at the end of June in Courthouse Square.

This two-day event concludes a month of limestone-centric celebrations throughout June.

Participants can enjoy a diverse schedule of activities, including a parade, live entertainment, children’s activities, a limestone carving exhibition at the Downtown Depot, food trucks, a beer garden, and a fireworks display.

This festival provides a wonderful opportunity to explore Bedford’s numerous stone landmarks through a walking tour organized by the Lawrence County Historical Society Museum.

6. Milwaukee Trail

At this moment, the Milwaukee Trail extends for 11 miles connecting Bedford to the nearby town of Williams.

Plans are underway to expand the trail by an additional nine miles. Currently, the Milwaukee Trail offers an excellent means to enjoy the countryside without the need for a vehicle.

As you traverse historic railroad bridges, the trail follows the banks of Spider Creek and tracks the White River.

Paved for the initial few miles and hardback thereafter, the trail navigates through farmland and woodlands, featuring a gentle gradient throughout.

7. Otis Park

Established in 1923 on a former farm donated to the city by newspaperman Fred Otis, Otis Park is Bedford’s oldest park.

Along with its adjacent golf course, the park is classified as a U.S. Historic District, comprising several contributing buildings, including the original Italianate farmhouse constructed in 1865.

The park largely reflects Depression-era designs, when the Works Progress Administration erected structures like a bandshell, picnic shelters, clubhouse, and bathhouse, all crafted from local limestone.

8. Lawrence County Historical Society Museum

For insights into Bedford and the broader Lawrence County, a visit to this museum located on Courthouse Square is recommended. It resides in the century-old Hamer-Smith building at 929 15th Street, showcasing artifacts illuminating various aspects of the region’s history.

Among them, you’ll discover Civil War artifacts, antique household appliances, historic cameras, minerals and fossils, musical instruments, quilts, and an exhibit highlighting NASA astronauts from Lawrence County.

One intriguing item is a shoe-fitting fluoroscope (X-ray machine) that was utilized in Bedford’s Ideal shoe store during the mid-20th century.

9. Virgil I. Gus Grissom Memorial

Mitchell-born Purdue graduate Virgil I. Gus Grissom (1926-1967) was the second American to voyage into space.

He was part of the select group of seven astronauts appointed to fly spacecraft for Project Mercury (1958-1963), the precursor to the Apollo program. Tragically, Grissom perished in the Apollo 1 fire during a pre-launch test and is honored at Spring Mill State Park.

The small museum at this site recounts his remarkable life and features the Gemini 3 “Molly Brown” craft from his mission, along with personal items such as a helmet and spacesuit.

10. Applacres

Located a few minutes south of Bedford, this orchard has been in operation since 1937 and encompasses 70 acres of fruit trees combined with a charming farm market that remains open year-round.

The store’s selection varies with the seasons, offering bedding plants in spring, freshly picked fruits in summer, and chrysanthemums, apples, and cider in the fall through winter.

Moreover, you can always find a delightful array of baked goods, jellies, preserves, and handcrafted gifts. One specialty worth trying is Applacres’ famous cherry-flavored apple cider milkshake.

11. Otis Park Golf Course

The 18-hole golf course adjacent to Otis Park celebrated its centenary in 2020 and provides an affordable opportunity for a round of golf, priced at approximately $28 for 18 holes with a cart as of the time of this writing. Featuring zoysia grass and meticulously maintained fairways,

Otis Park Golf Course is recognized for its challenging slopes, offering players a range of intriguing lies and stunning views.

The back nine is especially picturesque, ensuring that even seasoned players must bring their best game to approach some of the smaller greens.

12. Bedford Farmers’ Market

During the summer months, a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning in Bedford is exploring the vibrant farmers’ market located on the west side of Courthouse Square.

Operating from mid-May through October, the market showcases numerous local vendors from the city.

On a typical week, visitors can find farm-fresh eggs, seasonal fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats and poultry, pies, breads, cinnamon rolls, jellies, jams, flowers, and a wide variety of handmade arts and crafts.

Shopping here supports local producers and artisans, while fostering a direct connection with those who grew, raised, baked, or crafted the items purchased.

13. Paoli Peaks

For those seeking downhill skiing or snowboarding, Indiana’s premier mountain resort, Paoli Peaks, is located a mere half-hour drive south of Bedford.

The skiing season typically lasts from mid-December until mid-March, with the resort situated on a natural hill boasting an elevation of 900 feet and a vertical drop of 300 feet.

Despite South Central Indiana’s lack of extreme cold temperatures, Paoli Peaks features extensive snowmaking capabilities, able to produce a 12-inch layer across the entire hill in just 24 hours.

The resort offers 15 runs, over half of which are categorized as intermediate, as well as two terrain parks for freestyle skiing. Notably, Paoli Peaks also provides night skiing, available seven days a week, with sessions extending until as late as 3:00 a.m. on weekends.

14. Lake Monroe

Just 20 minutes from Bedford lies Lake Monroe, the largest inland body of water in Indiana. This reservoir, established in the early 1960s, covers an area of 10,750 acres.

During the summer, the lake and its scenic forested shores attract numerous visitors, featuring three beaches, abundant opportunities for water recreation, four campgrounds, two hotels, and extensive trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Along the shoreline, there are several recreational facilities, all equipped with a variety of amenities, while much of the eastern shoreline lies within the Hoosier National Forest.

Fishing is allowed year-round, making this one of the top locations in the region for catching catfish, crappie, bass, bullhead, and bluegill.

15. Salt Creek Brewery

All beers produced at this award-winning brewery located just north of Bedford are crafted on-site. The brewery operates from Monday through Wednesday for brewing purposes, opening to patrons for the remainder of the week.

Founded in 2011, Salt Creek Brewery offers a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, featuring a patio, free Wi-Fi, HD televisions, and regular live music events.

The beer selection includes Blonde Ales (Damn and Bradweiser), an IPA (Switchback Sally), an American Pale Ale (Blood Orange), and a Schwarzbier (Queen Anne’s Revenge), among others.

The on-site restaurant, La Cala Cocina, serves beer-friendly Mexican cuisine, with freshly prepared tacos, quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, and rice bowls.