The weather was nice enough for a drive to a neighboring town for a couple of errands. We always enjoy seeing how others decorate for Halloween.
Relaxing on the front lawn
The bones band
The 90’s live (?) on today
A cluster of ghosts and goblins
A scary porch Wraith
Franklin, Indiana is south of Indianapolis, has interesting history and is a typical Central Indiana small town. There are a couple of sites in town that have alleged paranormal activity, which fits for the season.
Some trees are starting to turn. The calendar still says it is September, but October is right around the corner. Past years have shown the trend to go wild with Halloween decorations.
This court jester is an evil trickster
Not the porch greeting you want to see…
Horrific clown’s archery range
These scary figures are not far from where we live! How about your town? Are folks going all out with the Halloween decorations? In some of the towns in our area the Halloween decorations are actually giving the Christmas lights and associated trimmings a run for the best displays.
Baker Park in New Castle, Indiana started with 10 acres. Shortly thereafter a 40 acre grove of land was acquired. This beautiful plot was the last remaining natural woodlands within the city limits. Another 30 acres was given to the city by the Chrysler Corporation.
The Main Entrance to Baker Park
Park 50 Year Dedication
Mayors love their names on Plaques
The formal dedication of Baker Park was held on June 20, 1937 and was named in honor of Sidney E. Baker, mayor of New Castle for twelve years. Mayor Baker is now recognized as the driving force behind the development of the park.
Large Skate Park
Lovely wooded park land
Current facilities at the park provide recreation opportunities for all residents and visitors to the Baker Park. Large and small shelters, restrooms and a stage is available. The swimming pool, kid’s fun park and Frisbee Golf add to the activities. There are also skate parks and horse shoe pits.
Richmond Indiana is on the Ohio border and the junction of I-70 and Historic National Road, i.e. US 40. Fitting that this is the location of the relatively new true roadside attraction. The Uranus Fudge Factory and associated dinosaur park is a fun stop for kids of all ages.
Outside the entrance
Maj couldn’t resist the chance to be an alien…
Photo courtesy Uranus Fudge Factory
The Uranus Fudge Factory is a unique novelty store featuring funny phrases on t-shirts and hoodies and other gifts. In addition there are tons of different kinds of fudge as well as ice cream treats. Stuff that the kids will love is everywhere. Even an arcade for defeating the aliens is there for your pleasure. Keep in mind that some of the sayings can be considered a bit off color.
As you approach Exit 156 on I-70 you’ll see a very very large white cross. When you approach take Exit 156B. This is marked for US 40 East, and as soon as you exit you will see the Uranus Fudge Factory on your left. You’ll also see the life sized T-Rex and other dinosaurs. You have arrived.
When traveling on Interstate 70 (I-70) between Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana look for Exit 145. On the south side of the road at the Centerville exit, you’ll see a huge three story tall candle. Yes, a candle.
This is in fact the World’s Largest Candle
This is the home of the Warm Glow Candle Company. According to the Company Website, “Warm Glow is a FAMILY fragrance company that values tradition while delivering some of the most unique scents from some of the best fragrances houses in the world. All of our candles are small batch and handmade in our Indiana production facility which means no two candles are ever the same.”
Entrance to the Candle store
Each one of us got a Chocolate Cake votive.
This store is certainly an attention grabber. Wonderful fragrances greet you at the door. The staff is super friendly and more than willing to help. We were there for the East Central Indiana Chocolate Trail, a series of businesses primarily marketing chocolate. How does a candle store fit in? The have a chocolate cake scented candle! Once we checked in, we all received our votive candle, each in its own glass cup. Keep an eye out on I-70 near Mile Marker 145. A huge candle awaits you!
Indianapolis Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is excited to bring the official Elvis Presley bio-musical, Heartbreak Hotel, to the stage through October 12, 2025. The show tells the story of Elvis and his rise to fame in a unique way. A young Elvis helps his grown persona cope with his life of fame and fortune through the years.
Kid Elvis (Henry Kirk) appears to guide Elvis Presley (Nicholas Voss), who is in crisis mode
The cast includes Nicholas Voss making his Beef & Boards debut in the role of Elvis Presley. B&B veterans are Sarah Hund as Gladys Presley, Eddie Curry as Colonel Tom Parker, Benjamin Nurthen as Scotty Moore, and Matt Smolko as Bill Black.
Elvis Presley, center, performs at the Louisiana Hayride show in 1954
Henry Kirk, also in his B&B debut, is wonderful in his portrayal of Kid Elvis. He is an eight grader in a local Indy school system. His previous experience in national stage productions is evident in the quality of his performance, which is truly a highlight of the Heartbreak Hotel musical.
Heartbreak Hotel features over 20 Elvis trademark songs including, “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” Couple these classic tunes with chronological events in Presley’s career and you have a fascinating look at the The King of Rock and Roll.
Elvis Presley, center, performs “Viva Las Vegas”
Heartbreak Hotel is on stage through Oct. 12. Tickets to Beef & Boards productions are available exclusively through Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, either at Beef & Boards website, or by contacting the box office at 317.872.9664. Tickets range from $57 to $85 and include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages.
Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre is offering a truly awesome season this coming year. The beloved Indianapolis Northwest side Dinner Theatre will present mystery and mayhem, felines and fairy tales, and fire and rain for its 53rd Season in 2026.
SHOW NAMES AND DATES
The Mousetrap (Jan. 6 – Feb. 15) First time at B&B’s since 1978
Pretty Woman (Feb. 19 – April 4) The Beef & Boards Stage Debut
Singin’ in The Rain (April 9 – May 23) The beloved MGM classic!
“Singin’ in the rain”
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (May 28 – July 12)
The Play That Goes Wrong (July 16 – Aug. 23) Beef & Boards Debut
Ring of Fire returns (Aug. 27 – Oct. 4) Johnny Cash’s iconic playlist
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensation, CATS (Oct. 8 – Nov. 22)
Cast of “CATS”
Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (Nov. 27 – Dec. 31) Beef & Boards Debut
Sales for 2026 VIP Memberships are now open to the public. Individual tickets for all 2026 Season shows are on sale to the general public starting Oct. 1, 2025, and may be purchased by visiting Beef & Boards website, or calling the box office at 317.872.9664 (closed Mondays). Tickets for main stage shows range from $59.50 to $87.50, and include a dinner buffet, full fruit & salad bar, coffee, tea, and lemonade. Note: Discounts are available for groups and kids ages 3-15. Children under age 3 are not admitted to mainstage shows.
November 1922 witnessed the opening of the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana. It was first utilized for vaudeville shows. The theater was also the first in town to show silent movies, which it did from 1922 until 1929. The orchestra pit was perfect for the musician(s) accompanying the silent movies.
The Artcraft Theatre exterior
Restored ticket booth and theater entrance/exit doors
The Artcraft operated as a venue for first-run movie showings for 78 continuous years before closing in 2000 after the development of multi screen theater complexes drastically reduced patron business.
Through the front doors, looking towards the lobby
Concession stand and exit aisle
Over the years the theater saw many changes and improvements including a 1929 sound system for “talkies”. Franklin’s first ever air- conditioning “swamp box system” was installed in 1935. The first marquee was erected in the 1940’s.
We want to come back when it is open to see the whole theater.
A local historic preservation group, Franklin Heritage, Inc. bought the theater in 2001. Restoration work began immediately to save the building from condemnation. Currently the theater regularly offers showings of classic movies. The Historic Artcraft Theatre website has information about events and shows. (It lists the times for senior citizen free movies!)
Sunday was a great day for an unplanned day trip to Franklin, Indiana. There was perfect weather for seeing things in the area and we ended up at a local historic site and restaurant.
The popular local eatery
The entrance
The old hotel light visible
The Willard Hotel was once an active hotel and now The Willard is a very popular restaurant with both outside seating and indoor dining areas. We really enjoyed our very tasty meals. Our son had pretzel breadsticks, fries and a coke. Sher had a custom made veggie pizza and I had the fried fish platter. We both enjoyed Blue Moon on tap. Our waiter Steven took excellent care of us, making sure we had everything we needed for an enjoyable dining experience.
Two piece cod platter with fries, hush puppies and slaw
Custom made veggie pizza
Curved stairway leading to now closed second floor of the hotel
The brick house of the Willard was originally built in 1860 by the daughter of one of the town’s founders. Over the years the hotel saw quite a history and the legends of hauntings continue to this day.
Recently Sher, our son and I were enjoying a road trip in Parke County, Indiana to visit some of the 31 covered bridges that dot the landscape. As we approached the last bridge on the Red Route (one of five self driving road sightseeing tours) we saw a small red building.
The one room schoolhouse from 1874
Over the door
The Mecca Bridge reflected in a window
This single story frame structure was identified as a school in Wabash Township #3 with a date of 1874. It was about 30 yards from the Mecca Bridge built in 1873.
Blackboard, teacher’s desk. rocking chair and wood stove
Where the children sat and learned their three “R’s”
The school was locked, but I was able to peer through the windows and get decent photos. You can imagine the kids attending the school, with one teacher covering all of the grades. No lights, no AC, and the only heat from a wood stove at the front of the room.
Roadtirement 