Before last year I had only vaguely heard about this great restaurant, somewhere down a long, winding road in Brown County, Indiana, south of the state park, called Story Inn.
I had no idea that this is not merely a restaurant: Story Inn is Story, IN – an entire 1851 village that was reinvented in the 1980’s as a rustic and beautiful bed and breakfast.
All it took was one visit and we were hooked! After returning from our latest Story Inn escape, I felt like I had to help share the news so more people get the chance to experience this for themselves.
ONE INCONVENIENT LOCATION SINCE 1851
That’s the tag line on Story Inn’s merchandise and it is perfect. The feeling of being “in the middle of nowhere” and lost in time is what appeals to me most about this place.
The winding 10-mile drive down highway 135 (right off 46 which runs from Columbus, Ind. to Nashville, Ind.) is gorgeous and relaxing, especially because is not “on the way” to anywhere. The town had its heyday in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It basically dried up after a population exodus during Great Depression, after which the state began purchasing all the surrounding land to create Brown County State Park, Hoosier National Forest, Yellowwood State Forest and the Lake Monroe. According to the Story Inn website, “In the early 1980’s two hippies from Bloomington bought and re-assembled the old town, and created the Story Inn.”
A PLACE TO EAT, RELAX AND FALL IN LOVE
The town’s old general store is the focal point, serving now as home to the incredible restaurant as well as lodging rooms above. As their website says, “Our culinary team’s mission is to define and refine authentic Hoosier cuisine. We source only locally produced ingredients from our dairy to meat and game. The bulk of our produce is grown on site in our culinary gardens.”
Quaint, old homes that once housed the townspeople are now cottages you can also stay in for the night. (We stayed in the Doc Story house, named after former occupant Dr. George Story, who founded the village – our dog was so happy that some of Story Inn’s rooms are pet friendly!)
A huge, rustic barn behind the herb garden has been transformed into a wedding venue, perfect for celebrating romantic country/bohemian love stories. I’ve heard wonderful things from guests at Story Inn weddings. (It has even been featured on the Knot – these are some simply gorgeous photos!)
Whether it’s a quick day trip or an extended overnight getaway, I hope everyone with a need for relaxation and an appreciation for historic beauty gets a taste of this uniquely Indiana experience. I can’t wait to go back for another chapter of this Story.
For more information visit StoryInn.com.
