Discover Spencer County: Nature, Lincoln history, and amusement parks

Spencer County combines nature experiences, Lincoln history, and amusement parks. As you plan your trip, you can weigh these different highlights against one another: trails and lakes, historic sites, or rides. The Ohio River Scenic Byway also offers its own perspective on the landscape.

Hiking Trails, Nature Preserves, and River Landscapes

Lincoln State Park offers ten miles of hiking trails and two scenic lakes. Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve lies in the southernmost part of the park. The park therefore brings together trails, lakes, and a named nature preserve; these features give you different ways to plan a nature-focused stay.

Kramer Original Woods Nature Preserve offers a different kind of woodland landscape: it is a southern hardwood bottomland forest with an old-growth character in the Ohio River floodplain. The preserve is among the nature preserves in Spencer County that are open to public visitation. Specific access conditions may vary by preserve, so check the details for the one you plan to visit.

The Ohio River Scenic Byway follows the Ohio River through river towns, colorful wooded areas, and wide expanses of farmland. In Spencer County, it runs through the southern part of the county. While trails and lakes shape a nature stay on foot, the byway is a driving route with views of river landscapes, woods, and agriculture. These different perspectives can help you plan outings around the kind of scenery you want to experience.

Lincoln History and Historic Sites

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located at the site where Abraham Lincoln and his family lived in a pioneer community from 1816 to 1830. The visitor center includes two memorial halls, a museum with various exhibits, and an orientation film. The Living Historical Farm brings to life the story of Lincoln’s 14 formative years in Indiana. The two offerings have different emphases: the memorial identifies the family’s home and the period they lived there, while the farm focuses on Lincoln’s years in Indiana.

Another historical perspective is the home of Colonel William Jones in Gentryville. It is a restored 1834 house in the Federal style. With its specific date and architectural style, the house adds a historic building of its own to the Lincoln themes. Lincoln Amphitheatre, a 2,200-seat theater, is also located in Lincoln State Park.

Santa Claus and Standout Rides

Santa Claus Museum & Village includes a collection of original town buildings dating from 1856 onward. These include the completely original Santa Claus Church, built in 1880. The collection and the individual church offer two different historical reference points: a group of buildings spanning a longer period and a specific church with its own construction date.

Rides also offer some standout experiences. The steel roller coaster Thunderbird accelerates its riders from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds. Cheetah Chase is the world’s first launched water coaster. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari offer two parks for the price of one admission ticket. These specific differences—acceleration, type of coaster, and the offer of two parks—help you distinguish between the amusement park experiences on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Grandview, Santa Claus, Dale, Monroe, Fulton County, Noble County, Hamilton, Vigo.

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