Wayne County’s Trail Network Offers Fun and Adventure
No matter your interest, Wayne County has a trail for you.
Sponsored by: Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
Wayne County, Indiana, is home to several trails designed to give visitors and locals alike creative ways to experience the best the county has to offer.
“We want to be a destination that offers something unique for visitors to enjoy,” says Nancy Sartain, Leisure Marketing Director at the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau. “We’re a great place for a weekend trip for couples or a girlfriend getaway.” She adds Wayne County is also a great place to call home.
Lovers of the outdoors will want to go to Cardinal Greenway. The paved 62-mile rail trail stretches through East Central Indiana, making it the longest in the state. Used for walking, running or cycling, the trail has more than 20 trailheads and connects to access points to downtown Richmond.
The Midwest Music and Heritage Trail, currently under development, celebrates the contribution Gennett Records made to the area, bringing top talent like Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael to its recording studios starting in the 1920s.
To celebrate these musical legends, Tom Broyles, owner of Firehouse BBQ & Blues, developed a plan to install 50 commemorative sculptures throughout downtown Richmond.
“I’m a big music fan, and I wanted to celebrate the artists who came here that have had such an influence on the music we listen to today,” Broyles says. “There are all these significant things that have happened here, places with interesting history — we wanted to put a shine on those events and give people something to see and learn about.”
Wayne County is home to more than 1,200 antique dealers selling furniture to farm tools, glassware to textiles. There are two different Antique Alley trails, taking visitors on a treasure hunt through its distinctive shops.
“One thing we have a lot of that other places don’t have are antiques,” Sartain says. “We have hundreds of dealers, antique auctions, estate sales … that’s our No. 1 niche, and you can spend a weekend antique hunting.”
“And they’re very affordable compared to the prices on either coast,” she adds.
Gourmands will enjoy the Heartland Wine & Ale Trail, which offers visits to area breweries and wineries, and the Chocolate Trail, which has 15 stops at different locations throughout Richmond.
One thing is clear — no matter your interest, Wayne County has a trail (and more) for you.
Learn more about the Wayne County area at visitrichmond.org.
