Fortville with Kids | 10+ Family Friendly Things to do in Hancock County

Located about 25 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis in Hancock County is the town of Fortville, Indiana.  Some people have never heard of it.  Some people have heard of it but have never been.  Yet, some even live in Fortville and do not know about all the truly cool family fun stuff to do!  Here is your official invitation to downtown Fortville. My family of four spent an entire day in Fortville and could not fit everything on my list into our day.

Sunrise Donuts & Coffee

101 W. Broadway Street

Our first stop was for breakfast at Sunrise Donuts and Coffee. The options were plentiful. Sunrise makes its donuts and pastries by hand. They have a fun-looking cream-stuffing machine that they would not let me play with. Instead, I had a seasonally appropriate pumpkin muffin –it was HUGE and delicious! My girls devoured their frosting and sprinkle-covered donuts and my husband enjoyed two wonderful glazed chocolate cake donuts! They have a huge train set up in a glass case that the kids did not want to leave. Follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information

Wild Blackberry Farms

10728 S 700 West

One of the only U-pick blackberry farms resides in Fortville. At Wild Blackberry Farms the season starts in July and usually lasts through September. Picking is best in the cooler, early morning hours so the farm is currently only open in the days early hours. The berries are plump and juicy and more than a couple of varieties can be found throughout the season so we usually visit more than once a year. The farm also hosts an array of public events like its Annual Blackberry Festival!

Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library

625 E. Broadway Street

Fortville has its own library with a children’s area with activities and events. They also offer make-and-take crafts, as well as audiobooks through the Libby app and their own YouTube channel, for monthly book recommendations. Check out their website for information on story times. We love the free events the library holds throughout the year like the Penguin-palozza with real penguins!

Memorial Park

400 W. Church Street

When you arrive at what you think is Memorial Park, just keep driving. There is so much beyond the entrance to check out before you park. For years, I just visited the first playground I came to and never went any further. I was amazed the day I kept driving into the park and realized how much I was missing. There are 3 different playground areas, a skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts, several picnic shelters, a couple of bridges that cross a creek, and even a dog park (with a fee to join). There is so much to do here, and you could keep busy for quite a while.

Fortville ATA Black Belt Academy

225 S. Main Street

Next on our list was the Fortville ATA Black Belt Academy.  They offer a free trial class for first-timers so of course we had to give it a go.  My seven-year-old jumped right in.  She thoroughly enjoyed the ninja warrior-style warm-up course.  Then they dove right into technique and drills.  What a great way to work on coordination and listening skills in a structured learning environment. She loved the class and immediately begged to go again.  I spoke with a couple of parents of current students and they mentioned that they have noticed an increase in self-confidence and discipline. ATA Black Belt Academy offers birthday parties, after-school care, and camps during school, summer, spring, and fall breaks. Visit their website for schedule, hours, and pricing information.

 

Pink Elephant

308 W. Broadway Street

You definitely have to drive by and see this iconic landmark. Locate outside Elite Beverages, it’s more of a funny spot to point out or stop and snap a photo.  The landmark we are referencing is a ginormous pink elephant in thick-rimmed glasses holding a martini glass with its trunk. You can’t miss it. Check out these other weird and fun attractions in our area.

 

Cortona’s Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar

209 S. Main Street

For lunch, we went to Cortona’s Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar. They do not specifically have a kid’s menu but we love Italian and wanted to try it. It was very nice. My oldest devoured a bowl of the “create-your-own” pasta and while my three-year-old got a sample of everyone’s plates, she LOVED the breadsticks!  The staff was very accommodating and the food was very good. My husband and I will be back for a date night soon.

Libby’s Ice Cream and Gifts

11 S. Main Street

When you are ready for a treat visit Libby’s Ice Cream and Gifts where they serve Sundae’s brand of hand-dipped ice cream (another area favorite), warm cider floats, and seasonally appropriate milkshakes like the monster milkshake that is bright green with a giant eyeball floating atop it. My seven-year-old decided on popcorn-flavored ice cream. Interesting but oddly good. The three-year-old settled on the tried and true vanilla while I went with a peanut butter chocolate deliciousness. The ice cream shop is set in the back behind a gift shop full of adorable local and regionally crafted items.  They also have a wide selection of Mellissa and Doug toys for sale and to play with.  That’s right, to play with. The girls played with the table of toys while my husband finished off the uneaten ice cream – can’t let it go to waste, right?! Follow Libby’s on Facebook to see their seasonal hours and available delicious treats.

Studio 309

309 Noel Street

Another Place we wanted to visit but did not get on our schedule is Studio 309. Studio 309 reminds me of a wine and canvas art studio but with so much more.  Here you can paint, sculpt, draw, take group or private lessons, and celebrate anything you desire.  It would be perfect for a birthday party; I think my oldest would love celebrating with her friends here! I could also see a girl’s night out with my friends or hosting a baby shower. Get pricing and contact information on their website.

Time & Again

230 S Main Street

Check out this cute little gift shop for quirky gifts and nostalgic memorabilia from the late 1900s. We love snagging their donut-shaped bath bombs and the always awesome glow-in-the-dark bath bombs. They have tons of fun gifts that you can’t find in a typical store. Dad Joke pack of gum for under $2 makes a great stocking stuffer or gift box topper. With a range of price points, you can easily give the kids a spending limit for picking out other people’s gifts. My ten-year-old likes picking up funky socks and jewelry for her friend’s birthdays. We love this place for its unique, offbeat items we’re sure you know someone who will appreciate them.

 

Piney Acres

1115 E. 1000 North

For seasonal fun one of our favorite farms in Central Indiana is Piney Acres. Every fall they offer a corn maze, wagon rides, animals, a huge play area, and more. They also get a little creepy and scary for Halloween when they turn into the Piney Acres Scream Farm. For Christmastime, families flock to Piney Acres to cut down their own Christmas trees, shop the decor, and partake in all the awesome holiday activities.

Landmark Park

223 E. Staat Street

Landmark Park is home to classic swings and a huge metal slide my kids love zipping down. Throughout the summer the park hosts a summer concert series and various holiday festivals complete with entertainment, vendors and food options. There is a cute gazebo to relax in the shade and watch the kids play.

Other Family-Friendly Food Options in Fortville

• Taxman
  Fortville 29 S. Main St. Fortville, IN 46040
• Panda Chinese Restaurant
  21 S. Main St. Fortville IN 46040
• Mozzi’s Pizza (carry out/delivery only)
  23 S. Main St Fortville, IN 46040
• Los Maguelles
  222 S. Main St. Fortville, IN 46040

There is usually something going on every weekend in Fortville. I love their festive spirit; Treats-On-Main in October, Winterfest in December, and Forth Fest in July are always crowd-pleasers. It seems like the whole town comes out to celebrate but it never feels too packed or over-crowded. Be sure to check the events page on the town’s website to keep up to date.

Did you happen to notice that most of the addresses listed in this article are on the same street? It really is a small town. You can park your car and walk everywhere. Fair warning though: there are train tracks that run right through town, and you will walk (or drive) across the tracks multiple times if you follow our route. It can get loud. The kids thought it was cool. Choo Choo!

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