Small Town Breakdown No. 30: Fortville, Indiana
In 2025, we’re highlighting 52 small towns across Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 30th small town breakdown of the year we’re going from Bedford in Lawrence County to Fortville in Hancock County. Fortville is 35 minutes northeast of Indianapolis and 45 minutes southwest of Muncie.
What’s it like in Fortville?
Fortville is the kind of place where a Friday night walk downtown might end with ice cream, live music, and a wave from someone you’ve known since elementary school. Even with recent developments moving the town forward, it’s maintained small-town vibes that residents have come to love.
The History of Hancock County and Fortville, Indiana
Fortville sits in the upper northwest corner of Hancock County, which was founded in 1828 and named after John Hancock, best known for having the first signature on the Declaration of Independence. Hancock County was formed from a southern portion of Madison County.
Originally platted in 1849 as Walpole – in honor of Thomas Walpole, a prominent attorney and politician in Greenfield – the town changed its name to Fortville shortly after, this time in honor of Cephas Fort, one of the early settlers and town founders who anticipated the railroad’s arrival throughout the area. The “Bee Line” Railroad (later the New York Central) arrived in 1852, and others rolled through in the mid-19th century to help Fortville blossom. Natural gas then arrived in the 1890s, which accelerated that growth. It became incorporated in 1865.
As of the 2024 census Fortville’s population was 4,927, making it the third-largest of six incorporated towns/cities in Hancock County behind the county seat of Greenfield (26,268) and Cumberland (7,211). Fortville is located within Vernon Township and is the 136th-largest city in Indiana.
Things to Do In or Near Fortville, Indiana
For outdoor family fun, Piney Acres Farm tops the list. Sitting on 73 acres just east of town, Piney Acres hosts seasonal events like an Easter egg hunt, corn mazes, the Piney Acres Scream Farm, and Christmas tree cutting. You can also find your favorite pumpkins at Piney Acres, plus they’ve got a petting zoo, wagon rides, gem mining, bounce pads, and so much more.
There are a couple parks worth checking out, too. First up is Memorial Park & Trail, consisting of nearly 30 acres and home to three shelters, a skate park, dog park, multiple playgrounds, hill slides, a basketball court, tennis courts, and baseball and softball diamonds. The wooded trail is a ¼ mile loop.
Another park worth exploring is Flat Fork Creek Park, located just across the county line in Hamilton County and only a 5-minute drive from downtown Fortville. It is home to the biggest sledding hill in Hamilton County, has five miles of walking trails, mountain biking trails, a fishing pond, and maybe coolest of all – tree houses to explore.
One of the most popular destinations in close proximity to Fortville? Geist Reservoir. Sprawling across nearly 2,000 acres, the man-made reservoir was created in 1943 when Fall Creek was dammed. Thousands of visitors enjoy boating, kayaking, and lakeside dining at Geist all summer long.
If you aren’t afraid of getting your hands dirty, the Gardens of Vernon Township is a volunteer organization that began in March 2020 and has since established pollinator beds, monarch way stations, bee hives, bat houses, and gardens in Fortville. The gardens also bring Mt. Vernon schools and veterans together for mulching, weeding, and planting projects.
Last but not least, if you’re in Fortville in late July before school starts back up, head to Main Street for the town’s annual Summerfest, or enjoy Winterfest and Christmas Tree Lighting during the winter months.
Places to Eat or Grab a Drink in Fortville, Indiana
Du Lit opened on May 1, 2024, and it has quickly become a go-to spot in Fortville. Before it opened, chef/owner and part-time artist Preston Zwolle wanted to live healthier and expand his culinary knowledge. He gave up dairy and gluten and dropped 90 pounds. With the change in diet, he learned to cook food for his family with ingredients that fit his diet. Today, items like steak, burgers, and pizza are favorites, and the menu is broken into thirds – one-third lactose-free, one-third gluten-free, and one-third for those with no dietary restrictions. As for the unique name? ‘Du’ means you in German while ‘lit’ symbolizes fire and light. And the reviews? They’ve got a 100% recommendation rating on Facebook and 4.8 stars among nearly 200 Google reviews.
Denver’s Garage Pizza and Brews is the spot for pizza, flatbreads, and breadsticks, live music throughout the summer, and it’s all housed in a converted 1956 service station. That’s right – it originated as a Phillips 66 service station nearly 70 years ago!
Taxman Fortville isn’t just known for its Belgian-style ales, wine, and cocktails – they pair a robust drink menu with delicious cuisine. Carne asada nachos, chicharrones, truffle frites, Belgian meatballs… the list goes on and on. They’ve racked up almost 7,000 followers on Facebook.
For dessert, Libby’s Ice Cream & Gifts has you covered. Voted best ice cream of Hancock County, Libby’s offers everything from banana splits and brownie sundaes to hand-dipped ice cream and soft serve. And while you’re enjoying your frozen treat, admire a quirky roadside attraction – a giant pink elephant wearing sunglasses and holding a martini glass.
For our 21-and-older audience, the tasting room at Moon Drops Distillery is open Thursday through Sunday with various moonshines, bourbons, and spirits available. You can also tour the distillery on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale also pairs an elevated dining experience with craft cocktails, and the 4.7 Google rating is supported by reviews that rave about the bone marrow fries, beef manhattan and “The Best Damn Chicken Parm.”
Mount Vernon (Fortville) Marauder Pride
Mt. Vernon High School has seen success across multiple sports, winning three state championships in school history.
The first came in 2000 when the softball team defeated Evansville Memorial 6-0 in the 2A championship game to complete a 29-1 season. The program also reached the state semifinals in 1991 and 1992 when softball was a single-class sport, along with a 2A semifinal appearance in 2002.
Girls basketball secured the school’s second state title in 2013 with a 61-47 win over Hamilton Heights in the 3A title game. The program also appeared in the second-ever IHSAA girls basketball state championship game in 1977 but came up short against East Chicago Roosevelt at Hinkle Fieldhouse, 66-35. The Marauders also lost in the 2012 3A championship game against Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 42-39.
The most recent state title for Mt. Vernon (Fortville) came courtesy of the football team in 2021, when the Marauders knocked off Northridge 45-14 in the 4A championship game behind first-year head coach Vince Lidy. He is just one of six head football coaches in IHSAA history to win a state title in his first year as a head coach.
That’s a wrap on small town breakdown No. 30. Where should we head next?
