What’s it like in Paoli, Indiana?

The History of Orange County and Paoli, Indiana

Orange County was organized in 1816 – the same year Indiana became a state – from parts of Gibson, Knox and Washington counties. It was named after Orange County, N.C., where many Quakers who settled at Lick Creek near Paoli came from.

Lick Creek was a central point for free Black people and Quakers, who worked together on the Underground Railroad. Early Lick Creek settlers helped fugitive slaves, creating a network to transport them from the South to freedom. The Lindley Family Home was a prominent Underground Railroad station near Lick Creek and today is a museum.

Paoli was platted in 1816 and named in honor of Pasquale Paoli Ash, the son of North Carolina governor Samuel Ashe.

In its early years, several tanneries processed hides and shipped them to Louisville. Then in the 1840s, Thomas Braxtan began manufacturing high-quality oilstones and whetstones, which gained a worldwide reputation. Braxtan made many shipments of stones to England.

Paoli is home to part of Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, a remnant of the vast virgin oak forest that once blanketed southern Indiana.

As of the 2024 census, Paoli’s population is 3,617, making it the largest of six incorporated towns/cities and the county seat of Orange County. It is the 162nd-largest city in Indiana.

Things to Do In or Near Paoli, Indiana

When you think of Paoli, Paoli Peaks is the first thing that comes to mind. Opened in 1978, this ski resort has become one of southern Indiana’s top winter destinations, offering skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing from mid-December to mid-March.

Wilstem Wildlife Park sits just outside of town to the west and was one of the Get Indiana crew’s most fun adventures earlier this summer. We’re talking elephants, zebras, llamas, camels, Aoudads and so many more awesome animals that you get to see (and feed out of your hand!) up close. There is lodging available, too, allowing you to stay on the park grounds.

Downtown Paoli also has a growing collection of boutiques, antique shops, and local businesses to explore. The courthouse square is lively during spring, summer and fall weekends. Plus, the historic Orange County Courthouse is the third-oldest operational courthouse in Indiana and celebrated its 175th anniversary this September.

Mineral Springs Hotel - Indiana Landmarks

Places to Eat or Drink in Paoli, Indiana

Start your morning at Dub’s Custard and Coffee, which just relocated to the Windhorst for the Home Building. For drinks, they’ve got coffee, lattes, frappes, macchiatos, cappuccino, hot chocolate and tea, plus sweet summertime options like smoothies and snow cones. Its ice cream offerings are top of the line as well, with traditional shakes, malts and sundaes on the menu along with ice cream nachos. We deleted some donuts with our morning beverages. They’ve got 4.4 stars on nearly 100 Google reviews.

Another morning or lunch option is the Lost River Co-op & Cafe, a co-op grocery and cafe that serves coffee, breakfast and locally sourced goods. If you like farm-to-table food, this is the spot.

For lunch or dinner, The Superburger is one of the most popular and affordable spots in town. Pizza, Sloppy Joe’s, pork tenderloins, fried chicken, and all the fried sides you can think of, our personal favorite being the sweet corn nuggets. Oh, and they’ve got burgers galore. When you’re at The Superburger, you get the Superburger. They have over 700 Google reviews and 4.5 stars.

If you like classic comfort food, head to Porky’s BBQ of Paoli, where pulled pork, ribs, brisket and homemade sides will satisfy your hunger. Most of the Get Indiana team went with the brisket and pulled pork, two common favorites among Porky’s nearly 1,300 Google reviews and 4.4 star rating. The atmosphere is cool, too, with many old photos, community achievements and historical artifacts hanging on the walls.

Shakeburger is another old-school drive-in that is the perfect place to stop after a visit to Wilstem Wildlife Park. Surprise, surprise… Guests rave about the shakes and burgers! I tried each, and the cookie dough shake was the best cookie-dough-bites-to-vanilla-ice-cream ratio I’ve ever had.

Paoli Jr/Sr High School

Paoli Jr/Sr High School is home to the Rams. They have never won an IHSAA state championship in any sport, but boys basketball was the 2A runner-up in 1999 after falling to Westview, 71-52. That run to the state finals was just the second in program history, with the other coming back in 1914. The 85-year drought between state finals appearances is the fifth-longest drought in IHSAA boys basketball history.

That’s it for small town breakdown No. 37 of 2025. Where should we head next?