Small Town Breakdown No. 17: Shoals, Indiana
In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 17th small town breakdown of the year, we’re headed from Attica in Fountain County to the county seat of Shoals in Martin County. Shoals is 1 hour and 45 minutes southwest of Indianapolis, 1 hour south of Bloomington and 70 miles northwest of Louisville.
The History of Martin County and Shoals, Indiana
Just four years after the Indiana Territory was granted statehood in 1816, Martin County was partitioned off of Daviess and Dubois counties in January 1820 and named after Major John T. Martin of Kentucky. Natural gas and an abundance of sand in the county led to a boom in population and glass manufacturing plants in the early 1900s, but the gas became depleted in 1915. Around the same time in Shoals, Sherfick Music Company, which specialized in operating juke boxes, was one of the largest companies of its kind in the Midwest. As of the 2023 census Shoals' population was 680, making it the second-largest of three towns/cities in Martin County behind Loogootee and ahead of Crane. Fun fact: Shoals has the smallest population of any small town breakdown we've done so far in 2025!
Things to Do In or Near Shoals, Indiana
Enjoy the great outdoors and everything southern Indiana has to offer. We'll start with two incredible rock formations, the first in Jug Rock Nature Preserve, which is home to Jug Rock... the only free-standing table rock formation east of the Mississippi River. The large stone resting on a rock pillar is reachable via a short hike. Next up is House Rock located on West River Road, which was the greatest of many rock houses or shelters along the White River used by indigenous peoples and first settlers as meeting places. The formation occurs when two sandstone blocks slip on weak underlying foundation and lodge upon each other. The great outdoors continues with the Bluffs of Beaver Bend Nature Preserve, consisting of 210 acres with a mile long, steep-sided bluff in a bend of the White River. The preserve is full of ferns, cliffs and rock houses, and Bald Eagles are frequently seen in the area.
"Locals loved it so much they made it their high school mascot, the Shoals Jug Rocks. Yes, that is a real name."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted May 2, 2025
Sticking with the outdoors theme, history buffs need to take a trip to the abandoned city of Hindostan Falls. It was first settled in 1818 and was the county seat of Martin County for a short period with a population of approximately 1,200. Tragically, a "Great Sickness" hit the area in 1828 and led to widespread death, relocation by survivors and an abandoned city and its been known for nearly 200 years. Hindostan Falls has been transformed into a fishing and wildlife area, and Hindostan Falls is the widest waterfall in Indiana.
"Today, there are no structures or really any trace that humanity existed there, except for the holes in the flat rock where the mill was. Kind of spooky."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted May 2, 2025
History buffs should also check out the Martin County Historical Society, which once served as the courthouse.
"If you like history like I do, you have to check out the Martin County Historical Society, which is housed in the Old County Courthouse. We checked out the old courtroom and the vault."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted May 2, 2025
If you’re in the area on July 4th or 5th, then don’t miss out on the annual Shoals Catfish Festival which began in 1985. Best known for The Big Catfish Contest, it has become tradition for the Catfish Festival Queen to ‘kiss’ the biggest catfish. The festival also includes a parade, fireworks, softball, corn hole, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, 5K, auction, carnival rides, live music and more.
Places to Eat in Shoals, Indiana
You can't go wrong with any of the following 4.6-star Google reviews rated restaurants in Shoals.
Bo-Mac's Drive In is notorious for its deep-fried appetizers, salivating sandwich platters including the Rox Burger and Fire House Burger, wings and chicken buckets. They also serve up flurries, floats, shakes, malts, and a hot fudge brownie bowl. Say less.
Velma's Diner serves locals and travelers breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers up weekday specials. The go-to item on the menu for guests? Catfish. Thank us later.
"After taking in the history, we hit up Velma's, the iconic cash-only diner in town. If it were up to me, I would make a cash-only diner mandatory in every small town."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted May 2, 2025
Last but not least is Faytastic Pizza. Guests rave about the homemade pizza (go with "The Works" or the Chicken Bacon Ranch Deluxe), breadsticks and Stromboli.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 17 of 2025. Where should we head next?
