Small Town Breakdown No. 81: Lebanon, Indiana
For this week's small town breakdown we're going from the county seat of Decatur in Adams County to the county seat of Lebanon in Boone County. Lebanon sits 30 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis.
The History of Boone County and Lebanon, Indiana
Boone County was founded on April 1, 1830, by Marion and Hendricks counties. Two years later, Lebanon was selected as the county seat. It was named Lebanon by Adam French, who saw a cluster of hickory trees that reminded him of the Cedars of Lebanon from the Bible.
Today, Lebanon serves as the second-largest incorporated town/city in Boone County with a population of 17,812 as of February 2026, behind Zionsville (32,095). It is the 50th-largest incorporated town/city in Indiana.
Things to Do In or Near Lebanon, Indiana
Summer may be over, but when the weather is right, Seashore Water Park is the place to cool off. You can lounge in the lazy river, jump in the wave pool and enjoy water slides.
Another seasonal option held on the second Friday of each month from May through September is Music on the Plaza, which brings music and classic cars to the courthouse square.
If you’re looking to get out on the course before winter hits, The Trophy Club is a challenging 18-hole links style golf course worth playing.
Year-round attractions include the Alley-Oop, a cool coffee and lunch hangout that gives a nod to Boone County’s rich basketball history. You can also see Memorial Hall from the alley, which is where part of the movie “Hoosiers” was filmed.
Another popular attraction in Lebanon is the Boone County Courthouse, famous for its single-piece limestone pillars, known to be the largest in the United States at the time of its dedication in 1912. It also has a stained glass dome and eight functioning Hahl clocks. The Hahl Automatic Clock Company introduced the first pneumatic master clock system in 1877, using air pressure through pipes to control multiple clocks throughout a building, which eliminated the need for electrical wiring.
Chocolate lovers are sure to find what they’re looking for at Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates, serving Boone County since 1966. They have truffles, barks, fruit pieces, and plenty of other assortments, and they’ve got 4.8 stars on nearly 500 Google reviews to back it up. Don’t miss their 60th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1–4 p.m. There will be a food truck, kids activities, raffle prizes, live music with Pavel & Direct Contact, and of course, plenty of chocolates.
Places to Eat in Lebanon, Indiana
Start your day at The Gathering House with Just Love Coffee Cafe and grab one of their many fall drinks, including pumpkin lattes, pumpkin spice matchas, white chocolate pumpkin frappes, autumn amarettos and lumberjacks. You also can’t go wrong with fresh pastries from Titus Bakery, serving Lebanon since 1980.
The Gathering House is also home to the Gathering House Grille, open Tuesday through Saturday. They serve pub-style food including smashburgers and wings (only 75 cents on Wednesday).
One of Four Finger Distillery’s three locations is at The Gathering House as well. That means you’ve got coffee, food, and drinks all under one roof at The Gathering House, which creates the perfect private event space for corporate gatherings, rehearsal dinners, graduation parties, and other celebrations.
For a unique dining experience, check out Chabellas Social Block, housed inside the old Boone County Jail that was built in 1938. They’re open seven days a week, and yes, you can literally have lunch or dinner in an old jail cell.
For fine dining on the courthouse square in Lebanon, Kinnard & Drake’s 1830 Chophouse checks every box with steaks, prime rib, pork chops, lobster, whiskeys and more. Save room for the seasonal creme brulee at the finish. They also offer a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Famous People From Lebanon, Indiana
There are a few famous athletes and celebrities who have called Lebanon home.
First up is 1966 Indiana “Mr. Basketball” award-winner Rick Mount. He was a three-time All-American at Purdue, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970, and played five years exclusively in the American Basketball Association, the first two coming with the Indiana Pacers.
Next up is Mel Kenyon, who many consider the best midget car racing driver ever. He holds a record seven USAC National Midget titles, finished runner-up eight times, and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2003. He also raced in the Indianapolis 500 eight times and had four top-five finishes — third in 1968, fourth in 1969 and 1973, and fifth in 1966.
And third is actor Drew Powell, who graduated from Lebanon Senior High School and later DePauw University. Go Tigers. Powell’s first role came on Malcolm in the Middle and he has since appeared on House, Leverage, ER, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Psych and The Ponderosa, and many more. He’s an Indiana sports superfan, and you’re likely going to see him at Gainbridge Fieldhouse or Lucas Oil Stadium cheering on the Pacers, Fever and Colts.
High School History
Lebanon Senior High School is home of the Tigers. They have won four state championships in school history, three in boys basketball (1912, 1917, 1918) and one in softball (2016, 3A).
That's it for small town breakdown No. 81. Where should we head next?
