Make the most of your home state.
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Make the most of your home state.
Always stay IN the know.
Every week we highlight new and exciting things happening across Indiana.
Every week we highlight new and exciting things happening across Indiana.
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Small Town Breakdown No. 23: Syracuse, Indiana
In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 23rd small town breakdown of the year, we’re going from Nappanee in Elkhart County to Syracuse in Kosciusko County. Syracuse is 2 hours and 40 minutes north of Indianapolis, 1 hour northwest of Fort Wayne, and 1 hour southeast of South Bend.
The History of Kosciusko County and Syracuse, Indiana
The boundary of Kosciusko County was established in north-central Indiana in 1835 and became organized in April 1836. It was named for Polish general Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who served in the American Revolutionary War. Warsaw was selected as the county seat and named after the capital of Poland.
Syracuse was laid out by Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward in 1837. The town sits within Turkey Creek Township, and the name means “city on a hill.”
As of the 2023 census Syracuse’s population was 3,217, making it the third-largest of 13 incorporated towns/cities in Kosciusko County behind only Warsaw and Winona Lake. Syracuse is the 172nd largest city in Indiana.
Things to do in or Near Syracuse, Indiana
Lake life is king in Syracuse. Syracuse Lake sits east of town while the 3,000-plus acres Lake Wawasee – the largest natural lake in Indiana – is southeast. Lake Wawasee is the ideal spot to swim, fish, sail, ski, wake surf, tube, kayak and paddleboard. There are many restaurants worth visiting along the shores, too, highlighted in the Places to Eat section of this article.
Hop aboard the two-story, 120-passenger S.S. Lillypad, which has been serving guests fine dining and stunning views of Lake Wawasee for over 25 years. Private bookings like weddings, receptions, celebrations and corporate outings rule the day, but there are 20-30 public cruise dates each year.
If you’re looking to party on the water, the Nauti Mule booze cruise is always a good time. You can pack your own food and beverages, connect to the aux and enjoy two hours on Lake Wawasee. The Nauti Mule holds up to 14 guests.
Lakeside Park & Beach is a great spot to get active and soak up the summer sun. The park includes picnic tables, grills, a volleyball court, and green space for frisbee, cornhole and playing catch. The beach has a covered pavilion as well in case you need some shade. If you want a little more privacy, head over to the more secluded Hoy Lake Beach.
If you’re still looking for Independence Day Weekend plans, Lake Wawasee is home to one of the biggest firework shows every summer in Indiana. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 5, and rep the Red, White and Blue.
Places to Eat in Syracuse, Indiana
The Channel Marker opened in 1994 and now with a tiki bar, offers waterfront dining on the channel that connects Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. Guests rave about the prime rib, perch baskets, coconut shrimp and seafood fondue, and the Outrigger is a must-have burger topped with smoked Gouda, Asian slaw and bang bang shrimp on a brioche bun. The go-to drink? Swamp water. Don’t ask questions, just trust us on this one.
The Pier & Back Porch at Oakwood Resort offers some of the best views of Lake Wawasee and live entertainment on weekends. It’s a one-size-fits-all restaurant – perfect for date nights, casual drinks and relaxation, or events and receptions. The raw oysters, fresh seafood and steaks are top of the line.
Below lake level – well, below ground at least – is Down Under, a 21-and-older bar and restaurant. To find it, keep your eyes peeled for the white gazebo and then head downstairs to enjoy the pizza and prime rib locals love. Down Under has nearly 10,000 likes on Facebook as well, further cementing itself as a Syracuse sensation.
You can’t go wrong with the food, drinks, service and atmosphere at The LakeSide on Main Street in Syracuse, formerly known as Kelly Jae’s Lakeside. They’ve accrued a 4.6-star Google rating behind over 300 customer reviews while amassing over 6,700 likes on Facebook.
Just south of town near Lake Wawasee is South Shore Social, a fun hangout with great food and a welcoming atmosphere to go with golf simulators and interactive darts.
For dessert, swing by Joe’s Ice Cream Supreme for soft-serve and hand-dipped homemade custard. We (and others) recommend getting the banana split, which is big enough for two.
Wawasee High School History
Wawasee High School opened in 1968 when the high schools in Syracuse, Milford and North Webster merged. The lone state title in school history came in 1976, courtesy of girls track & field.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 23 of 2025. Where should we head next?
Small Town Breakdown No. 23: Syracuse, Indiana
In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 23rd small town breakdown of the year, we’re going from Nappanee in Elkhart County to Syracuse in Kosciusko County. Syracuse is 2 hours and 40 minutes north of Indianapolis, 1 hour northwest of Fort Wayne, and 1 hour southeast of South Bend.
The History of Kosciusko County and Syracuse, Indiana
The boundary of Kosciusko County was established in north-central Indiana in 1835 and became organized in April 1836. It was named for Polish general Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who served in the American Revolutionary War. Warsaw was selected as the county seat and named after the capital of Poland.
Syracuse was laid out by Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward in 1837. The town sits within Turkey Creek Township, and the name means “city on a hill.”
As of the 2023 census Syracuse’s population was 3,217, making it the third-largest of 13 incorporated towns/cities in Kosciusko County behind only Warsaw and Winona Lake. Syracuse is the 172nd largest city in Indiana.
Things to do in or Near Syracuse, Indiana
Lake life is king in Syracuse. Syracuse Lake sits east of town while the 3,000-plus acres Lake Wawasee – the largest natural lake in Indiana – is southeast. Lake Wawasee is the ideal spot to swim, fish, sail, ski, wake surf, tube, kayak and paddleboard. There are many restaurants worth visiting along the shores, too, highlighted in the Places to Eat section of this article.
Hop aboard the two-story, 120-passenger S.S. Lillypad, which has been serving guests fine dining and stunning views of Lake Wawasee for over 25 years. Private bookings like weddings, receptions, celebrations and corporate outings rule the day, but there are 20-30 public cruise dates each year.
If you’re looking to party on the water, the Nauti Mule booze cruise is always a good time. You can pack your own food and beverages, connect to the aux and enjoy two hours on Lake Wawasee. The Nauti Mule holds up to 14 guests.
Lakeside Park & Beach is a great spot to get active and soak up the summer sun. The park includes picnic tables, grills, a volleyball court, and green space for frisbee, cornhole and playing catch. The beach has a covered pavilion as well in case you need some shade. If you want a little more privacy, head over to the more secluded Hoy Lake Beach.
If you’re still looking for Independence Day Weekend plans, Lake Wawasee is home to one of the biggest firework shows every summer in Indiana. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 5, and rep the Red, White and Blue.
Places to Eat in Syracuse, Indiana
The Channel Marker opened in 1994 and now with a tiki bar, offers waterfront dining on the channel that connects Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. Guests rave about the prime rib, perch baskets, coconut shrimp and seafood fondue, and the Outrigger is a must-have burger topped with smoked Gouda, Asian slaw and bang bang shrimp on a brioche bun. The go-to drink? Swamp water. Don’t ask questions, just trust us on this one.
The Pier & Back Porch at Oakwood Resort offers some of the best views of Lake Wawasee and live entertainment on weekends. It’s a one-size-fits-all restaurant – perfect for date nights, casual drinks and relaxation, or events and receptions. The raw oysters, fresh seafood and steaks are top of the line.
Below lake level – well, below ground at least – is Down Under, a 21-and-older bar and restaurant. To find it, keep your eyes peeled for the white gazebo and then head downstairs to enjoy the pizza and prime rib locals love. Down Under has nearly 10,000 likes on Facebook as well, further cementing itself as a Syracuse sensation.
You can’t go wrong with the food, drinks, service and atmosphere at The LakeSide on Main Street in Syracuse, formerly known as Kelly Jae’s Lakeside. They’ve accrued a 4.6-star Google rating behind over 300 customer reviews while amassing over 6,700 likes on Facebook.
Just south of town near Lake Wawasee is South Shore Social, a fun hangout with great food and a welcoming atmosphere to go with golf simulators and interactive darts.
For dessert, swing by Joe’s Ice Cream Supreme for soft-serve and hand-dipped homemade custard. We (and others) recommend getting the banana split, which is big enough for two.
Wawasee High School History
Wawasee High School opened in 1968 when the high schools in Syracuse, Milford and North Webster merged. The lone state title in school history came in 1976, courtesy of girls track & field.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 23 of 2025. Where should we head next?
Small Town Breakdown No. 23: Syracuse, Indiana
In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 23rd small town breakdown of the year, we’re going from Nappanee in Elkhart County to Syracuse in Kosciusko County. Syracuse is 2 hours and 40 minutes north of Indianapolis, 1 hour northwest of Fort Wayne, and 1 hour southeast of South Bend.
The History of Kosciusko County and Syracuse, Indiana
The boundary of Kosciusko County was established in north-central Indiana in 1835 and became organized in April 1836. It was named for Polish general Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who served in the American Revolutionary War. Warsaw was selected as the county seat and named after the capital of Poland.
Syracuse was laid out by Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward in 1837. The town sits within Turkey Creek Township, and the name means “city on a hill.”
As of the 2023 census Syracuse’s population was 3,217, making it the third-largest of 13 incorporated towns/cities in Kosciusko County behind only Warsaw and Winona Lake. Syracuse is the 172nd largest city in Indiana.
Things to do in or Near Syracuse, Indiana
Lake life is king in Syracuse. Syracuse Lake sits east of town while the 3,000-plus acres Lake Wawasee – the largest natural lake in Indiana – is southeast. Lake Wawasee is the ideal spot to swim, fish, sail, ski, wake surf, tube, kayak and paddleboard. There are many restaurants worth visiting along the shores, too, highlighted in the Places to Eat section of this article.
Hop aboard the two-story, 120-passenger S.S. Lillypad, which has been serving guests fine dining and stunning views of Lake Wawasee for over 25 years. Private bookings like weddings, receptions, celebrations and corporate outings rule the day, but there are 20-30 public cruise dates each year.
If you’re looking to party on the water, the Nauti Mule booze cruise is always a good time. You can pack your own food and beverages, connect to the aux and enjoy two hours on Lake Wawasee. The Nauti Mule holds up to 14 guests.
Lakeside Park & Beach is a great spot to get active and soak up the summer sun. The park includes picnic tables, grills, a volleyball court, and green space for frisbee, cornhole and playing catch. The beach has a covered pavilion as well in case you need some shade. If you want a little more privacy, head over to the more secluded Hoy Lake Beach.
If you’re still looking for Independence Day Weekend plans, Lake Wawasee is home to one of the biggest firework shows every summer in Indiana. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 5, and rep the Red, White and Blue.
Places to Eat in Syracuse, Indiana
The Channel Marker opened in 1994 and now with a tiki bar, offers waterfront dining on the channel that connects Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. Guests rave about the prime rib, perch baskets, coconut shrimp and seafood fondue, and the Outrigger is a must-have burger topped with smoked Gouda, Asian slaw and bang bang shrimp on a brioche bun. The go-to drink? Swamp water. Don’t ask questions, just trust us on this one.
The Pier & Back Porch at Oakwood Resort offers some of the best views of Lake Wawasee and live entertainment on weekends. It’s a one-size-fits-all restaurant – perfect for date nights, casual drinks and relaxation, or events and receptions. The raw oysters, fresh seafood and steaks are top of the line.
Below lake level – well, below ground at least – is Down Under, a 21-and-older bar and restaurant. To find it, keep your eyes peeled for the white gazebo and then head downstairs to enjoy the pizza and prime rib locals love. Down Under has nearly 10,000 likes on Facebook as well, further cementing itself as a Syracuse sensation.
You can’t go wrong with the food, drinks, service and atmosphere at The LakeSide on Main Street in Syracuse, formerly known as Kelly Jae’s Lakeside. They’ve accrued a 4.6-star Google rating behind over 300 customer reviews while amassing over 6,700 likes on Facebook.
Just south of town near Lake Wawasee is South Shore Social, a fun hangout with great food and a welcoming atmosphere to go with golf simulators and interactive darts.
For dessert, swing by Joe’s Ice Cream Supreme for soft-serve and hand-dipped homemade custard. We (and others) recommend getting the banana split, which is big enough for two.
Wawasee High School History
Wawasee High School opened in 1968 when the high schools in Syracuse, Milford and North Webster merged. The lone state title in school history came in 1976, courtesy of girls track & field.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 23 of 2025. Where should we head next?
Written By:
Cheyne Reiter
Written By:
Cheyne Reiter
Cheyne Reiter
