Small Town Breakdown: Winamac, Indiana
Winamac is the county seat of Pulaski County in northwest-central Indiana, a town of about 2,300 people built along the Tippecanoe River. It is roughly 2 hours north of Indianapolis, an hour and 45 minutes west of Fort Wayne, and about 2 hours southeast of downtown Chicago, with Monticello and its lakes a short drive away. People come for the river: paddling, tubing, and camping at Tippecanoe River State Park, plus a rail-trail, a 1923 swinging bridge, a historic movie theatre, and some of the best pork tenderloins in the state.
For this Small Town Breakdown we headed from the county seat of Bloomfield in Greene County up to Winamac. Here is what to see, where to paddle, and where to eat when you visit.
The History of Pulaski County and Winamac, Indiana
Pulaski County was formed in 1835 from Cass and St. Joseph counties and was named for Revolutionary War hero Count Casimir Pulaski. It was formally organized as Indiana’s 87th of 92 counties in May 1839, when five men from nearby White, Carroll, and Cass counties met with John Pearson in his log cabin. Pearson was the founding father of Pulaski County and Winamac’s first entrepreneur, with a sawmill, tavern, and general store. Winamac was selected as the county seat and incorporated in 1868. It was named after a Potawatomi chief who lived in the area in the early 1800s, and the name also ties to the Potawatomi word for “catfish,” which are found in abundance in the Tippecanoe River.
As of the 2020 census, Winamac had 2,318 residents, making it the largest of the five towns in Pulaski County. The town sits in Monroe Township and serves as the county seat.
Things to Do In or Near Winamac, Indiana
Tippecanoe River State Park draws canoers, kayakers, and thousands of hikers each year to the river and 23 miles of trails. You can ride horseback on 14 miles of those trails, and stay over at RV campsites, camper cabins, or tent areas. The park is dotted with historic structures, most notably a 90-foot fire tower that gives visitors a panoramic view.
Speaking of the Tippecanoe River, Riverside Rentals is the go-to for canoe, kayak, and tubing trips. The tubing float runs about 3.5 miles, while the canoe and kayak trip is closer to 6 to 7 miles, each taking 3 to 4 hours depending on the river flow. It is one of the highest-rated outfitters in the area.
Sticking with the outdoors, the Panhandle Pathway is a 22-mile rail-trail running through Pulaski and Cass counties at the edge of the Wabash Valley and across the Tippecanoe River. It follows the historic path of the Pennsylvania Railroad and offers views of farmland and a prairie preserve for walkers, runners, hikers, bikers, and skaters year-round. The pathway heads toward Cass County, where France Park near Logansport adds more hiking, camping, and even scuba diving.
Another favorite is Winamac Town Park, with a playground, walking trail, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds, and shelters for rent. The county 4-H Fair is held there every July. The park is also home to the “Memorial Swinging Bridge,” a suspension bridge over the Tippecanoe River dedicated on July 4, 1923, to honor soldiers and sailors from Pulaski County from the Civil War onward.
Moving indoors, the historic single-screen Isis Theatre opened in 1936 and still draws locals and visitors for the latest releases. Every summer it runs a Free Family Film Fest, showing a family movie for free on Wednesday mornings through June and July, with 10 a.m. showtimes. Check the theatre’s current schedule before you go.
Places to Eat in Winamac, Indiana
Indiana is known for the biggest and best breaded pork tenderloins in the country, and One Eyed Jack’s backs that up. Its 12-ounce Jumbo Tenderloin makes a single bun look small, which is why you might go with the Deuce Tenderloin that comes on two buns so you can share with your special someone. Few things are more romantic than splitting a massive breaded pork tenderloin together. Other highlights include the wings, fried whitefish and bluegill, smashburgers, tots, and tenderloin bites, which are like boneless wings with pork tenderloin inside.
Southwest of town on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, in the tiny village of Pulaski but still with a Winamac address, sits Bill and Babe’s, Indiana’s oldest family-owned tavern. It opened in 1954 and is still run by the founding family. The 21-and-older, cash-only spot is known for fresh fish like walleye, bluegill, and lake perch, hand-breaded broasted pork chops and broasted chicken, and juicy handmade burgers.
Top 5 Recommendations by Get Indiana
One Eyed Jack’s
Tippecanoe River State Park
Bill and Babe’s
Panhandle Pathway
Isis Theatre
Top 5 Recommendations by Winamac Locals
One Eyed Jack’s
Tippy’s Pizza and Beer
Moss Creek Golf Course
Bill and Babe’s