Some 545 of you filled out and mailed the ballot from May's back cover, sent us an e-mail or filled in and submitted the handy form on our Web site to our 39 questions for our first ever Readers' Choice Awards. Some of the ballots represented a distinct local slant (some folks got really personal and included themselves, their home, their farm, their kids, their neighbor's woods, their grandma's cooking, etc., in almost every category.) Other folks submitted ballots that were geographically diverse. Though ballots came from all over the state, Southern Indiana locales ended up with the lion's share of votes — especially Nashville and Corydon.
Some of the category winners were expected. Some brought surprises. (We didn't know mushroom hunting was so popular … no wonder morels are so hard to find!) Some of the categories received score upon score of different answers making a single winner too close to call. Some categories were won by landslides.
The results of our first "Best of Indiana" contest are presented here. Some of the categories no doubt will be debated by folks in the coffee shops and diners around rural and suburban Indiana. And we welcome the dialogue. But we assure you that we left no chads hanging or good intentions dangling as we tallied up the votes.
Let us know how we can improve the Readers' Choice Awards, or if there are other categories you'd like for us to consider in the future. We'll either revisit the contest annually or offer it every other year. Winners in many of the categories this year will receive a certificate recognizing the honor.
THE BEST OF INDIANA
Restaurant (Fine Dining)
The Beef House, Covington
(765) 793-3947
The Beef House, a staple for far westcentral-Indiana and motorbound-meat lovers, received a sizzling number of votes to take the first category. Located just off Interstate 74, the restaurant — known for its grilled steaks and homemade pies — could also probably fall under the more casual side of a dining experience for many folks (and did get several votes in the Casual category, too).
Runners up in this category included: The Overlook in Leavenworth, the Schnitzelbank in Jasper; and Magdalena's in Corydon.
Restaurant (Casual Dining)
Tie: Gray Brothers Cafeteria, Mooresville
(317) 831-3345
Black Buggy, Washington
(812) 254-8966
Gray Brothers is a Mooresville icon, known far and wide for its mouth-watering wide-range of offerings. There's also a carryout service if you're in a hurry.
Black Buggy, on the southern outskirts of Washington, serves Amish home-style cooking in the heart of southern Indiana's Amish country. It offers a buffet and is famous for pies, bread and noodles.
Place to go for catfish
Pappaw's, Columbus
(812) 372-4710
Pappaw's has been open only since December, but it has already made a name for itself serving up deep fried fillets breaded in a special recipe. The restaurant is to offer a one-two punch of catfish and barbecue, but the big barbecue cooker only arrived last month. "Catfish has been carrying us for the first six months," said owner Earl Young, a Bartholomew County REMC consumer.
Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shop
Zaharako's Confectionery, Columbus
(812) 379-9329
Zaharako's, located in downtown Columbus, has been around since 1900. And "The Greeks," as it was originally called, has changed little since four Greek immigrants — the Zaharako brothers — opened the confectionery a century ago. Now owned and operated by a fourth generation of Zaharakos, the parlor still conjures up ice cream sodas, sarsaparillas and Green River phosphates from an onyx soda fountain and serves them up on a marble counter top. A 1908 pipe organ playing in the back parlor completes the sensory time-travel experience to a simpler era. Though his shop's been featured in National Geographic and Time magazines, Lew Zaharako said he considers the Electric Consumer Reader's Choice Award one of its greatest honors because it came from regular folks all around the state.
Bed and Breakfast
Kintner House Inn, Corydon
(812) 738-2020
The Kintner House originally opened in 1873 as Corydon's finest inn. Restored in 1986, the inn offers 15 elegant rooms, all with private baths and antique furnishings (five have gas fireplaces, too), with all the amenities of a modern hotel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the inn is just a block from the state's first capitol building (see the Town Square category).
Product Made in Indiana
Popcorn
Readers offered many suggestions in this category: Recreational vehicles and trucks, Eli Lilly pharmaceutical products and Red Gold Tomatoes were among the top vote-getters. But, aw shucks, Hoosier-grown popcorn was tops as far as most of you were concerned. Many voters attributed the popcorn to a specific brand name: like Cousin Willie's or Weaver's. We ignored the brand references and grouped all the Indiana kernels together — in a big bowl with some melted butter and salt!
Vacation Destination
Tie: Brown County
800-753-3255, (812) 988-7303
Holiday World, Santa Claus
(812) 937-4401, 1-800-GO SANTA
Picturesque Brown County attracts young and old alike with its breathtaking scenery (especially in the fall), historical attractions, shops and a wide variety of outdoor activities. Our readers picked Brown County as one of their top Indiana vacation destinations, along with the Holiday World theme park in Santa Claus. The Lake Rudolph Campground and R.V. Resort as well as Santa's Lodge hotel are just minutes from Holiday World, making it a convenient destination for families from all over the state.
Campground
Tie: Brown County State Park, Nashville
(812) 988-6406
Patoka Lake, Birdseye,
(812) 685-2464
Spring Mill, Mitchell
(812) 849-4129
You can't go wrong with any of these state-operated campgrounds. They all come with abundant scenery and varying recreational opportunities. Call for information or check out the sites on the Internet (at http://www.state.in.us/dnr/parklake), consider availability and then pick one — or take a Southern Indiana camping odyssey and visit all three!
State Park
Spring Mill, Mitchell
(812) 849-4129
Indiana has an impressive offering of state parks, but our readers picked Spring Mill as their favorite. The park, just east of Mitchell, offers a wide range of historic and natural wonders. These include a Pioneer Village, with its massive water-powered grist mill, nature preserves, caves, a pool, saddle barn and a memorial to pioneering astronaut Gus Grissom. The Gemini space capsule flown by the Mitchell native and other memorabilia are on display.
Museum
Children's Museum, Indianapolis
(317) 334-3322 or 800-208-KIDS
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis was the runaway winner of the museum category. Its 10 hands-on galleries, planetarium, carousel and giant-screened CineDome make the museum a must-stop for folks visiting Indianapolis — even if you don't have kids.
Historic Site
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City
(812) 937-4541
On the same land where Abraham Lincoln grew up, visitors to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial can contemplate Lincoln; visit a memorial marker to his mother who is buried on the land; or watch "pioneers" go about the typical daily chores of Lincoln's Indiana days (1816-1830) at the site's living historical farm. The site, operated by the National Park Service, also offers a small museum, gift shop and theater at the visitor's center. Across the road is Lincoln State Park.
Fair/Festival
State Fair, Indianapolis
(317) 927-7500
How can you argue with three-quarters of a million people, countless pigs and cows and horses, top-name entertainment, pork sandwiches, hot air balloons and marching bands? The State Fair was by far the single-favorite readers' choice in this category. This year's fair is Aug. 7-18!
Shopping Spot
Tie: Nashville shops
800-753-3255, (812) 988-7303
Circle Centre, Indianapolis
(317) 681-8000
Edinburgh Outlet Center
(812) 526-9764
The survey showed our readers like to shop — and where they shop depends on the occasion. For the shopper who enjoys browsing amidst a quaint small town setting, Nashville hits the spot. Bargain hunters who enjoy picking up anything from drills to designer duds for less swear by the Edinburgh Outlet Center off I-65. Meanwhile Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis is a favorite destination with 100 shopping, dining and entertainment options.
Place to go for Antiques
Tie: Nashville
800-753-3255, (812) 988-7303
Shipshewana
800-254-8090
Madison
800-559-2956, (812) 265-2956
Nashville, with its variety of antique and collectible shops and malls, makes another appearance in our "Best of" list. But it has company.
At Shipshewana, in the heart of northeastern Indiana's Amish country, you'll find treasure after treasure, everything from handmade quilts to fresh vegetables. There are more than 85 different shops. Remember, all shops here are closed on Sundays!
You can't say you've gone antiquing without visiting Madison. Nestled in a valley along the banks of the Ohio, Madison has retained its 19th century riverfront and charm, and antiquing here just seems natural.
Place to Hear Music
Nashville
800-753-3255, (812) 988-7303
Country music fans don't have to journey to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., to hear good boot stompin' tunes. Our own Nashville, with its Little Nashville Opry and a number of other music halls, has been a top venue for country stars for a quarter of a century.
Pick-Your-Own Farm
Huber farms, Starlight
(812) 923-9813 for Huber Orchard; or (812) 923-5255 for Joe Huber's Family Farm
This category is won by two establishments operated by two separate families (though they're related) with the same last name within a mile of each other — Huber Orchard, Winery and U-Pick Farm and Joe Huber's Family Farm. No wonder "Huber's" was all many people wrote for U-pick farms, putting us in quandary. We decided to combine both. As Joe Huber noted, most people who visit one in the rolling hills of Starlight also visit the other. Both Huber farms offer seasonal fruits and vegetables and a large variety of other activities, including the Readers' Choice winery (see below) and Joe Huber's Family Restaurant.
Winery/Vineyard
Huber Winery, Starlight
(812) 923-WINE, 1-800-345-WINE
Wineries have flourished in Indiana in the past decade. In 1989, there were nine. Now there are 25 with several more on the way. Topping our list is Huber's, one of the state's oldest and largest. Huber Winery grows 15 different varieties of grapes for the production of its 19 varietal and blended wines. Since 1978, its wines have won over 900 gold, silver and bronze awards in wine competitions from New York to California. Visitors can sample wine in an air-conditioned seating area and tour the cellar and vineyards. In addition, the winery is part of the Huber farm, settled in 1843 and is now run by a seventh generation. The farm offers a U-pick farm, cheese factory, bakery, a 1,000-seat dining hall and more.
Town to Visit
Nashville
800-753-3255, (812) 988-7303
The Brown County seat is the town to visit, all right — as a number of the "Best of Indiana" categories reveal. Sweeping vistas of tinted rolling hills, artists, music, crafts and antiques, quaint shops and log cabins all rolled into one county is hard to beat.
Town Square
Corydon
888-738-2137
The state's historic first capital actually doesn't have a "town square" in the usual sense; it's really more of a village green. But the block encompassing the old state capitol, the county courthouse and many quaint shops and storefronts — with its grassy open area in the center and traditional bandstand playing host to many special events — offered more than enough to readers to give Corydon yet another "Best of Indiana" honor.
Indiana Celebrity
Red Skelton
Vincennes native Red Skelton (1913-1997) may have passed away five years ago, but his gentle brand of wholesome humor (and sweet and sincere closing line "Good-night and may God bless") will never be forgotten. Readers named the classic clown and star of stage, screen and television their favorite Hoosier-born celebrity, beating out contemporary comedic talk-show host David Letterman by 30 votes. Others top vote-getters included John Mellen-camp and Florence Henderson.
Indiana Historical Figure
Abraham Lincoln
Abe Lincoln did more than pass through Indiana. During his 14 years in the Southern Indiana wilderness (1816-1830), he grew from a 7-year-old boy to manhood (and a tall 6-foot-4 man at that). Though he put the harsh life and sad memories from his boyhood behind him as a lawmaker and lawyer in Illinois, his formative years in Indiana stayed with him. He carried the personal values, his honesty, morality, self reliance and great sense of compassion, that he learned here to Washington. There, he led the nation through the Civil War and to a "new birth of freedom" as the 16th president. With the two Lincoln references in our Readers' Choice Awards, it's evident Hoosiers are recognizing and drawing pride from our state's role in the life of our greatest president.
Indiana Sport Figure
Larry Bird
"The Hick from French Lick" gave Hoosier basketball fans many memories — including the amazing 33-1 season of the Indiana State University Sycamores in 1979 (the only loss coming in the NCAA final). His three-year return to Indiana as coach of the Pacers culminated with the team's only appearance in the NBA championships in 2000.
Sports Team
Indiana Pacers
(317) 239-5151 (game tickets)
The Pacers pulled out a mild upset over the IU men's basketball team in this category. In the mid-1990s the once-hapless Pacers, led by shooting star Reggie Miller, began stringing together successful seasons and remarkable playoff victories. While the Pacers rose, IU, which finished second in voting, began a decade of decline. That decline finally ended this year with IU's amazing run in the NCAA tourney.
Sporting Event
Indianapolis 500
(317) 484-6700
The demise of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" has been greatly exaggerated — at least according to Electric Consumer readers! The 500 blew the doors off the Brickyard 400, the second highest single sporting event to receive votes, by a 165 to 43 tally. The 500's vote count even outpaced all mentions of basketball combined, which included generic votes for "basketball" and specific mentions of Pacers, IU, Purdue and NCAA and high school tourneys.
Fishing Spot
Patoka Lake, Birdseye
(812) 685-2464
Patoka Lake's 8,800 acres of pristine water offers some of the state's finest bass and panfishing. Scores of tiny coves with tall stands of trees popping up from the reservoir's bottom provide shelter for fish — and ample opportunities for anglers of all abilities. A marina and nine state-owned boat ramps make the deeper water of the old river channel accessible.
Hunting Spot
Tie: Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area, LaGrange County
(260) 367-2164
Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area, Daviess County
(812) 644-7711
Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area offers 11,600 acres and hunting opportunities for rabbit, squirrel, deer, dove, wild turkey, pheasant, snipe, and woodcock.
The Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area is noted for its successful wildlife management and diversity of game. Glendale offers over 8,000 acres and hunting opportunities for quail, rabbit, dove, squirrel, deer, wild turkey and woodcock.
Both locations host fee-paid put-and-take pheasant hunting and allow waterfowl hunting and night hunting for raccoon, fox and coyote.
Swimming Spot
Tie: Indiana Beach, Monticello
(574) 583-4141
Indiana Dunes, Chesterton
(219) 926-1952
Let's head for the beach! Along Lake Shafer, Indiana Beach has The Sand Beach swimming area, an enclosed 750,000-gallon swimming pool. It also has The Water Park featuring five tube slides.
At Indiana Dunes, you'll feel as if you're on the coast — sand, surf and nothing but blue sky touching blue water. Along with swimming, the Dunes State Park has three miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan offering a nature center with details of the history of the dunes area and special programming year-round.
Bicycling Route
Patoka Lake, Birdseye
(812) 685-2464
Some folks liked southern Indiana for its rolling hills. Some like northern Indiana for its lack thereof. Patoka Lake offers a little bit of everything, wooded trails and paths and winding roads that vary in difficulty.
Place to Take the Kids
Holiday World, Santa Claus
(812) 937-4401, 1-800-GO SANTA
The Southern Indiana theme park, making its second appearance in our Readers' Choice Awards, provides a wide variety of thrill rides and attractions, including a water park, for kids of all ages. New for 2002 is the ZOOMbabwe, the world's largest enclosed waterslide. And, as ranked by an Amusement Today magazine reader's poll, Holiday World has the world's top wooden roller coaster, The Raven. It also ranked first for friendliest and cleanest park in the world, topping the likes of Disney World, Kings Island and Cedar Point!
Walking/Hiking Trail
Turkey Run State Park, Marshall
(765) 597-2635
You'll marvel at the natural geologic wonders of this beautiful park as you hike its famous trails. Hikers and walkers can explore deep, sandstone ravines and traipse along the trails through stands of aged forests and high above the banks of Sugar Creek.
Golf Course
Covered Bridge, Sellersburg
(812) 246-8880
Covered Bridge is the home of Masters and U.S. Open champ Fuzzy Zoeller who designed the 18-hole course. Nestled on a gently rolling plain at the foot of Southern Indiana's famous Floyds Knobs, the par 72 circuit was laid out to emphasize the natural beauty of the landscape.
Close runners up in this category included Christmas Lake Village in Santa Claus; Sultan's Run in Jasper; and Otter Creek in Columbus.
Seasonal Activities
Mushroom hunting (Spring)
Swimming (Summer)
Fall festivals (Fall)
Snow fun (Winter)
This category produced one of the contest's biggest surprises — mushroom hunting. We knew it was popular, but we didn't know it would take first in springtime activities, topping gardening! No wonder finding morels is so difficult: everybody's out looking for them.
Scenic Drive
Ohio River Scenic Byway
1-800-489-4474
The Ohio River Scenic Route won out over many routes that included Brown County variations. The river route was voted on by name and in smaller sections, such as the state roads through Lawrenceburg to Madison, and then from Corydon through Tell City. Besides Brown County routes, the roads passing through Amish country near Nappanee and Shipshewana were also popular.
Fireworks Display
Thunder over Louisville (as viewed from Indiana)
We know … we know, Louisville is not in Indiana. But this big shebang, held in April as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is launched from barges in the middle of the Ohio River and was co-sponsored this year by Caesar's Indiana. The festival brings throngs of people to the Greater Louisville area which includes the Indiana side of the river, too. And, more readers voted for it than any other. So, Thunder over Louisville — one of the Best of Indiana … go figure.
High School Mascot
Bulldogs
This category came back to bite us on the bottomside. Many folks weren't specific in naming the school … maybe 'coz we weren't specific enough in asking for it. So a mixed breed of "Bulldogs" from schools all over the state topped the list.
College/University
Indiana University, Bloomington
Our readers, for once and for all, have settled the great debate … well, at least until next time. IU edged out Purdue in votes, 150-135. Though 31 other institutions received at least one vote, none contended with the two Big Ten schools. Scoring it had all the excitement of a basketball game: Purdue took an early big lead; then IU pulled close; then Purdue pulled away again. A flurry of votes in the final tallying gave IU the win.
