A small town in Indiana has been called “Midwest utopia” for its small-town feel, historic charm, lush green spaces and affordable homes.
New Harmony, a chocolate town three hours’ drive south of Indianapolis, received the jubilant title by travel publication Islands earlier this month.
The small town of just 700 residents was originally founded in 1814 by Lutheran separatists who left their homes in Pennsylvania in an attempt to build a utopia elsewhere.
The group cleared 2,000 acres of forest and built 80 buildings along the Wabash River for their new settlement.
Early residents built breweries, textile and barrel-making workshops, among other things.
The town today continues to attract small local creatives and artists who draw inspiration from its beautiful surroundings.
Every year New Harmony hosts the highly anticipated First Brush of Spring art festival.
During the event, artists from all over the country camp outside with their easels, canvas and paints to create their art in the open air.
New Harmony is a small town of only 700 residents, originally founded in 1814
“The idyllic town is located 26 miles northwest of Evansville and is perfect for a weekend trip,” Islands wrote.
‘It has something for everyone: guided tours, garden labyrinths, contemporary art galleries and antique shops.’
The city is so small that the best way to get around is by golf cart, which costs about $5 per day to rent.
Homes in the city are also more affordable than in many parts of the country – and in other pricier locations in the Midwest.
According to Realtor.com, the median home price in New Harmony was $290,000 in October.
That’s less than the average cost of a home in the U.S. as a whole, which was $404,500 in September, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.
Homes typically only stay on the market for 52 days in New Harmony, according to Zillow, as they are snapped up by eager buyers.
Visitors, meanwhile, can enjoy the two-hour History Tour by tram, visiting key historical sights such as the Lenz House, which dates back to the early 19th century.
The Haunted New Harmony walking tour is a popular alternative, especially around Halloween.
The Indiana city is known for its beautiful surrounding landscape
Historic homes from the early 19th century add to the neighborhood’s charm
History buffs will also enjoy the Working Men’s Institute, founded in 1838.
It is a library and natural history museum with cultural artifacts and geological specimens, among a wealth of other finds.
The city’s founders also built a beautiful shrub labyrinth as a place for quiet contemplation.
The labyrinth, which is free to enter, has only one path that takes you to the center, a nod to the efforts of ‘the pioneers’ to identify the true course of life,” Islands wrote.
In keeping with the city’s utopian goals, the Homeless Church is a striking modernist structure that looks like a collapsed roof.
The church, whose promenade is the size of a city block, is open to all faiths.
The Homeless Church is a striking modernist structure that looks like a collapsed roof
The city’s founders built a beautiful shrub labyrinth as a place for quiet contemplation
The Opera House is popular with art lovers, as is the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art
The Red Geranium Restaurant is a local gastronomic favorite, known for its baked goat cheese and French onion soup.
Nearby Say’s Restaurant serves comfort food in a colorful and welcoming atmosphere.
Art lovers can indulge themselves in the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, where various exhibitions take place every year.
It also had a beloved gift shop where visitors could purchase artist-made home decor, ceramics, jewelry and more.
New Harmony is also an antique hotspot, hosting the annual Antique Show & Cruise-In.
The Antique Emporium and Firehouse Antiques are also popular antique stores that specialize in Americana.