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A small lake right in the middle of town sets Hobart apart from its Northwest Indiana neighbors. Lake George was created in the 1840s when the Deep River was dammed to power a mill, and the brick-making industry that followed earned local teams the nickname Brickies. The city grew along the railroads that cross the Calumet Region, about 35 miles southeast of downtown Chicago.
Today the lakefront is Hobart's living room. Festival Park and its amphitheater host summer concerts and the city's lakefront celebrations, and the 1915 Carnegie library across downtown is now the Hobart Historical Society Museum. The paved Oak Savannah Trail heads west toward Griffith, linking to a wider regional trail network.
The Hobart Prairie Grove unit of Indiana Dunes National Park protects woods and prairie on the east side of town, and Deep River County Park preserves a working 1870s grist mill. Southlake Mall, one of the region's largest shopping centers, sits at the city's southern edge, and the Lake Michigan dunes are about a half-hour drive north.
A small lake formed in the 1840s by damming the Deep River, curving past downtown Hobart with a lakefront walk, benches and views of the old dam. Anglers fish for bass and panfish from the shore, and ducks and geese gather near the parks. A stroll along the water is a pleasant way to start a visit to the town.
A lakeside park beside Lake George with an amphitheater stage that hosts free summer concerts, movie nights and the city's big Fourth of July and lakefront festivals. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for evening shows. Check the city events calendar, since the schedule is concentrated between June and August.
Housed in the 1915 Carnegie library building downtown, the museum displays photographs, tools, household goods and records telling the story of Hobart's brickyards, railroads and early settlers. Volunteers run it, so it keeps limited weekend hours. Call ahead before a special trip, and admire the classic library architecture outside.
A paved multi-use trail on a former railroad line running west from Hobart toward Griffith through woods, wetlands and neighborhoods, with connections to other trails of the Region. It is flat and easy for cyclists, runners and families. There are trailheads with parking in town, and benches along the route for breaks.
An inland unit of Indiana Dunes National Park on the east side of Hobart, with trails through oak woodland, wet prairie and along the Deep River valley, including the Hobart Woodland Trail. It is much quieter than the lakeshore beaches. Spring wildflowers and fall color are highlights, and trails can be wet after rain.
A Lake County park east of Hobart centered on Wood's Historic Grist Mill, an 1876 mill where volunteers still grind cornmeal, plus a historic sawmill, gazebo, gardens and trails along the Deep River. The visitor center sells local crafts and stone-ground meal. The mill is open seasonally, mainly from May through October.
One of the largest enclosed shopping centers in Northwest Indiana, at the southern edge of Hobart near US 30 and I-65, with department stores, a food court and chain restaurants. It is a handy stop for supplies or a rainy afternoon. Weekend traffic around the US 30 entrances can be heavy, so allow extra time for parking.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Dennisyerger84, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: T. Tolbert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Jstuby, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Jstuby, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
