Winamac

Small Town Breakdown

Small Town Breakdown: Winamac, Indiana

From the tenderloins at One Eyed Jack’s to exploring the Tippecanoe River, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone in Winamac.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: Northern Indiana

• Winamac is located within Monroe Township in the east central portion of Pulaski County

• State Road 14 runs east-west through town, State Road 119 enters from the south and connects to SR14 to the east, and U.S. Route 35 runs north-south through town

• 2 hours north of Indianapolis

• 1 hour and 45 minutes west of Fort Wayne

• 2 hours southeast of downtown Chicago

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 2,287 residents (as of 2023)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 201st largest city

• Largest of five incorporated towns/cities in Pulaski County

📏 LAND AREA

• 1.36 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Pulaski County was formed in 1835 from Cass and St. Joseph counties

• It was named for Revolutionary War hero Count Casimir Pulaski

• It was formally organized as Indiana’s 87th county in May 1839, when Winamac was also selected as the county seat

• John Pearson was the founding father of Pulaski County and Winamac’s first entrepreneur owning a sawmill, tavern and general store

• Winamac is named for a Potawatomi Indian Chief who lived in the area in the early 1800s, and it is also derived from the Potawatomi word for “catfish”, which are found in abundance in the Tippecanoe River

• It became an incorporated town in 1868

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Healthcare, Manufacturing

• Pulaski Memorial Hospital serves as a critical access hospital for Winamac and surrounding communities.

• BraunAbility is a manufacturer for wheelchair accessible vans, vehicle seating, wheelchair lifts and commercial products that fit various mobility needs.

• Plymouth Tube is a specialty manufacturer of carbon alloy, nickel alloy and stainless steel tubing.

• Wastequip is a manufacturer and provider of waste handling equipment, systems and services, including the production of containers, compactors, trucks and other equipment used for collecting, processing and transporting various types of waste and recyclables.

Tippecanoe River

North of town is Tippecanoe River State Park, which welcomes canoers and kayakers to the river and hosts thousands of hikers annually on 23 miles of trails. Don’t miss out on ascending to the top of a 90-foot fire tower that’ll give you a panoramic view of the park. 🏞

If you’re looking to get out on the water, Riverside Rentals is your go-to spot for canoe, kayak and tubing rentals. Floats take 3-4 hours to complete. 🛶

Winamac Town Park

Another popular place outdoors is Winamac Town Park, home to a playground, walking trail, basketball court, volleyball courts, tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds, and shelters available for rent.

The park is also home to a suspension bridge over the Tippecanoe River called “Memorial Swinging Bridge” that was dedicated on July 4, 1923, honoring soldiers and sailors from Pulaski County from the Civil War onward.

One Eyed Jack’s

The 12-ounce Jumbo Tenderloin is a must-have at One Eyed Jack’s. It makes a single bun look like a Ritz cracker, which is why you can opt for the Deuce Tenderloin that comes with two buns, allowing you to share the flavor with your special someone. Few things are more romantic than devouring a massive pork tenderloin sandwich together!

The menu also includes wings, fried whitefish and bluegill, smashburgers, tots and tenderloin bites. Compare ‘em to boneless chicken wings or tenders except with pork tenderloin inside. How are these not more common in Indiana!? 🤯

Bill and Babes

Located southwest of town on the banks of the Tippecanoe River is Bill and Babes, Indiana’s oldest family-owned tavern that opened in 1954. The 21-and-older, cash-only establishment has fresh seafood flown in weekly from Boston, including cod, oysters, clam strips, whole belly clams, shrimp, Haddock and lobster rolls. Visitors also rave about the broasted pork chops, broasted chicken, all-you-can-eat bluegill and, saving the best for last… frog legs. 🐸

More Wins in Winamac

• Hop on the 22-mile-long Panhandle Pathway for a walk, jog, bike or hike. It runs through Pulaski and Cass counties at the beginning of the Wabash Valley and crosses the Tippecanoe River. The rail-trail follows the historic path of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 🏃

• Check out the local theatre that opened in 1936. Its 2025 Free Family Film Festival runs every Wednesday through the end of July with The Garfield Movie (June 18), Despicable Me 4 (June 25), Harold and the Purple Crayon (July 2), The Wild Robot (July 9) and Sonic 3 (July 23) all playing at 10 a.m. Admission is free for everyone! 🎥

The next time you’re in northern Indiana, float the Tippecanoe River and check out everything Winamac has to offer.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Winamac ⬇️