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💤Sleep in an Old... Jail? No Crime Necessary!

Plus - Indy 500 fuel, Kenny Moore's release, explore Starve Hollow, and bid on items from a historic Indiana restaurant.

Thursday, May 14th

Get Indiana’s Weekly Newsletter

Happy Thursday, Hoosiers. You know it’s May when you see IMS flags flying on front porches.

  • This Week in Indiana History: Soldiers & Sailors Monument Is Dedicated (1902)

  • Indy 500 Starter Pack

  • Spend the Night in Jail… Without Committing a Crime

  • Thank You, Kenny Moore

  • Starve Hollow SRA: The Mother of the State

  • Indy Ignite Clean Up End-of-Season Awards

  • Gray Brothers Cafeteria Auction

  • Hidden Gems: BikeParty Indianapolis and Southern Indiana Tennis Academy

  • Indiana Events

  • 1 Big wIN: Purdue Baseball Enjoying Historic Season

  • Get IN. with Nate Spangle: Why Indiana Is a Hidden Gem for Golf Trips

This issue is 1,725 words, a 7-minute read.

If you are planning ahead for this summer, Jameson Camp is officially enrolling for 2026. Located on 135 acres on Indy’s west side, they offer trails, ponds, a creek, a swimming pool, and adventure courses designed to help kids grow in confidence and independence.

For 98 years they have served central Indiana families, offering generous financial aid, small group sizes, and onsite behavioral health specialists to ensure a safe and welcoming experience for all campers.

Explore programs and register today at jamesoncamp.org.

*This is a paid ad

📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜

Soldiers & Sailors Monument Is Dedicated (1902)

If you have visited Indianapolis, chances are you have seen the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. An iconic symbol in Indianapolis, this statue is the centerpiece of Monument Circle, and is considered a staple in the city.

Situated in the middle of the downtown Monument Circle roundabout, the monument was built between 1888 and 1901, and dedicated in 1902. It was designed to honor Hoosiers who served in the Civil War. It was later expanded to commemorate Hoosiers who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, and the Frontier Wars.

Standing 284 feet and 6 inches tall, it was the second-tallest monument in the United States when it was completed and is only 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty.

📰 Hoosier Headlines 📰

Indy 500 Starter Pack

In 1969, 29-year-old Mario Andretti drove a backup car with a hastily added radiator to the front of the Indianapolis 500 field and won. Since then, no Andretti has won the 500, despite making over 80 starts and leading over 1,200 laps. Here’s the story of that win in ‘69 and the curse that came with it. (Get Indiana)

Over the last 115 years, there are five traditions at the Indy 500 that have risen above the rest. (Get Indiana)

How does an Indy 500 winner truly become immortal? (Get Indiana)

Carb Day is Friday, May 22, and the Snake Pit will be roaring on Sunday, May 24. Here’s everything you need to know about these start-of-summer staples. (Get Indiana)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a grandstand sellout Wednesday morning for this year’s Indy 500, which means the local blackout has been lifted and the entirety of the race can be seen on FOX59. For those still planning on going to the race, here’s a guide to finding the best remaining seats in the house. (Get Indiana)

Year 3 of the Get Indiana tailgate in Turn 3 at the Indy 500 is going to be of epic proportions. Stop by for a free cheeseburger, courtesy of Fischer Farms. (Nate Spangle)

Get IN. Speed and Checkered Flag hats are in stock and ready for you to rock on race day. (Shop)

Spend the Night in Jail… Without Committing a Crime

Looking for an overnight stay you’ll never forget? In the heart of the county seat of Rockville in Parke County, there’s a place where you can literally sleep in a jail cell… on purpose. The Old Jail Inn is one of Indiana’s most unique hidden gems, blending history and a touch of mystery. (Get Indiana)

Thank You, Kenny Moore

The writing was on the wall when Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore requested a trade from the team in April, but it still hit hard when the team couldn’t find a trade partner and released him last Thursday.

Moore, who had spent all nine years of his pro career with the Colts, was a defensive leader and 2021 Pro Bowler. The way he embraced Indianapolis off the field may be remembered most. Check out his heartfelt message to Colts fans below.

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Starve Hollow SRA: The Mother of the State

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area was first used as a tree nursery and fish hatchery that supplied properties statewide. IN the Parks host Allison Martin explores this Jackson County gem on her podcast. (Get Indiana)

Indy Ignite Clean Up End-of-Season Awards

While the top-seeded Indy Ignite fell short in the Major League Volleyball semifinals, losing 3 sets to 2 to Omaha, they did bring home a bunch of individual awards. (GetIN.Sports)

Gray Brothers Cafeteria Auction

The iconic Gray Brothers Cafeteria in Mooresville recently announced its permanent closure, and hundreds of items are up for auction until 10 a.m. on Friday, May 15. The restaurant had been in operation since 1944. (Auction)

Pro Ultimate Frisbee is alive and well in Indiana, and the Indy Alleycats are deep into their season at Grand Park. On May 29, Nate's heading up to Westfield to throw the first pull — and we're giving away four (4) tickets to one lucky reader so you can come watch the chaos unfold.

If you've never seen Ultimate live, picture football meets frisbee meets a track meet. It's fast, it's a blast, and it's the kind of Friday night that makes you wonder why you weren't already going.

*This is a paid ad

BikeParty Indianapolis

Michael Green, founder of Flags For Good, joined Get IN. with Nate Spangle and mentioned BikeParty Indianapolis as his hidden gem in Indiana. This free social bike ride is complete with costumes, lights, bells, and more, and it happens the second Friday of every month in the Circle City.

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Southern Indiana Tennis Academy

Libby Banet started the Southern Indiana Tennis Academy to help young players grow their love for tennis while building friendships across schools and communities. (Get Indiana)

What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!

Events This Week

America's Table: Soy, Are You from Around Here? – Conner Prairie in Fishers – Thursday, May 14 from 7–9 p.m. - Speaker series exploring the surprising story of soybeans in American agriculture and cuisine. Tickets

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram – The Vogue Theatre in Indianapolis – Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. - Grammy-winning blues guitar prodigy headlines the show in Broad Ripple. Tickets

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival – Indiana Dunes National Park in Porter – Thursday–Sunday, May 14–17 - Record-setting birding festival with 180+ guided tours, workshops, live raptor presentations, and a Migration Marketplace during peak spring migration. Tickets

Indy 500 Practice – Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway – Thursday–Friday, May 14–15, and Monday, May 18 - Catch any of the final three practice days at IMS. Tickets

Craig Morgan – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center in Shipshewana – Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. - Country music star and "That's What I Love About Sunday" hitmaker performs in northern Indiana's Amish Country. Tickets

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever – Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis – Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. - Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever host the Mystics in early-season WNBA action. Tickets

Party Animals vs. Indianapolis Clowns – Victory Field in Indianapolis – Friday–Saturday, May 15–16 at 7 p.m. - Enjoy a baseball game like you’ve never seen before. The Indianapolis Clowns were created in the Banana Ball League as a tribute to Indy’s old Negro Leagues team. Tickets

Don McLean – Honeywell Center (Ford Theater) in Wabash – Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. - The legendary singer-songwriter behind "American Pie" and "Vincent" performs a career-spanning show. Tickets

Splashin' Safari Opening Weekend – Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus – Saturday–Sunday, May 16–17 - The award-winning water park opens for the 2026 season as part of Holiday World's 80th anniversary celebration. Tickets

👏 1 Big wIN 👏

Purdue baseball is in the midst of one of the program’s most successful seasons ever.

  • The Boilermakers (35-15, 18-9 in Big Ten) have won seven of their last eight Big Ten series.

  • They sit fifth in the Big Ten entering this weekend’s road series at Iowa to cap the regular season.

  • They are firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble with an RPI of 48.

For context, Purdue has only made the NCAA Tournament three times before, doing so in 1987, 2012 and 2018.

While baseball falls short of basketball, football and racing in the Hoosier State, it’s always fun when there’s a school making noise at the college level. This year, it’s the Boilermakers.

🎙 On today's show I sat down with Josh Levitats, founder and CEO of JEL Golf Travel, the only Indiana-based golf tour operator that builds golf trips and positions Indiana as a hidden-gem golf destination.

Levitats shares how he got into golf at a young age, moved from Miami to Carmel, and began informally booking group golf trips in 2019 before officially launching his company in 2023. He explains how he plans itineraries and packages that combine tee times, lodging, transportation, and off-course experiences, emphasizing that the best part of a golf trip is the post-round camaraderie.

Our conversation highlights Indiana golf draws like the Brickyard, French Lick, Purdue's Kampen-Cosler  Course, the Pete Dye golf trail, and the need to consolidate and better market Indiana's golf offerings.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- How JEL Golf Travel First Started
- Building Perfect Golf Destination Packages
- Hidden Gem Golf Courses in Indiana
- Bucket List Golf Trips

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