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  • šŸ•Spring Camping & Hiking at 5⃣ IN State Parks

šŸ•Spring Camping & Hiking at 5⃣ IN State Parks

Plus - Learn how to make Indiana small towns attractive, register for an Easter egg hunt, and find out who the Colts have acquired in free agency.

Thursday, March 12th

Get Indiana’s Weekly Newsletter

Happy Thursday, Hoosiers. Things are starting to green up a bit with all this rain! Speaking of green… if you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, have fun and stay safe out there.

  • This Week in Indiana History: John Mellencamp Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

  • Five Indiana State Parks to Hike & Camp This Spring

  • History of March Madness in Indiana

  • Music Lineup for 2026 NCAA March Madness Music Festival

  • Small Town Showdown Bracket Challenge Is Back

  • Easter Egg Hunts in Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana

  • Colts Re-Sign QB Daniel Jones and WR Alec Pierce

  • Upgrade Your Indy 500 Wardrobe

  • Hidden Gem: Borage

  • Indiana Events

  • 1 Big wIN: Visitor Spending Exceeds $400 Million in Hendricks County

  • Hot Hoosier Housing

  • How to Make Small Towns Attractive Places to Live, Work, and Play

This issue is 1,598 words, a 5-minute read.

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šŸ“œ This Week in Indiana History šŸ“œ

John Mellencamp Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2008)

This week in Indiana history, we are talking about the guy who was born in a small town (Seymour, Indiana) and brought the midwestern lifestyle to the national spotlight using music — 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp.

Mellencamp rose to prominence in the late 1970s and ā€˜80s with his rock music that blended folk music with traditional rock and roll. By the time of his induction, Mellencamp sold millions of records, earned numerous awards, and established himself as one of the defining voices of American rock music.

So while you’re in the car traveling Indiana this summer singing ā€œJack & Dianeā€, ā€œR.O.C.K in the U.S.A.ā€, or ā€œSmall Townā€ at the top of your lungs, remember that Mellencamp’s induction was a moment of pride for an individual who became famous while never forgetting where he came from.

šŸ“° Hoosier Headlines šŸ“°

Five Indiana State Parks to Hike & Camp This Spring

Chipping away at visiting every Indiana state park in 2026? Remember, the Hoosier State has 24 state parks to explore. Here are five that are perfect for spring hiking and camping. (Get Indiana)

BONUS: Our state parks expert Allison Martin tells you why Chain ā€˜O Lakes State Park is a boating and hiking paradise. (Get Indiana)

The History of March Madness in Indiana

Indianapolis is set to host the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in early April at Lucas Oil Stadium. But which Indiana venue was the first to host men’s tournament games? Learn that and much more in this trip down March Madness memory lane in Indiana. (Get Indiana)

Music Lineup for 2026 NCAA March Madness Music Festival

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game will be played Monday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium. In the three days leading up to it, there will be a star-studded lineup of performances at the American Legion Mall, along with both semifinal games being played at LOS on Saturday, April 4. See who’s playing this year in this city-wide music celebration. (WTHR)

Credit: Elevate

Easter Egg Hunts in Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana

If you’ve got young kids and want to give them a memorable Easter experience this year, there are hundreds of egg-cellent choices to choose from across the state. Here are some short lists for each region, with some egg hunts requiring pre-registration.

Small Town Showdown Bracket Challenge Is Back

Last year’s inaugural Small Town Showdown Bracket Challenge saw the small town of Nashville, Indiana emerge as the winner, which led the Get Indiana crew to Moontown Brewing, where we racked up a $1,000 bar tab.

The stakes remain the same this year — a $1,000 bar tab goes to the winning town. But first things first, we need your help on filling out the 64-town bracket. 32 towns are in the field, 32 towns have yet to be decided. Watch the video below, reply in the comments with the small town you think we should add to the bracket, and start voting on matchups posted to Nate Spangle’s Instagram story next Monday!

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Colts Re-Sign QB Daniel Jones and WR Alec Pierce

This past NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts did something no team had ever done. They got off to an 8-2 start, only to finish the season below .500 at 8-9. A big reason for the slide was losing QB Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon and resorting to 44-year-old Philip Rivers who had been out of the league since 2020.

With Jones on the mend and looking like he might not miss much, if any, of the 2026 season, the Colts re-signed him to a 2-year, $88 million deal and his top downfield target Alec Pierce to a 4-year, $116 million contract this week.

Now, there’s more work to be done. Without a first-round pick in each of the next two drafts, GM Chris Ballard and the Colts will need to get creative to improve the roster and ensure a repeat of ā€˜25 doesn’t happen again. (Get Indiana)

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Upgrade Your Indy 500 Wardrobe

We’re only 77 days away from the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Need some new gear? Check out Nate’s apparel picks, made courtesy of United State of Indiana.

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, 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.

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Borage

Jennifer Magley was a recent guest on Get IN with Nate Spangle and mentioned Borage in Speedway as a hidden gem. See why below!

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

Events This Week

St. Patrick’s Celebration - Ireland, Indiana - Friday, March 13—Sunday, March 15 - You don’t need to travel overseas to get to this Ireland. Celebrate Irish heritage for three days and be sure to wear your green. Details

The Price Is Right Live - Murat Theater at Old National Centre in Indianapolis - Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. - This all-ages event allows audience members to play classic pricing games like Plinko and the Big Wheel for a chance to win prizes. Tickets

Cardi B, Little Miss Drama Tour - Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis - Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. - Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B brings her high-energy tour to Indianapolis with chart-topping hits and a full arena production. Tickets

Journey, The Final Frontier Tour - Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis - Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. - Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Journey bring their arena tour to Indy with hits like ā€œDon’t Stop Believin’.ā€ Tickets

šŸ‘ 1 Big wIN šŸ‘

For the first time ever, Hendricks County topped $400 million in visitor spending over a full year. With growing communities and school districts like Brownsburg and Avon, plus smaller gems like Danville and Lizton, it’s easy to see why. Check out the full report here.

šŸŽ™ On today's show I sat down with Scott Lingle and Justin Clements, co-founders of Remodel Health and entrepreneurs, about their efforts to revitalize small towns in Indiana.

Scott and Justin share their passion for investing in their respective communities of Danville and Martinsville, including current projects like opening a high-end restaurant in Danville and developing career training programs in Martinsville.

They highlight the importance of making small towns attractive places to live and visit, leveraging their business acumen, and fostering local entrepreneurship.

They also touch on the legacy and impact of historical figures like Doc Merritt and Coach John Wooden in Martinsville, showing how these past influences continue to inspire current revitalization efforts.
 
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:
- Why Revitalizing Small Towns in Indiana Is Important
- How to Foster Local Entrepreneurship
- How Historical Figures Inspire Change in Communities Today

Listen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube!

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šŸ’Ž Know any hidden gems we should cover? Submit yours here!