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Village of Spires
Oldenburg, Indiana is a tiny but quaint village in southeastern Indiana with a surprising amount of stuff to do.
Nicknamed the Village of Spires for the church steeples that tower over the town, Oldenburg is known for its German heritage, fried chicken, a convent and a German-themed festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The history of Oldenburg
The village was founded in 1817 by William George and is one of the oldest communities in Indiana. German immigrants flocked to the area and named the town Neu Oldenburg, after Oldenburg Germany. Throughout the 1800’s, the town’s inhabitants were predominately German. They incorporated their German language and heritage into their daily lives in this small Indiana town.
This culture is still evident today and is manifested in the architecture of the buildings, the strong catholic faith of its residents and the customs and traditions they still practice.
Religion
Oldenburg is home to a Catholic church, catholic school and convent. The Sisters of St Francis Convent was established in 1851 and is an active and central part of the Oldenburg community even today. Oldenburg Academy is a private catholic high school with approximately 200 students.
Things to See and Do
Admire the historic architecture and touches of Germany
Oldenburg has over 200 buildings listed on the National Historic Register. The best way to see the buildings is to take a walking tour of town. Take a walking tour down the brick streets of the town to see the Old Stone Chapel and as well as 115 historic homes.
Adding to the charm of Oldenburg are the whimsical painted fire hydrants scattered throughout town. If you’re visiting with children, make a game of finding and identifying all the characters on the fire hydrants. Below is a friar and a nun. Note the street signs that are written in German and English.
Shopping
The town’s original general store and post office is now The Golden Turtle Trading Company. The store sells artisan-made gifts like jewelry, pottery, hand blown glass and soaps. You can also get an ice cream cone.
Be sure to visit the farm store at Michaela Farm. The farm is operated by the Oldenburg nuns and has been in operation for over 150 years. It’s named after its founder, Sister Michaela. The farm emphasizes the belief that humans and animals should live together. It also embraces natural farming techniques, using no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or antibiotics.
You can purchase meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables, along with baked goods made by the sisters.
Fried Chicken
Oldenburg has not one but two restaurants that are famous for their fried chicken. This isn’t regular fried chicken, either. It is Indiana-style fried chicken and found mostly in southeastern Indiana. It’s pan-fried with lots of pepper and is a regular after church meal for generations of Hoosiers.
Some locals like the chicken from Wagner’s Village Inn and others prefer the Brau Haus chicken. Everyone has an opinion though and who prefers which is a frequent topic of conversation.
At Wagner’s Village Inn, the chicken is pan fried in lard and very peppery. This Oldenburg staple opened in 1968 and is now run by the daughter of the original owners. Each chicken dinner is made to order from fresh, young whole chickens. The recipe isn’t complicated and in fact, it’s the simplicity that makes the flavors of each ingredient stand out: salt, pepper and flour. At Wagner’s, the chicken is pan fried in actual lard and finished by adding a few tablespoons of water to the pan. The water makes the oil bubble up in the pan and allegedly, seals the in the flavors. No one is really sure if this works, but it’s the way it’s always been done.
Wagner’s Village Inn and their famous chicken recipe was even featured in the New York Times last year. Read the article here.
The Brau Haus is on the other side of town from Wagner’s Village Inn. It has a similar menu and decor but also has a great outdoor deck that overlooks a creek. They fix made to order, fresh, Indiana-style Chicken as well. Their’s may have more salt and pepper than Wagner’s but this seems to depend on whom you ask.
The Brau Haus also has a salad bar with all fresh toppings and homemade coleslaw and other salads. The sauerkraut balls are another local favorite.
Check out their menu here.
The Pearl Street Pub is the other option for food in town. They serve traditional bar food like burgers, fries and sandwiches. The actual bar in the building is an antique wooden bar with mirrors and intricate carvings. Make sure to admire it on your way in or out of the restaurant. The bar area itself is pretty tiny so it may be hard to get a seat. The pub has a few tables outside where you can enjoy the town atmosphere and architecture with your meal. The outside of the building is always decked out for the Halloween and Christmas, too.
A Brewery in the Police Station
Other than the historic buildings, this might be the coolest thing about Oldenburg. There’s a brewery in the police station! The police station is located across the street from the historic section of town in a boring, square, one story, commercial office space looking building.
The small police department only needed half of the building though, leaving the other half available as rental space. The Creek Bottom Brewery moved in and became the first brewery in Oldenburg since 1905.
Their beer list pays tribute to the history of the area and features beers typical of Germany and Western Europe and brewed with as many local ingredients as possible. The names of the beers are also a nod to the history and traditions of the area and the people who built Oldenburg. For example, Coal Stoker, an English porter, is named for the brewmaster’s grandfather, who manned the boiler at the Oldenburg Convent. He literally stoked the coal that heated the boiler and kept heat flowing in the convent.
Other beers on their list include, Back Roader, an American Style Pilsner made from American corn, barely and hops. As for the name, anyone who grew up in a small midwestern town likely spent countless hours driving on backroads, either with their families on Sundays after church or as teenagers with their friends on Friday and Saturday nights.
Freudenfest
If you can, plan your visit to Oldenburg for the 3rd weekend in July so you can experience Freudenfest (festival of fun.) This two day event draws thousands each year and is known as the “Biggest Little German Festival in Indiana.” Freudenfest is July 14th and 15th this year.
Freudenfest is a salute to the German heritage of Oldenburg’s residents. Traditional German food and lots of German beer set the scene for a festival packed with German-inspired events like a stein holding contest and Polka dancing. There is a full schedule of live music, featuring traditional music as well as popular local rock bands.
For the kids, there is a magic show, stilt walkers, wiener dog races and games just for them.
Hotels in the area fill up early for Freudenfest, visit Tripadvisor to book yours as soon as possible.
The old cliche about good things and small packages rings true in the case of Oldenburg. This tiny town with towering spires has plenty to keep you entertained, especially during Freudenfest. So put on your lederhosen, grab your beer stein, and enjoy all it has to offer.