Nature surrounds Attica, a centrally located historic river town
Attica hugs the bank of the Wabash River, where nature surrounds residential streets and a historic district. Nearby outdoor recreation ranges from quiet nature trails to thrill-seeking destinations, such as Badlands Off-Road Park. “We have many amenities to offer due to our central location to the many smaller towns around us, and we are in the process of many economic development projects,” says Sharon Negele, owner of the Wolf’s Fine Handmade Chocolates store. “As a family, we were seeking a small business that could provide an acceptable income and the ability to grow. We wanted to live in the Midwest and had the desire to live in a smaller community that offered low crime, zero traffic, smaller classrooms and an overall family-friendly atmosphere where you can ride your bike to almost anything.”
Pre-1950 homes with renovations and ranch-style homes built after
Residential streets feature a range of architecture, including bungalows, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. “You can get a great big home, a historical one, for not too much money,” Russell says. “It’s more affordable because it’s kind of out there.” Bungalows and Cape Cods typically predate 1950 and have renovated exteriors and interiors. These older homes share a similar price range of about $70,000 to $260,000. Many ranch-style homes were built after 1950. Their prices go from nearly $110,000 to $300,000.
Wooded trails, sports and recreation on the Wabash River
Ravine Park’s 90 acres feature three trail systems, a playground and a 9-hole frisbee golf course. Its wooded paths vary from around one-half mile to just over a mile. Ouabache Park has a paved boat ramp on the Wabash River, where kayaks, canoes and fishing lines drop into the water. In McDonald Park, tennis and basketball courts are adjacent to a playground with animal spring riders. Soccer fields comprise Riley Park.
Shopping and dining from Attica’s Historic District to Council Street
In Attica’s Historic District, local shops, such as Uncle Champs antique store, occupy brick Italianate-style storefronts. The historic district also has restaurants, including Attica Coffeehouse and Budreau’s Steak & Taphouse. Jackson Street has a County Market. Wolf’s Fine Handmade Chocolates and Crossroads Family Restaurant are both on Council Street and have served the area for decades.
History of tourism in Attica
In the early 19th century, gristmills became the area’s first major employer, and at the start of the 20th century, Hotel Mudlavia established it as a tourist destination. “People would take trains into Attica and then take a horse and buggy, go out to Mudlavia and get spa-type treatment,” says Cathy Russell, a broker and owner with The Russel Company @properties who started her career in 1974. The hotel closed in the 1970s, and the Badlands Off-Road Park fuels local tourism today, spanning well over 1,400 acres. “Badlands is a big deal. There are a lot of bed and breakfasts and [vacation rentals] around there because visitors need to rent them,” she says. “You’ll see people in town with trailers behind their trucks and a flat bed with four wheelers just full of mud, like you can’t even tell what brand it is.”
Major cities are a drive down Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41
Lafayette, including Purdue University Airport, is about 25 miles away. The airport offers nonstop flights to several domestic locations, such as Chicago. U.S. Highway 41 intersects Interstate 74, a tie to Indianapolis about 85 miles southeast. It also runs through Attica’s center, connecting it to Chicago about 125 miles north. Amtrak trains pass through the city and may create traffic delays and noise near the tracks.
Schools shaping the Attica Consolidated School Corporation’s district
Attica Consolidated School Corporation serves the area. Schools include Attica Elementary School, which Niche grades C, and Attica Junior-Senior High, which earns a C-plus. The high school offers career and technical education courses, such as criminal justice.
