Gas City is a former boom town with plenty left in the tank
Gas City is an east-central Indiana community that exploded with development in the late 19th century due to the discovery of natural gas. The area’s name remains a token from that period, but Gas City’s boom proved short-lived. Yet this area of about 6,100 people is undergoing a modern renaissance of sorts, blooming with businesses and benefiting from a location not far from Indianapolis. “I think the main draw is that Gas City is right at I-69,” says Cathy Hunnicutt, a local Realtor at Re/Max Realty One who ranks among Indiana’s top-selling agents with over 100 transactions a year. “So if you live in Gas City you’re very close to the interstate. It’s still a small-town feel. There have been a lot of new businesses in the last couple years. Places that were needing to be purchased and renovated have been.”
Established homes make up the bulk of Gas City’s inventory
While there are some modern outliers, many of Gas City’s houses were built across the early to mid-20th century. The area is packed with classic ranch- and bungalow-style options, and those that need work are appealing to some buyers. “The major growth is in the neighborhoods where the houses might’ve sold for under $50,000,” Hunnicutt says. “People are buying them, they are fixing them up, and making them nicer.” These fixer-uppers can go for anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000. Homes ready to move in fetch $100,000 to $330,000. Houses all over Gas City line wide residential streets, often accented with mature trees and sidewalks.
Main Street is a magnet for new businesses
Main Street is the nucleus of Gas City’s downtown district, and a snapshot of local investment. “Everything, when you go along Main Street, has been restructured, rebuilt, remodeled,” Hunnicutt says. “It’s still a small town, with a big-town mentality.” Hutchins Beautification Committee, a local group, spearheads presentation efforts, including a series of decorative flower pots along Main Street. Businesses popping up on the stretch include beauty salon Manes, Manis, & More, clothing store The Wispy Pine Boutique, and thrift store Renewed Gas City. Locals can grab a bite to eat at spots like Jackie’s Family Restaurant, known for its breakfast. Gabriella's Old Time Pizza offers pizza flights, allowing patrons to sample various varieties. Gas City Brewing Company has several beers on tap and regularly hosts local food trucks. People can grab groceries at Main Street’s Neighborhood Fresh.
Car show and concerts are annual fixtures
The Ducktail Run Rod & Custom Car Show is a major tradition in Gas City every September. The event attracts a couple of thousand classic cars from around the country. The well-attended James Dean Festival in nearby Fairmount also has a car show around the same time of year, making late September a busy time in Grant County — visitors have to book their hotels a year in advance, Hunnicutt says. Gas City hosts a free concert series on Tuesdays throughout the summer, too, at Gas City Park.
Extracurricular opportunities abound in area schools
Mississinewa Community School Corporation covers Gas City and carries a B-minus grade on Niche. The B-rated Westview Elementary includes prekindergarten through first grade and offers the Story Book Art Club. The club gives students experience in various art mediums, and relates the art with literature. Northview Elementary gets a C-plus rating and features grades 3 through 5. Multiple robotics groups, a cooking club and a gardening club are among the extracurricular opportunities at Northview. R.J. Baskett Middle also gets a C-plus and gives students the chance to compete through its Science Olympiad group and Robo Tribe robotics team. The B-minus-rated Mississinewa High has Career Technical Education courses in agriculture, computer science, engineering and more. Indiana Wesleyan University, a private Christian school in the neighboring city of Marion, has over 80 on-campus undergraduate programs.
Mississinewa River is an anchor for outdoor recreation
A portion of the 120-mile-long Mississinewa River runs along the west side of Gas City. Gas City Park borders the river and has a boat ramp, playground areas, a public pool and a pond open to fishing. It is adjacent to the fenced Gas City Dog Park. Outdoor enthusiasts are also just across the river from the Cardinal Greenway, a 62-mile paved path.
Major cities are within a relative stone’s throw
Next-door Marion is a city over four times the size of Gas City, and the seat of Grant County. Gas City residents can use Indiana state Road 15 to reach the heart of Marion and amenities like the Marion Health - MGH Campus hospital, where there’s a 24-hour emergency room. The smaller Marion Health – East Campus hospital on Gas City's eastern outskirts also has an emergency department. Fort Wayne, home of the Fort Wayne International Airport, is about 55 miles north of Gas City on Interstate 69. I-69 also takes drivers 80 miles south to Indianapolis, the state capital.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
