Loogootee provides quiet living by a sprawling military installation
In Loogootee, classic houses on tranquil residential streets stand a relative stone’s throw from one of the globe’s largest naval bases. This area of southwest Indiana offers a rounded small-town atmosphere, complete with a variety of locally owned businesses, a community school system and a popular public lake. It’s all just over 20 miles south of Naval Support Activity Crane, which employs thousands on its 62,400-acre campus. “We have a lot of people that work there,” says Mary Norris, a local Realtor at F.C. Tucker Emge and a lifelong resident of the region. “A lot of engineers and other professionals.”
Well-established homes showcase a range of 20th-century architechture
Loogotee’s unmarked neighborhood roads guide locals around a community whose homes predominantly date anywhere from the turn of the 20th century to the 1990s. Architectural styles can vary within any given block, including bungalows, colonials and ranch-style options. “There is quite a mix, because it is an older community,” Norris says. Work is underway on developments including Country Court 5 and Oak Tree Village, which will bring new homes to the area. Most existing residences fetch $170,000 to $410,000.
Local schools take science seriously, across all grade levels
The Loogootee Community Schools Corporation maintains a B rating on Niche. The school system utilizes Project Lead The Way, a national STEM- and project-based curriculum. Loogootee Elementary, Loogootee Middle and Loogootee High are also Indiana Department of Education STEM-certified schools, and all three have B Niche grades. Students at LMS and LHS can put their skills to use through Lion Manufacturing, a program where they produce real-world products with CNC machines, plasma cutters and more. Some of the items are available for purchase, including cutting boards, coasters and glassware.
U.S. Route 231 is a key area thoroughfare
John F. Kennedy Avenue, one of Loogootee’s prominent commercial thoroughfares, flows into U.S. Route 231. This roadway is residents’ connection to Naval Support Activity Crane, whose workforce of over 6,500 people is more than double the population of Loogootee. NSA Crane focuses on military technology, from night vision systems to submarine missile systems, and is the third-biggest naval installation in the world. Route 231 also links with Interstate 69 for drives to places like Bloomington, 50 miles away and the home of Indiana University. Indianapolis, the state capital, is a 105-mile trip on I-69. The Indianapolis International Airport has nonstop flights to 40 places. The Daviess Community Hospital provides access to a 24-hour emergency room, 15 miles away in the city of Washington.
Restaurants range from a cozy cafe to a waterside landmark
Businesses like Corner Cafe line Loogootee’s John F. Kennedy Avenue. This diner-style restaurant is known for its homestyle cooking, particularly biscuits and gravy and other breakfast dishes. Hometown Flowers and Gifts next door is a well-liked florist that delivers within Loogootee and surrounding cities. The Thrifty Nook is a thrift store on this thoroughfare that carries all sorts of furniture, home decor, clothing and more. Nearby West Broadway Street features a pair of grocery stores, IGA and Ruler Foods. What’s perhaps Loogootee’s most well-known business is a few miles north by the 622-acre West Boggs Lake: Stoll's Lakeview Restaurant. Open since 1983, Stoll’s offers hearty Amish-style fare on a buffet. “A lot of people come in town for that,” Norris says.
Loogootee’s lake is a center of outdoor activity
Located in Loogootee’s northern outskirts, the 1,500-acre West Boggs Park is an active spot for outdoor recreation. West Boggs Lake is the centerpiece of the park. “That is a big draw. A lot of campers go there,” Norris says. “There’s always a lot going on at the lake.” Anglers can catch bass, bluegill and crappie in the lake, and thrill seekers can go water skiing and wakeboarding. The land around the water includes 5 miles of trails, roughly 250 campsites and the public, nine-hole Lakeview Golf Course. Loogootee City Park, just off West Broadway, has an expansive playground area and a pavilion. The park is next to City Pool, which is open seven days a week in the summer.
Residents ring in summer with Summerfest
The Loogootee Summerfest is among the area’s annual traditions. Held in late June, around when the calendar officially flips to summer, Summerfest is a three-day party with rides, live music, a parade and fireworks. “It’s just kind of a small-town hallmark moment,” Norris says. West Boggs Park hosts an assortment of events, too, including an Easter egg hunt, fireworks around the Fourth of July and the Halloween Spooktacular with trick-or-treating and haunted trails.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
