Mount Carmel offers a Mayberry-like atmosphere
From its brick-paved streets to its preserved bungalow- and colonial-style homes, Mount Carmel is like a place frozen in time. “Very quiet, laid-back,” says local Realtor Ray Stallings, who’s with DHI Realty Inc. and services both southeast Illinois and southwest Indiana. “You almost feel like you’re stepping back into a town like Mayberry.” This community of about 7,000 by the Wabash River preserves its calm atmosphere while still providing residents with proximity to several locally owned restaurants, schools, outdoor recreation and a hospital.
Varied architecture spans decades of design in Mount Carmel
With most houses dating to a time between 1900 and 1970, Mount Carmel’s wide, tree-shaded residential streets are a showcase of classic architecture. Cape Cods and Foursquares mix with the bungalows and colonials, giving nearly every block a different look. Some streets, including a significant portion of Cherry Street, are still paved with red brick — a blast from the past. Sidewalks connect neighbors, while lots from one-tenth to three-tenths of an acre give residents space to breathe. Properties sell for anywhere from $40,000 to $240,000 based on condition and square footage.
Downtown doubles as a hub for foodies
The community’s downtown is dense with restaurants. Taco Tierra is one of the staples, a Mexican restaurant complete with a drive-through, that’s been open for over four decades. “In my opinion, I’d call it upscale fast food,” Stallings says. “This is better than Taco Bell. Kind of comparable to how Chick-fil-A is better than McDonald’s.” Two Farmers, a restaurant whose sign proclaims, “We are not fast food. We are fresh food as fast as we can,” specializes in burgers and ice cream. “I was just talking to someone that drove to Mount Carmel from Evansville, Indiana, to eat at Two Farmers,” Stallings says. “They have some unique offerings.” Stallings says people also drive from out of town to eat at Big Jon's Lunch Box, where the fried catfish is a hit. For those with a home-cooked meal in mind, Mount Carmel has an IGA Supermarket. Retail in town is limited, but R.P. Lumber is an option locally for lawn items and hardware. More stores are available 12 miles away in Princeton, including Walmart and Menards.
Chamber Days takes over town every summer
The largest annual tradition in Mount Carmel is Chamber Days, a four-day festivity in late July and early September. Hosted by the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, the event includes carnival rides, games and food vendors. Other community activities include an outdoor concert series at Merchants Park downtown from June through September. There’s also a trunk-or-treat for Halloween on the campus of Mount Carmel’s Wabash Valley College.
Wabash schools include a variety of extracurricular activities
Mount Carmel is part of Wabash Community Unit School District No. 348. Mt. Carmel Elementary, which has a B-minus rating from Niche, covers prekindergarten through second grade and has activities from a first-grade spring concert to a second-grade spelling bee. Mr. Carmel Grade School scores a C-plus, includes grades 3 through 6, and has its own choir and band programs. Mt. Carmel Junior also gets a C-plus, is home to grades 7 and 8, and offers a scholastic bowl academic team. The C-plus-rated Mt. Carmel High’s Creating Entrepreneurial Experiences program allows students to learn from local businesses. Wabash Valley College is a two-year higher education option in the community, with over 100 programs and a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
The region is flush with places to fish
Residents have a portion of the 503-mile Wabash River in their backyards, a draw for fishing and boating. There’s a boat ramp off Mount Carmel’s Hydraulic Avenue. The 329-acre Beall Woods State Park is also part of Mount Carmel. “There’s a nice lake there that’s good for fishing,” Stallings says. “They even have trout in that lake. There’s not much trout this far south, but there is trout in that lake, and bass and bluegill.” The park has miles of trails as well. Lions Club City Park and Lincoln Park includes playgrounds and basketball courts, and Merchants Park has an amphitheater.
Proximity to Indiana opens access to more amenities
Drivers can take South Walnut Street to Indiana State Road 64 for trips across the Wabash River and to Indiana cities like Princeton. Evansville, Indiana, a 40-mile trip, is home to the Evansville Regional Airport, where travelers can catch nonstop flights to cities like Atlanta and Dallas.
There are several houses of worship scattered around Mount Carmel, too. “Everything from Catholic to Pentecostal,” Stallings says. “There’s a lot of church activity in the town.”
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
