Even though I'm not a basketball fan, anyone who has seen the movie 'Hoosiers' has to see this place. It gave me goosepimples walking in...it is exactly how it was in the movie! The tour guide that was there knew absolutely everything about the building, people and movie. You can see the locker room, sit in the bleachers & shoot a basket ot two. It is a great side trip when you're in Indiana.
This is an incredibly cool place to visit, especially if you are a fan of the movie Hoosiers and remember legendary single class basketball in Indiana. Located about midway between Indianapolis and Richmond, it's just a slight jog off of I-70 and is free. Donations are welcomed. Just stepping into the gym is like stepping back 50 years. Inside you'll find memorabilia, a very cool old ticket booth, and the gym just as it appeared in Hoosiers, complete with the Hickory banner. Several adults and kids were shooting hoops on the perfectly polished hardwood. We also toured the locker room used for the famous scenes in the movie. A local volunteer was on hand to give us a tour and pass along a lot of little tidbits about the making of Hoosiers, such as where the actors stayed and an interesting ad lib by Dennis Hopper. Our favorite spot? The place where Gene Hackman said "Welcome to Indiana basketball" before entering the packed gym. Hickory t-shirts and game jerseys are available for sale, and you'll want to take plenty of photos. This is a perfect tribute to one of the best sports films of all-time and to the memory of what Indiana basketball was really like when the cracker box gyms ruled the day. Do not miss this wonderful experience.
Nice old gym, really kept up well!! Nice place for quick stop and stretch your legs! If you liked the movie "Hoosiers" you must stop and see!!
So reminiscent of scenes from the movie that I thought Coach Dale was going to come out and run us through drives. Great place to stop, stretch our legs, and shoot some baskets. Volunteer staff was very welcoming.
For anyone who loves basketball and the movie Hoosiers, this is a must see!!! It took us a few minutes off I-70 to reach the gym. It is used as a community center, as a number of kids were playing ball, but their is a volunteer that gave us a tour. His tour was outstanding, and provided insights to not only the movie, but to the number of basketball greats who have visited. A lot of memorabilia is located in the lobby of the gym, and there are items (shirts, posters,etc) that you can purchase. Basketballs are available, and it is an awesome experience to shoot hoops in the gym. Donations are accepted in the lobby and it is well worth the stop!! It is Hoosier basketball at its best!
My wife and I attended their first ever movie night. They showed the movie Hoosiers in the home gym of the Hickory Huskers. Great time, and the volunteers that take care of the gym were very helpful and knowledgable. Must see!!!!!
Definitely worth the stop! Larry is the man you want to make sure is there when you go. His tour was awesome--make sure you check out the locker rooms! A timeless relic of Indiana basketball and a very well run facility in a welcoming community. As Larry told us, the doors are always open to traveler who just want to get out and stretch their legs (basketballs are kept under the ticket booth) I'll be sure to stop by again!
Especially if you are a Hoosier high school basketball follower you owe it to yourself to visit this place. My second visit in the past several years. The gym is almost exactly as it was in the movie, Hoosiers. Well, maybe the floor is shinier and the foul lanes are 12' wide. (In 1952 when the movie was set, the lanes were 6' wide) the locker room looks just like in the movie down to the Chuck Taylor's hanging on a wall hook. A nice assortment of memorabilia, photos and movie history complements the gym. Every volunteer I've met there are sincerely interested in showing guests the details of the facility and the history of the making of the movie. They also can answer every question anyone can think of about the movie.They have a nice selection of souvenir shirts for purchase as well as books, etc.
My fiance is a HUGE fan of Hoosiers so this stop was a dream come true for him. We were on a road trip an completely unaware that this place was along our route. It was a few minutes off the main highway in an adorable neighborhood. There is a ton of memorabilia from the movie and the gym is kept in great condition. You can rent out the gym or shoot a few hoops to relive the movie. The gentlemen who volunteer there are very knowledgeable and show you everything from the locker room to the little known parts of the gym. My fiance considers it the highlight of the road trip and bought shirts and jerseys for his entire family who are also massive Hoosiers fans!
My son and I came to see the gym while my husband was at the Brickyard 400 race at Indy. We had the best time! If you love the movie or even if you've never seen the movie but love high school hoops, make the short drive to this quaint little town. The gym is now a community center and as soon as you walk up to the door you realize that it's truly a community effort. There is a list of names and phone numbers to call if you arrive and the gym is locked. The gym was open when we arrived and the volunteer that gave us the tour was very knowledgable and his pride in the gym and his community was evident. Basketballs are provided so that you can shoot hoops in the gym, there is all sorts of memorabilia related to the movie and the high school team from Milan that the movie is based on, and the movie is playing in the lobby when you walk in. We loved it so much that we stopped the next day so that my husband could tour it as well. We had a different guide and he provided additional information and was able to show us some additional parts of the building that weren't available the day before due to a family reunion being held at the center. This is a free museum so be sure to drop a few dollars into the donation basketball. It's clear that your donation will be well spent to maintain this treasure!