By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: 9-14-26 | Last updated: 9-14-26
Wayne County, Indiana has more going for families than most people realize. There are two Egyptian mummies within 10 miles of each other. There’s a 19th-century steam railroad still running its original route through the Whitewater Valley. There’s an enchanted fairy trail. There’s 40 miles of antique shops that kids somehow tolerate because their parents promise ice cream afterward. And there’s a fudge shop with three dinosaurs outside that have anatomically incorrect wrists, a biplane from the ceiling, and a two-story slide.
Here’s the family guide to Wayne County — organized by age range and activity type.
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store Richmond: 6400 National Rd. E, Richmond, IN 47374 | I-70 Exit 156B | Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM (EST)
The Uranus Anchor
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store — All Ages
The largest Uranus location — 15,000 square feet on the Historic National Road at I-70 Exit 156B. Start here.
For younger kids: The large playground with a two-story slide is immediately compelling. Hot dogs and ice cream are in a separate building. The three dinosaurs outside — brachiosaurus, spinosaurus, and T. rex, all with anatomically incorrect pronated wrists — are the first photo op of the day.
For older kids: Putt Pirates mini golf is 18 holes at $10 adults, $9 kids under 10 (tax included). The course has a small river running through it, and on certain holes, hitting your ball intentionally into the river sets up a hole-in-one. Finding the shortcut before everyone else in your family is its own competition running alongside the main score.
For everyone: Fudge in nineteen flavors made fresh daily. The M&M fudge is Zachary Hoskins’ pick for younger kids — “as soon as they see M&Ms, they get excited.” The Taste of Uranus Sampler is 1.5 pounds across six flavors and the right family purchase.
6400 National Rd. E, Richmond, IN 47374 | Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM (EST) | I-70 Exit 156B
We had a family roadtripping across I-70 last week on September 7th and they bought fudge and a few shirts and had a blast.
Museums & History
Wayne County Historical Museum — Ages 6 and Up
Called a “mini-Smithsonian” by local historians, and it earns the comparison. The Egyptian mummy — Lady Ta’an — has been in the collection since 1889. There’s also Samurai warrior armor, a transportation collection with 19 vintage vehicles, Native American artifacts, and an 1880 dollhouse with period furnishings.
“There is a real mummy here” is sufficient motivation for most children under 14. The museum delivers.
Best for: Ages 6 and up; the mummy is the reliable hit
Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History — Earlham College — All Ages
The second Egyptian mummy. Lady Ta’an is at the Wayne County Historical Museum; the Joseph Moore Museum at Earlham College has its own mummy plus fossils, prehistoric skeletons, and natural history exhibits. Wayne County has more mummies per capita than any city in North America — two, both within easy reach of each other.
For families doing a full Wayne County day, hitting both museums means your kids can say they saw two Egyptian mummies in one afternoon, which is a statement most of their classmates cannot make.
801 National Road West, Richmond, IN | Best for: All ages; fossils and prehistory work for younger kids, the mummy works for everyone
Levi & Catharine Coffin State Historic Site — Fountain City — Ages 8 and Up
One of the most significant Underground Railroad sites in America, about 15 minutes north of Richmond in Fountain City. Levi Coffin helped more than 2,000 enslaved people escape to freedom. The guided tour of his 1839 Federal-style home is genuinely moving and historically substantive — the kind of experience that stays with older kids.
September is International Underground Railroad Month, making fall an especially meaningful time to visit.
Fountain City, IN | Best for: Ages 8 and up; guided tour requires patience and attention
Outdoor Activities
Glen Miller Park & the Indiana Rose Garden — All Ages
A 194-acre park on the east side of Richmond with walking paths, fishing, tennis, and the Indiana Rose Garden (peak bloom late May through June). The Madonna of the Trail Monument — an 18-foot tribute to pioneer women — is in the park, one of only 12 identical statues placed along the National Old Trails Road from Maryland to California.
The park hosts family events through the warmer months — check the Richmond calendar before you go.
Free | Open year-round | East Richmond | Best for: All ages; rose garden best May–June, park year-round
Hayes Arboretum — Ages 3 and Up
A 355-acre nature preserve on the west side of Richmond with self-guided trails through old-growth forest and a restored native prairie. The giant tree stump near the entrance is a reliable photo stop. Free, dog-friendly, and good for families who want a genuine outdoor walk without driving far.
Best for: Ages 3 and up; easier trails suit younger children
Thistlethwaite Falls Trail — Ages 4 and Up
A half-mile trail along the Whitewater River to a small waterfall — easy enough for most ages, genuinely scenic, and free. Connects to the Cardinal Greenway if you want to extend the walk.
Best for: Ages 4 and up; short and manageable for younger children
Cardinal Greenway — All Ages
Indiana’s longest rail-trail: 62 paved miles, flat, accessible. Pick it up in Richmond for a morning walk or bike ride. Stroller-accessible on paved sections.
Best for: All ages; stroller-friendly on paved sections
The Self-Guided Trails
Wayne County has a collection of themed self-guided trails that turn a family day into an organized adventure:
The Enchanted Fairy Trail — A trail of fairy doors and installations scattered across Richmond and Wayne County. Genuinely delightful for children ages 3–9 and the parents who end up enjoying it more than they expected. Pick up the map at the Old National Road Welcome Center.
The Fossil Trail — Sites connected to Wayne County’s paleontological history. Good for kids who liked the Joseph Moore Museum and want more.
The Chocolate Trail — A driving trail linking Wayne County chocolatiers and confectioners. Uranus is on the trail. This one requires no additional motivation for any age group.
The Murals Trail — Public art murals across Richmond. Easy to combine with a walk through the Depot District.
Trail maps available at the Old National Road Welcome Center, 5701 National Rd. E, Richmond, or at visitrichmond.org.
The Whitewater Valley Railroad — Ages 2 and Up
A 32-mile scenic railroad trip from Connersville to Old Metamora and back, operated with historically significant vintage equipment. This is not a theme park train ride — it’s an actual historic railroad still running its original 19th-century route through the Whitewater Valley. The destination, Old Metamora, is an 1838 canal town with a working grist mill and a functioning aqueduct.
For families where the kids are into trains, this is the Wayne County activity that generates the strongest reactions. For families where the kids aren’t specifically into trains, it converts a surprising percentage of them.
Best for: Ages 2 and up; the train experience works across a wide age range
The World’s Largest Ball of Paint — Alexandria (30 Minutes North) — All Ages
Madison County, not Wayne County, but 30 minutes north and absolutely worth including. A baseball that Mike Carmichael has been painting continuously since 1977 — it now weighs over 5,000 pounds and has been coated more than 30,000 times. Visitors add their own layer by appointment. Free. In a building next to a family home.
Every child who visits wants to add a layer. The record of their coat being somewhere inside 5,000 pounds of paint is permanent. This is more compelling to children than most museum exhibits.
6696 N 100 W, Alexandria, IN | Free | By appointment at worldslargestballofpaint.com Best for: All ages; the “I painted it” element works for ages 3 and up
Planning the Family Day in Wayne County
Morning: Uranus Fudge Factory when it opens at 9 AM — fudge, playground, dinosaur photos. Putt Pirates mini golf opens at 11 AM.
Midday: Wayne County Historical Museum or Joseph Moore Museum — the mummy is the hook.
Afternoon: Enchanted Fairy Trail and Thistlethwaite Falls, or Hayes Arboretum if the weather is good. Chocolate Trail if anyone still has appetite after the fudge.
For a two-day family visit: Add the Whitewater Valley Railroad and Old Metamora on day two, plus the World’s Largest Ball of Paint in Alexandria.
Practical Notes
Getting here: Richmond is at I-70 Exit 156B, right at the Ohio border. From Indianapolis, about 70 miles east. From Dayton, Ohio, about 35 miles west.
Strollers: Glen Miller Park, Hayes Arboretum (paved paths), Cardinal Greenway, and the Enchanted Fairy Trail are all stroller-accessible on their easier sections. The Putt Pirates course is on maintained turf.
Rainy day options: Wayne County Historical Museum, Joseph Moore Museum, Richmond Art Museum (free admission), and the Uranus gift shop and Sideshow Museum are all solid covered options.
Where to stay: See Where to Stay in Richmond, Indiana for the full hotel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best family activities in Wayne County Indiana? Uranus Fudge Factory (fudge, mini golf with a secret shortcut, playground, two-story slide), the Wayne County Historical Museum (Egyptian mummy, vintage cars), the Whitewater Valley Railroad, Hayes Arboretum, the Enchanted Fairy Trail, and the World’s Largest Ball of Paint in nearby Alexandria.
Is there mini golf in Wayne County Indiana? Yes — Putt Pirates at Uranus Richmond, 6400 National Rd. E, I-70 Exit 156B. Adults $10, kids under 10 $9 (tax included). Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM. There’s a secret river shortcut on certain holes that can set up a hole-in-one.
Are there Egyptian mummies in Wayne County Indiana? Yes — two of them. Lady Ta’an has been at the Wayne County Historical Museum since 1889. The Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History at Earlham College has a second mummy. Wayne County has more mummies per capita than any city in North America.
How far is Wayne County Indiana from Indianapolis? About 70 miles east on I-70 — roughly an hour’s drive from downtown Indianapolis.
What is the Enchanted Fairy Trail in Wayne County Indiana? A self-guided trail of fairy doors and installations scattered across Richmond and Wayne County. Particularly good for children ages 3–9. Maps available at the Old National Road Welcome Center, 5701 National Rd. E, Richmond, and at visitrichmond.org.
Where is Uranus in Wayne County Indiana? 6400 National Rd. E, Richmond, IN 47374 — I-70 Exit 156B, on the Historic National Road. The largest Uranus at 15,000 square feet. Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM (EST).
For the general Wayne County guide, see Things to Do in Wayne County, Indiana. For a Richmond-specific weekend guide, see Things to Do in Richmond Indiana This Weekend.
Alex Bradford Cobb is a strapping young man who works for the Mayor in a semi-legal indentured servitude arrangement, similar to how Dubai was built, and possibly the pyramids. What works, works, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.