Dubois County is about an hour west of Louisville along I-64 in Indiana, and it encompasses the towns of Ferdinand, Jasper and Huntingburg, all located to the north of I-64 and on Eastern Time. The same exit 63 will lead you to St. Meinrad Archabbey and Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, located to the south of I-64 and on Central Time. For our outing, we stuck with new-to-me Dubois County, and we were delighted at what we discovered. I recommend checking out the Visitors Center for expert advice on a day that will meet your interests. I’d like to give a special shoutout to Whitney Lubbers, executive director of the Dubois County Visitors Center, who took great care of us.
Ferdinand
We started our day with a stop at the Cascade Cafe, a family-owned breakfast spot in Ferdinand. Conveniently located about 2 miles off exit 63, the cafe is a favorite morning destination for locals and lucky visitors like us. Open since 2022, it offers everything from traditional hot plates to mouthwatering homemade cinnamon rolls that make for a great take-home treat for anyone who wasn’t able to join you on your outing (to which my granddaughters can attest).
Our next stop was the nearby Monastery of Immaculate Conception. Known as the “Castle on the Hill,” the monastery was founded in 1867 and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. This is the home of one of the largest Benedictine communities of women in the United States. Its distinctive Romanesque dome rises over the town of Ferdinand and is visible from great distances. All are welcome to visit the monastery and its grounds, which are open from dawn to dusk. Visitors are able to take a guided tour, attend Mass, and take part in retreats and programs. The monastery grounds include a gift shop with handmade crafts and baked goods from the sisters and other unique spiritual merchandise. Located near the gift shop is Saint Benedict’s Brew Works, an independently operated brewery offering locally brewed and cleverly named craft beers such as Dark Souls and Raising Lazarus IPA, as well as a light food menu and locally made root beer.
Story and photos by Patti Hartog
P.S. You may also enjoy this type of adventure Treasure Hunting With Her GPS.
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