It is May 27th and we’re staying overnight at at Kaskaskia Dragon RV Park in Vandalia Illinois. It only has about 12 spaces without any bells or whistles. But what it did have was a Fire Breathing Dragon ! !

This roadside attraction was built in 1995 by the nearby Kaskaskia Supply and its owner, Walt Barenfanger. In 2001, the dragon moved near the highway in Vandalia, Illinois, to its current resting place, where hundreds of visitors have paid to make the beast breathe fire.

You have to stop by the hardware store across the street to register and they give you free tokens to operate the dragon or you can get them at the hardware store and liquor store across the street or online for $1 each and they will ship it to you for free. Each coin buys approximately 10 seconds of fire breathing fun.

I knew that Lincoln was born in Kentucky but I didn’t know why Illinois was called “The land of Lincoln” and why  Vandalia had Lincoln’s silhouette on their water tower. 

I found out that  Vandalia  was founded 1819 as a new capital city for Illinois. In 1834-1837  Abraham Lincoln assumed the first statewide office of his political career at Vandalia.  This is also where he studied to be a lawyer.  Lincoln was an important part of the legislature but he was not very fond of Vandalia and he was interested in moving the capitol to his home area Springfield Illinois. The Capitol was moved to Springfield at the end of 1839.  However, the Capitol in Vandalia remains a historical landmark today.  He lived in Springfield  where he met his wife Mary.  His family moved to  Washington D.C.  where he became the 16^th president from March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865.  We all know what happened after that.

And now the fun begins . . .

We waited till it started to get dark and . . . boom the flame starts.

It was really neat to watch.

Standing next to me is the scorched man. He keeps getting way to close to the flame.

On our way to Indiana we passed another roadside attraction.

— America’s Largest Cross

The Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham Illinois intersects Highway 57 and 70, easily visible to passersby from the Interstate and surrounding area. At 198 feet tall and 113 feet wide, the cross, made of over 180 tons of steel looms over Effingham, easily visible by day and illuminated at night.

Illinois has 20 listed roadside attractions, some quirky some big but they are fun to see. So if your driving thru the state check out some of these. You won’t be let down, I hope. 😊

• World’s largest Ketchup bottle
• The Gemini Giant   
• Two-Story Outhouse
• Leaning Tower of Niles
•  One and Only Hippie Memorial
•  Kaskaskia Dragon ✔
• Statue of the World’s Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow
• Statue of Popeye (and friends)
• Gold Pyramid House
• Superman Statue
• Cross at the Crossroads: America’s Largest Cross ✔
• World’s Largest Wagon and Big Abraham Lincoln
• De Immigrant Windmill
• Henry’s Rabbit Ranch. Pink Elephant Antique Mall
• Pink Elephant Antique Mall
• Paul Bunyon Muffler Man Holding a Hot Dog
• Dungeons and Dragons Park (Boo Castle Park)
• Superdawg Drive-In
• Haunted Trails Frankenstein Muffler Man
• Big Things in a Small Town

We arrived in Indiana on Sunday the 28th and stayed at All my Family and Friends Campground in New Lisbon Indiana.

We were all set to leave on the 29th Memorial day, stay in Ohio, visit with our Friends Bill & Sandy and then head home. But . . . As were were pulling out (Old Pete) our truck wouldn’t move. We’re still at the same campground, while Old Pete is getting a new transmission. The people who run the campground and the owners David & Crystal have been super nice. We are so thankful we were here and not on the thruway when this happened. We are going to get Old Pete back on Tuesday or Wednesday and head straight home to Newfane.

So All My Family & Friends Campground has been our hangout since Memorial Day. The people here said that we were now honorary “Indiana Hoosiers.” Everyone agrees that a Hoosier is the official title for the people of the U.S. state of Indiana. Other than that, Hoosier originated The 1840s the origin of the term remains a matter of debate.

Since we’ve been here since Memorial Day and they have been wonderful to us, I figure I should do a bit of advertising for them. So here we go . . .

The pond is across the road from where we are. You can fish or they have paddle boats for you to use.

Cooper and Dave getting some exercise at the park.

Pics of the front of the park and a path that that’s there too.

Indiana’s slogan is “The Crossroads of America. But New Lisbon Indiana’s claim to fame is that Wilbur Wright was born here. He was born on April 16, 1867 in the small farmhouse in New Lisbon, Indiana.  He was the third of seven children born to Milton Wright and Susan Wright. Orville was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1871.

We have also been riding our bikes around the area. It’s a very small town not much in it. Like most old towns it was booming in The late 1800s cause it was right by rail road tracks. Here’s are some pics of our bike rides.

We followed the signs Wilbur Wright’s house & Museum but it wasn’t open.

Old building with a barber shop on the left.

We also came upon a cemetery with no name. We found the Hatfields but not the McCoys.

Map & Old postcard of New Lisbon. We are where the red dot is, as you can see it’s a small town.

As I was doing the blog on Indiana two songs kept coming up in my brain.

🎵 Indiana wants me, Lord I can’t go back there by R. Dean Taylor and Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana my home sweet home form the movie and play Music Man 🎶.

Now you know a little bit about Indian and more then you ever wanted to know about New Lisbon Indiana. Please wish us safe travels on our way back to Newfane NY.