When it comes to all things creepy or odd, I’m down. Add in a touch of strange, especially when it’s based on a popular Netflix series, and you’ll never have to ask me twice.
Last year, SoIN debuted its Stranger Things of SoIN passport trail, paying homage to both past and upcoming “Stranger Things” seasons, and I took on the fun challenge of visiting its locations. Here’s a peek at my adventure and why you need to make it a top priority for this Halloween season.
First, What’s the Stranger Things of SoIN Trail?
In a nutshell, the passport trail features kooky, spooky, and even scary attractions, museums, and restaurants in the Southern Indiana area. With 16 location check-ins on an easy-to-use app, all of them are located in Indiana’s Clark & Floyd counties.
Happily, once you’ve completed 10 of the 16 check-ins, you can head to the Southern Indiana Visitor Center in Jeffersonville to collect a cool prize for your effort: a gorgeous print featuring locations on the trail.
While you’re at the center, don’t forget to check out the “Stranger Things™” photo backdrops and an old-school pinball machine with all of the free plays you can handle, now through November 26, 2025, only!
While I’m talking freebies, there’s no charge to enjoy the trail or to get the print. While I do recommend checking out each location to the fullest, all you need do is be close to the location to officially check in.
My Stranger Things of SoIN Trail Favorites
All 16 locations are worth a visit, trust me, but there are several standouts that make my must-do shortlist:
Culbertson Mansion Historic Site - One of the best-kept mansions I’ve ever toured, the 25,000 square foot, late nineteenth century work of stunning architecture showcases affluence on Mansion Row.
Why is it on the trail, you ask? Its carriage house is actually haunted - ask the staff. During the Halloween season, it hosts an intense haunted house, the House of Anguish, that is both beautifully spooky and well-themed. I took a ride in a metal coffin (I was the chosen one of the group), and while that wasn’t on my Halloween haunted house bingo card, it’s something I’ll never forget.
Rose Island Abandoned Theme Park - I love reclaimed nature, so visiting Rose Island 100 years after its heyday in the 1920s was right up my proverbial amusement park street. Located in Charlestown State Park, remnants of the happy haven can still be seen, including the massive swimming pool and pretty arches marking its entrance.
What I loved most about visiting is the fact that there are talk boxes (old-school hand cranked, of course) that delve into the park, a popular summer retreat for its visitors until a massive flood in 1937 nearly wiped it off the map.
The New Albany Wicked Walk Tours - Historic New Albany is lovely as is, but when you add in a lantern-led spooky nighttime walk filled with haunts, murders, and downright macabre stories, it’s on my bucket list. I loved the fact that there’s a website to go along with the tour showcasing old photos and information to add to the immersion.
Clark County Museum - For 17 years, passionate historians of Clark County have dedicated countless hours to keeping the tales of Southern Indiana, and its tie-ins with the rest of the US, relevant and alive. During my visit, its many rooms and displays captured my attention, that’s for sure.
J&B Magic Shop and Theater - One of only a few magic shops left in the US, so when in the area, I had to see it for myself. It’s quirky and cool and even has a twenty-seat theater to showcase magicians from around the country. If you’re a casual magic lover or all in, a visit is a must.
Keeping it Quirky Dining
There are three restaurants on the SoIN Stranger Things Trail, all worth checking out:
The Red Yeti - located in downtown Jeffersonville, you can’t miss it as there’s a massive carved yeti near the front door. The menu is creative and tasty, especially the famous Hot Brown sandwich that’s super popular in neighboring Louisville.
Lady Tron’s - I’ll never refuse a good diner, and Lady Tron’s didn’t disappoint. Decorated in all things nostalgic from our cartoon and television childhood, it’s filled with figures, dolls, and replicas. If you really want a blast from the past, order your lunch in an actual metal lunchbox, complete with soup in a thermos.
Schimpff’s Confectionery - A must-visit for old-fashioned candy lovers, I adore visiting Schimpff’s candy store, especially on candy-making day. I hit the timing perfectly and watched tasty cinnamon hearts being rolled out using century-old candy machines, then got to taste-test one that was still warm. Yum!
Click here to sign up for the Stranger Things of SoIN digital passport and learn more about SoIN Goes Upside Down events and activations.
