It would be about a 1 1/2 hour drive from S & S Repair to the Wabash & Erie Canal Park in Delphi, IN, arriving there a little after 1 p.m.

At first I wasn’t impressed – the park is in the middle of an industrial area but I quickly changed my mind later that afternoon once we had an opportunity to explore.

From May through October, they have four full-service sites available ($35), two water-and-electric sites ($30) and one electric-only site ($25). Primitive tent sites are $20 and does not include use of the dump station ($15).

When I made our reservation for our two night stay, we were assigned to site F which had full hookups.  An email from one of the staff members, Sara, told us that we could drive on the grass and treat it as a pull thru. Good thing because the park had a very strange layout.

At first Rob backed into the site but then realized that the utility hookups were on the wrong side so he had to maneuver the coach between the utility poles, another pole and a tree. Definitely not big rig friendly! Getting in was challenging – would getting out would be just as challenging?

Lots of history here. The city of Delphi hosts a three-mile section of the Canal—the longest man-made waterway ever built in the United States (1832-1876). A non profit corporation was formed in 1972, the Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc., to preserve the Canal in Delphi as a significant part of Indiana’s history.

In addition to camping the park has a lot to offer: a 40 minute narrated cruise on their replica canal boat, The Delphi, on weekends, an interactive museum which tells the story of the 44 year operational history, an 1850s Pioneer Village which features craftsmen and events on summer weekends and the Red Bridge Settlement where the historical Lime Kilns reside. All support of the park is performed by volunteers.

That afternoon, we walked to the nearby interpretive center where unfortunately two busloads of 3rd graders were inside about to board the buses. Yikes! Typical lot of noisy kids! There was a museum but you had to pay a fee to visit so we didn’t bother.

Instead we enjoyed studying the huge paintings, all of historic significance on the walls. Afterward we walked down the path next to the canal to the Washington St. Bridge. On the way back, we walked around Pioneer Village reading all of the signs about the various houses.

A woman, a volunteer was working outside Fout’s Cabin, getting ready to leave. After talking to her for a bit, she asked us if we wanted to see the inside of the house. Pretty neat! Learned a lot about the house (built in 1837) which was originally located somewhere else and later moved here to the park.

On Friday, the 21st, we went to the Stone House Restaurant in Delphi for lunch, cute place, nothing fancy, but good comfort food. The waitress recommended the hand breaded pork tenderloin sandwich ($8.50). OMG it was enormous! Two doggie bags please.

We ordered a piece of sugar cream pie (according to her that is the state pie) to go. We plan to go back for breakfast on Saturday. After lunch, we walked around the town, cute place.

Sad though seeing wanted posters on buildings and street poles for the person who murdered two teenage girls who were walking along the Delphi Historic Trail in 2017. Interestingly, several days after we left on October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody and charged with the murders.

Back at the campground, we went for another walk to see the rest of the trail. Very nicely done, with lots of signs providing info about the waterway, boats, the red bridge, and the lime kiln. Beautiful day, sunny with temps probably close to 70 degrees.

On Saturday morning, we returned to the Stone House Restaurant for breakfast. At the recommendation of our waitress (same one as the day before) we both had Lisa’s Breakfast Sandwich which was an egg, ham and swiss cheese on homemade cinnamon bread ($6.95).

She also convinced us (she was a very good saleslady) to get a slice of their cinnamon french toast ($2.75). Everything was excellent!

Back at the campground, we prepared for our departure. Rob decided that he would back out of our site onto the grass behind us, then exit on the left hand side road. It was busy around us due to the fact that it was clean up the park day but everything went very smoothly.

Really enjoyed our stay here. Would we return? Not sure, getting into the campsite was difficult and the other annoying thing were all the trains that were constantly tooting their horns at all hours of the day and night.

Check out our photo album!