Two Terrific Reasons to Visit Terre Haute Indiana

If you have never visited Terre Haute, I’ve got two great reasons for you to plan a trip to this west central Indiana city!

My mom and I recently spent two days in Terre Haute thoroughly exploring two of the city’s major attractions.  Each one had a totally different vibe, making for a very memorable mother-daughter getaway!

There is actually quite a bit more to discover in this Hoosier town, so be sure to check out Visit Terre Haute for all the latest happenings.

But first, let me tell you two terrific reasons Traveling Tanya thinks you should visit Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Terre Haute Casino Resort

The Terre Haute Casino Resort opened less than a year ago and it’s still as shiny as a new penny!

Whether you are a regular on the casino circuit, like my mom, or an occasional slot junkie, like myself, you are sure to love this place.

Gambling

Of course, gambling is the highlight for most of the people who venture to this resort. The casino is made up of one spacious gaming room and boasts 1000 slot machines and 36 live table games as well as a Sportsbook.

I love the moderate size of the casino as there are plenty of machines to choose from without getting lost and feeling overwhelmed in an endless whirl of lights and flashing displays. This is a completely smoke-free casino, and I really appreciate not having to inhale smoke as I try to win big!

They also offer plenty of exciting promotions and opportunities to win free slot play money. I wish I could say my mom and I hit it big on the slots…but we sure had fun trying!

Hotel

Since my mom had visited this casino a few times already, she was able to snag a free night’s stay at the resort. And I was the lucky beneficiary of this fabulous perk!

Everything feels new and luxurious at the Terre Haute Casino Resort. There is a spacious bar right off of the expansive lobby.

Even the hallways on each floor are wide and welcoming, making it easy to navigate your luggage as you settle into your room.

Unique decor and prints featuring local Hoosier attractions give the allure of a boutique hotel and create a homey yet luxurious atmosphere.

Inside our guest room, the spacious and luxurious theme continued. We had ample space to move about and the beds were extremely comfortable.

The bathroom included many high-end features, allowing us to truly pamper ourselves.

While I’m hoping my gambling efforts lead to my own free night’s stay at this amazing resort, it is well worth paying full price to stay at the Terre Haute Casino Resort!

Restaurants

With five restaurants on-site, you don’t even need to leave the resort premises.

We didn’t have enough time to enjoy each of the restaurants during our one-night stay, but we did partake in a delicious breakfast and our favorite hot beverages at The Queen’s Beans, located just off of the lobby. An assortment of pastries as well as breakfast sandwiches are available, providing both sweet and savory options.

This is a great option for those wanting to grab a quick bite before heading into the casino or hitting the road after a good night’s sleep.

For other dining options, you can go super casual at The Soda Shoppe or super swanky at the Four Cornered Steakhouse. We opted for in between casual and swanky and dined at the Rockwood Bar and Grill.

Luckily, we were there just in time to enjoy a discounted cocktail for Happy Hour followed by a dinner of steamy soup (for me) and a tasty sandwich (for mom) with fries to share.

Be sure to check the website or ask at the lobby for each restaurant’s hours as they vary by day of the week and not all restaurants are open for lunch.

Entertainment

Terre Haute Casino Resort also has numerous amenities and entertainment options outside of gambling to make your stay even more enjoyable.

If you are visiting during the warm months (we were not), you will definitely want to take a dip in the large outdoor pool.  There is also a fitness center for those who enjoy working up a sweat during their vacation.

For some extra fun in the evening, be sure to venture up to the 10th floor to spend some time at the Altitude Bar & Lounge.

You will want to linger in the posh atmosphere while indulging in a specialty cocktail, or two.  They also serve a variety of tasty appetizers to share…or consume all on your own and call it dinner.

Many nights you can even take in some live music as you lounge in this trendy rooftop bar.

Once our gambling funds were exhausted and we had eaten our fill…

it was time for Mom and I to head on to Terre Haute itinerary item #2.

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Just about as different as you can get from a raucous casino, the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center offers a sobering look at the Holocaust.

CANDLES stands for Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors, and the museum was established in 1984 by Holocaust survivor and Terre Haute resident, Eva Kor.

Ever since attending an event about Eva Kor at the Indiana History Center in Indianapolis a few years ago, I have wanted to venture to Terre Haute to check out the museum created by this small but tenacious Holocaust survivor.

Don’t let the small size of the museum fool you either as it is jam-packed with historical information and timelines as well as personal stories and artifacts from those who experienced the atrocities of the Holocaust firsthand.

This museum was so much more than I expected! I recommend spending at least two hours here as you study each display and soak up everything the knowledgeable guides have to share.

Eva Kor

The museum gives you a glimpse into the life of Eva Kor. Visitors get to learn about her family and life in Romania before the Holocaust as well as the nine months she spent in a concentration camp with her twin sister.

Fortunately, Eva’s story does not end there as both she and her sister made it out of the concentration camp. In fact, Eva only recently died in 2019 at the age of 85.

While much of the museum shares details about the unimaginable atrocities that occurred under German rule in the 1930’s and 40’s, it also includes information about Eva’s life after the Holocaust.

Understandably, Eva went through years of bitterness and anger. But both the museum and Eva’s life show that her lasting legacy is one of hope and healing.

Interactive History

Even though Eva is no longer alive to share her story, museum visitors can actually hear directly from her through an informative and inspiring video. This is the perfect way to start your museum visit!

With the help of the experienced Museum staff and some exceptional, interactive video clips, you can even ask Eva questions about the Holocaust and her life. And she responds with thoughtful, detailed answers as if you were sitting down with her in person to have a chat!

This is such a remarkable and meaningful way to learn about history. People of all ages will walk away with a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, the survivors, and those who lost their lives in this unfathomable historical event.

Understanding the Holocaust

After viewing the film and “chatting” with Eva, visitors can roam through the various displays. We were fortunate to be guided by an experienced docent who shared in-depth stories that went beyond what we could read on the posted signs.

We were able to ask the questions many Americans have, such as “How could something like this happen?”

While I still can’t quite fathom that this kind of large-scale genocide was even possible and took place less than 100 years ago, the museum helped me understand a bit more about the on-going manipulation by those in power at that time and how it impacted marginalized groups.

Each display reveals a unique historical component of the Holocaust with personal stories about Eva as well as her husband (who was also a Holocaust survivor) and several other Jewish families woven throughout.

Various artifacts such as personal letters and the uniform worn by prisoners in the concentration camps are also on display. (If you haven’t read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I highly recommend this piece of historical fiction, which was written for middle school-aged readers but is an impactful read no matter your age.) 

Art is also used to tell about the tragedies of the Holocaust in a very moving way.

Mengele Twin Studies

While much of what happened inside the concentration camps is very difficult to hear, the unique and barbaric treatment Eva and her sister suffered was also part of what ultimately saved them both.

Tragically, the rest of Eva’s family was killed the day they arrived at the concentration camp, but Eva and her sister were spared because they were twins.

The 10-year-old sisters spent 9 long months as research specimens of Dr. Mengele, along with many other sets of Jewish twins. Part of the infamous Mengele Twin Studies, the girls were measured, poked, prodded, and injected with who-knows-what and treated as less than humans. Yet somehow they miraculously survived this horrendous ordeal.

Peace and Forgiveness

While many elements of the museum evoke extreme sadness and grief, the museum also embodies a strong message of hope, much like Eva herself did.

Both the interactive video and signage illustrate Eva’s post-Holocaust progression from bitterness, anger, and activism to the embodiment of hope, peace, and forgiveness.

Eva ultimately recognized that bitterness did not make her life better or allow her to truly move forward, but forgiveness did.

She never forgot or condoned the horrendous treatment she and so many other Jewish people experienced during the Holocaust, but she did find a way to forgive. And she continued to share the message of forgiveness throughout the remainder of her life and through her legacy that lives on.

Even years later when a despicable display of antisemitism led to the destruction of the CANDLES museum by fire, Eva remained strong and vocal.

She didn’t let hate win.  She rebuilt the museum and continued to educate others about the Holocaust and the power of forgiveness.

My mom and I learned so much about Eva and the Holocaust and I was inspired to buy one of Eva’s books in the museum’s gift shop to learn even more.

I hope I have inspired you to add the CANDLES Museum to your travel itinerary…as I know it is Eva’s story that will truly inspire you and touch your heart.

I’ve only covered two of the terrific things to do in Terre Haute, Indiana…and there is so much more!

So be sure to venture to this happening Hoosier town on your next Midwest road trip. Then if you have a little extra time, drive about 30 miles west to check out all the Big Things in Casey, Illinois!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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