This Beautiful Indiana Hidden Gem Is Right Out of a Fairy Tale — See Photos

By all means, explore whenever you get the chance. Investigate that tiny cemetery that looks like it's a century old or more. Get as close to a cool old abandoned home as you can, without violating any trespassing laws. Visit odd little roadside attractions that you've never heard of.

A Beautiful Indiana Hidden Gem

This is the time of year to get out and find the next "coolest thing you've ever seen." And of course--as indicated above--it will usually surprise you. That was the experience for Hilary Bostick and her family when they stumbled upon a magical part of Indiana's Lourdes Friary on Cedar Lake.

If it were me, I would've felt like I'd slipped into another dimension where encounters with fairy tale characters would be commonplace.

A Virtual Tour of the Lourdes Friary at Indiana's Cedar Lake

Despite the fact that the Lourdes Friary is closed, it is actually NOT abandoned. My next question was answered in the comment section of Hilary's post on a public group called Abandoned and Forgotten Indiana--and from Hilary herself:

There were 6 cars all filled with people doing the same as us. It does not say private and there were no “no trespassing” signs anywhere. The notebook in the photos is current (Father’s Day was the last writing) with messages from those who used to visit when it was functional.

How many times have we encountered something as intriguing as this extraordinary site only to be turned away by a "no trespassing sign"?

The Lourdes Friary was home to the Franciscan Friars for some 80 years, and now the entire property is currently listed by Property Shark for $3,000,000. And that includes this beautiful, secluded section that's become so popular with visitors making cool discoveries of their own.

Alright, my fellow explorers. Your "taste buds" have been tempted with a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path discovery. And if I haven't tantalized you enough into planning an Indiana road trip--keep in mind, this isn't very far from Chicagoland at all--then maybe the following gallery will.

Safe travels.