Merrillville

Discover Merrillville by Interest

Merrillville offers a range of options to consider when planning your trip: trails and parks, local history, as well as shopping, dining, and entertainment. These attractions vary considerably: the C&O Trail and park trails are ideal for outdoor activities, while the museum, historic trail sections, and shopping destinations appeal to other interests.

Trail, Parks, and Paths

The Town of Merrillville’s C&O Trail project extends the existing C&O Trail 1.35 miles north. The Merrillville section runs north from the existing trail terminus near Taft Street to just beyond Hendricks Street. The 1.35-mile figure describes the extension; once the C&O Trail projects are complete, the trail’s total length will be 5.5 miles. The C&O Trail opened on April 30, 2024. This distinguishes the project’s length from the trail’s total length.

The parks and open-space system also offers trails for walking and cycling. Merrillville has more than 20 parks spread throughout the town. So the options include not only the named C&O Trail but also trails in the parks. Their distribution across Merrillville is another useful point of reference if you want to plan your time in town around outdoor activities.

Local and Regional History

The Sauk Trail was an important historic route in Merrillville and was connected to the area’s early development. One surviving section is now 73rd Avenue. This means the trail’s history can also be encountered on a present-day street. This is a specific part of local history, not merely a name from the past.

The Merrillville History Museum opened in 1996. It houses artifacts, historic photographs, and other treasures that tell the region’s story. Group or class tours must be arranged in advance. The historic route and the museum’s collection offer two different ways to explore the past: one points to a surviving section of the Sauk Trail, while the other presents regional history through artifacts and photographs.

Shopping and Local Offerings

Southlake Mall is a shopping, dining, and entertainment center in Merrillville with more than 160 specialty stores. It brings several kinds of offerings together in one place. If shopping, dining, and entertainment are among your travel interests, it offers a different focus from the trails and historic sites.

The Albanese Confectionery Factory Store in Merrillville offers bulk candy, nostalgic sweets, nuts and mixes, gifts, as well as gummy candies and chocolate. The product selection may change. Compared with Southlake Mall’s broad range, this store focuses particularly on sweets and related products.

You can weigh these different options when planning your trip: outdoor activities, local history, and shopping each offer a different focus for a stay in Merrillville.

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