Things to Do in Merrillville

During the Cold War, anything could happen. The US military's response to this reality was to ring every major metropolitan area with defensive missile bases that could launch Nike antiaircraft supersonic missiles at any time. The goal was to make attacking the United States so costly that the Soviets would not dare try. One of the roughly 20 bases defending the Chicago area was Nike Missile Base C-47, a 14-acre site built between 1954 and 1956. Surrounded by 8-foot-tall cyclone fences, the base housed three underground concrete bunkers, three launchers, five radar towers, a fallout shelter, and day barracks.

Today, the Cold War is safely tucked in the nation's memory, but much of C-47 still remains. However, instead of military personnel coming and going throughout their 24-hour shifts, it's paintball and Airsoft players who creep along the 10 sprawling fields, simulating the warfare that luckily never occurred on the base. The terrain includes many of the original features—such as a mess hall, army barracks, and satellite towers, which host strategic meetings and midbattle naps. Referees enforce special safety rules for minors to keep games safe and organized.

Founders Damien and Rita Gabis, as well as countless volunteers, have built Taltree Arboretum & Gardens into more than 360 acres of forested pathways, themed gardens, and natural amphitheaters. The vast gardens span many different climates, from the Savanna wetlands to a monarch butterfly way station filled with pollen-producing flowers. A miniature train set snakes through a one-acre formal garden, mimicking real-world locations from Michigan City or Santa Fe.

The staff at Taltree leads guests through these luscious surroundings in hosted hikes and tours that explore the grounds and illuminate scientific and botanical principles. From the rose garden to the animal habitats, the tour guides opine on the biology behind their specimens. Guests can even learn to make their own garden with educational classes on how to plant seeds, prune plants, and teach flowers to sing.