Destination: Darke County

Editor’s note: Pump prices for gasoline have moderated in the past week, but families are still going to be trying to stretch their vacation dollars this summer. This is the first in an ongoing summer series of articles looking at attractions within around 100 miles round-trip that won’t hit too hard in the wallet.

No other county in the region does a better job of promoting tourism opportunities than Darke County, Ohio, which touts everything from factory tours to wildlife walks.
To get a feel of the area’s rich history, start with a visit to the Garst Museum in Greenville.
The museum, part of which was once the Garst family home, is home to an extraordinary collection of prehistoric arrowheads and spear tips, a professionally-produced multi-media exhibit on early American history on this part of the frontier, and what has to be the ultimate exhibit on the life and times of Darke County native Annie Oakley.
Located just 34 miles from Portland, the museum is easily reached by taking Ind. 26 to Fort Recovery, then Ohio 49 south. When you come into Greenville, join Ohio 571, then turn left at an all-way stop on Broadway.
Tickets for the museum are a little pricey: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors over 60, and $5 for youth aged 6-17. Children under 6 are free. But if your interests lean toward the Native American prehistoric era in Ohio and Indiana or the events surrounding the Treaty of Greenville or St. Clair’s Defeat, it’s worth the price.
That’s also true if you’re intrigued by the life of Annie Oakley.
Born Phoebe Ann Moses in 1860, she learned to shoot as a child in Darke County and later starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, billed as “Little Miss Sure Shot.” She performed for two decades, astonishing audiences in the U.S. and Europe with her marksmanship skills before her retirement in 1913.
She and her husband and fellow marksman Frank Butler later moved to Greenville, where she died in 1926. Among the memorabilia on display in the Annie Oakley Center at the Garst Museum is a silent movie of one of her final performances.
The Crossroads of Destiny display focuses on the period between 1790 and 1796, when western Ohio and the edge of Indiana saw ongoing clashes between the army of the young republic and the Native American tribes of the region.
At the center of the display is a 4-foot by 6-foot model of the Greene Ville Cantonment as it stood in 1795, when the Treaty of Greenville was signed. At that time, it was the largest wooden stockade fortification in the U.S., covering more than 50 acres. The model, a work of amazing precision, took about 15 month to complete, with each log in the fort wall individually cut from small twigs.
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Another taste of local history can be found about four miles east of Greenville at Bear’s Mill. Take U.S. 36 east out of town to Darke County road 34, then turn south. You’ll find the mill on Greenville Creek.
The mill was originally built in 1849 by Gabriel Baer. Now known as Bear’s Mill, it’s one of the few remaining water-powered grist mills in Ohio or Indiana.
There’s no charge for admission, and it’s easy to take a self-guided tour, though you’ll have to be prepared to climb some stairs.
The mill is a four-story frame structure, and it works on a gravity-fed basis. So grain brought to the mill was winched up to the fourth floor, then sifted and cleaned and ground as it worked its way down to the fourth floor.
To take the self-guided tour, climb all the way to the fourth floor, then follow the signs and read a well-written handout to get a feel for how it operated. Restored by private owners in the 1980s, the mill is now operated by a non-profit organization.
The best time to see the mill in operation is probably the fall open house, set for Oct. 6 and 7, when there will be grinding demonstrations.
There’s a gift shop and a gallery as well, featuring a series of exhibits in its Art at the Mill series. Noblesville artist Bruce Neckar and wood carver Geoff Davis now have an exhibit dedicated to the birds of the Midwest. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 31, the mill gallery will host an exhibit by Jay County artist Zach Medler.
After heading back toward Greenville, take U.S. 127 north to Ohio 47, then go east a half-mile to the Winery at Versailles.
There, you’ll have a chance to sample locally made wines. The prices of a wine tasting vary, depending upon whether you want just a sip or a couple of ounces in your sample.
Varieties offered by the Winery at Versailles include chardonnay, pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chambourcin, traminette, and a variety of sweeter wines including Buckeye Blush and Bullseye.
Wine prices range from $10 to $23 a bottle.
If you head west on Ohio 47, you’ll intersect with Ohio 49, where you can head north back to Fort Recovery and back to Jay County.
Total driving distance for the outing: About 85 miles.
For more information about Darke County attractions, go to www.visitdarkecounty.org.

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