Located in beautiful southeastern Indiana, Rising Sun is Indiana’s quintessential small town with big-city connections. Located on the Ohio River in Ohio County, Rising Sun is only a 45-minute drive from Cincinnati and a 95-minute drive from both Indianapolis and Louisville.

Rising Sun’s charm is related to its small town atmosphere, housing some 2,500 residents in a county population of 5,800. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the peaceful feeling that comes from watching the river flow by while sitting on one of the benches situated in a park-like setting close to the water or strolling along the river on the recently-built river walk. Especially enjoyable is relaxing at one of the several downtown restaurants for lunch or dinner and then visiting one of a number of antique and specialty shops in the historic downtown area.

Many recreational opportunities are available, including relaxing on the riverfront, boating, golfing, world class gaming, shopping in antique and specialty stores, enjoying high quality art and watching fine musical instruments being made.

Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino

The Grand Victoria Casino and Resort is located only a few blocks from Rising Sun’s historic downtown. The centerpiece is a 40,000 square foot casino aboard an authentic Victorian sternwheeler riverboat. The casino features many of the newest slot machines on the market and a wide variety of table game favorites. The land facility offers a spacious pavilion with an abundance of dining options, a gift shop and a 1,100 seat showroom. The showroom is not only home to top-name entertainers, it also doubles as meeting and convention space. Attached to the pavilion is a 200 room hotel with an indoor pool, whirlpool spa, sauna and health club. Adjacent to the hotel is a newly expanded Scottish links-style golf course with a clubhouse and snack bar. Grand Victoria Casino attracts nearly two million visitors per year and employs some 1,000 people from the regional Tri-State area.

Arts as Economics

Over the last 10 years, through its Historic Downtown Program Rising Sun has been pursuing an “Arts as Economics” plan for downtown economic development. As a result of this effort, several arts-related businesses have settled in Rising Sun, including Wm. Rees Instruments, an international family-owned business whose Rees Harps are currently being played by the majority of the best-known harpists in the world. Although they could have shipped their products from any location to their customers, the owners relocated this business from northern California to Rising Sun because of its small-town atmosphere and its relatively central location to much of its market in the United States. Zeiller Music, a combination guitar builder/ repair shop and music store, has also recently opened in Rising Sun, and other string-instrument builders, called “luthiers,” have also expressed interest in settling in Rising Sun/Ohio County.

The Pendleton Arts Center for the visual arts opened in Rising Sun almost five years ago as part of the Arts as Economics program. Occupying a three-floor former downtown commercial building, the Pendleton Arts Center now houses more than 20 working artists who specialize in the areas of painting, drawing, stained glass, photography, ceramics and sculpture. All of their works are regularly exhibited during the center’s monthly “First Friday” event. Several other privately owned galleries have opened nearby with a number of artists from across the country choosing to settle in Rising Sun.

Other Attractions

Several seasonal festivals, such as the Navy Bean Festival, the regional Shiner Pride Car Show and the Rising Sun River Days Festival and Boat Show bring visitors from around Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Other local attractions include the Ohio County Courthouse, the oldest operating courthouse in Indiana, and the Ohio County Historical Museum, home of the “Hoosier Boy,” the locally designed and constructed power boat that set and still holds the Ohio River speed record. For additional information, please visit www.enjoyrisingsun.com.