Gary

Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, perhaps best known as the birthplace of the legendary pop star Michael Jackson. Founded in 1906 as a company town for U.S. Steel, it thrived in the 1950s and early 1960s and earned the nickname "The Magic City." The city has been described as "the Pompeii of the Midwest, a city of ruins where life can seem to have just suddenly stopped."

Gary is both famous and infamous. It is the childhood home of Janet, Michael, Tito, Jermaine, and the rest of the Jackson family. It is also home to an unattractive and often industrial-smelling stretch of highway east of Chicago, and has repeatedly ranked first in the nation among large cities for homicides per capita. As U.S. Steel began to struggle in the late 1960s, the city's economy followed, and it has yet to recover.

Two casinos, legalized out of sheer desperation, make Gary a destination for gamblers. Its crumbling architectural heritage also makes it a favorite destination for urban exploration, though visitors should exercise extreme caution. The city sits along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, adjacent to the Indiana Dunes National Park.

By Plane

Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is at the northwest corner of the city, accessed from I-90 at Exit #10. There is no regular commercial air service, but occasional charter flights operate. The nearest airport for regular commercial flights is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 30 miles northwest via I-90. Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is 46 miles away.

By Train

The Chicago/South Shore Line has two stops in Gary, with departures at least every two hours: Gary/Chicago Airport and Adam Benjamin Jr. Metro Center (near downtown). The nearest Amtrak stations are 10 miles away in Dyer and Hammond.

By Car / Road

Take the Indiana Toll Road from Illinois ($3 from Chicago) or Ohio to exit 14A (Gary West) or exit 17 (Gary East). Exit 17 intersects with Interstate 65 and U.S. Routes 12 & 20.

By Bus

Greyhound/Flixbus operates from the Gary Bus Station at 100 W 4th Ave, Suite 106. Routes include Chicago–Gary–Lafayette–Indianapolis–Louisville and Chicago–Gary–South Bend–Toledo–Cleveland–Pittsburgh.

There is a limited local bus service. The depot is two blocks west of the baseball stadium. It is easy to walk around the four-five blocks of downtown Gary (including the City Methodist Church ruins). A car is strongly advised due to limited transport and relatively high levels of violent crime, even downtown at night.

• Ingwald Moe House — 669 Van Buren. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910.

• Gary/Chanute Aquatorium — ☏ +1 219 938-8081. Designed by George Maher in 1922 as the Gary Beach & Bathing House. An aquatorium is a place to view water, not swim. Features a major display dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen.

• Marquette Park Pavilion — Tours M–F 9AM–5PM. Prairie-school architecture.

• Gary Post Office — Sixth and Massachusetts. Built in 1936, now roofless with trees growing inside.

• City Methodist Church — Sixth and Washington. A former city landmark, now in ruins. An urbex mecca with an amazing theater and main room on the first floor.

• Gary Memorial Auditorium — Seventh and Massachusetts. Another architectural ruin from the Great Gary Arson of 1997.

• Palace Theater — 791 Broadway. Behind the marquee, a slowly disintegrating shell.

• Gary Mural Project — Redecorates boarded-up storefronts along Broadway.

• Jackson Family Home — 2300 Jackson St.

• Gary Children's Museum — 273 Cleveland St. ☏ +1 219 882-7061.

• Gary SouthShore RailCats — U.S. SteelYard Stadium. ☏ +1 219 882-2255. Northern League minor league baseball, mid-May through early September. $10 per ticket, parking free.

• Marquette Park — A beloved outdoor area with a beach (the nicest west of Indiana Dunes National Park's West Beach), a lagoon with pretty bridges, and the Aquatorium.

• Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana — 5400 W 29th Ave. ☏ +1 219-228-2383.

Gary is extremely short on sit-down eateries. Takeout is easier to find if you have a car. Lake St, on the way to Marquette Park, has about two blocks with charming spots.

• Arman's Dog House — 5875 Melton. ☏ +1 219 938-3334. M–Sa 10AM–7PM. Also known as Dawg Fish Grill.
• Food Express Cafe — 487 Broadway. ☏ +1 219 939-7155. M–Sa until 5PM. Try the "U.S. Steel" sandwich.
• Vibrations Health, Wellness and Juice Bar — 430 S Lake St. ☏ +1 219 427-1175. Healthy food options.
• Great Lakes Cafe — 201 Mississippi St. ☏ +1 219 883-5737. M–F 5AM–2PM. Fluffy pancakes and comfort food.

Tap water in Gary is safe to drink. The casino at Hard Rock Northern Indiana has bars and lounges. Downtown Gary has very limited bar options; most visitors head to the casino or nearby Hammond for nightlife.

• Budget: Motel options along Broadway and Ridge Road offer rooms from approximately $50–80 per night. Exercise caution and check recent reviews.
• Mid-range: The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana hotel offers rooms from approximately $100–160 per night with modern amenities.
• Upscale / heritage: For upscale accommodations, consider staying in nearby Chicago or the Indiana Dunes area and making Gary a day trip.

Gary is not widely renowned as a shopping destination. There is little to buy here that you couldn't buy elsewhere. However, it is perhaps ground zero for Michael Jackson and Jackson Five memorabilia. The small indoor marketplace at 487 Broadway has a good collection. The Market City Flea Market (4121 Cleveland St.) is open F–Su 9AM–5PM. Organic Bread of Heaven (2700 W 5th Ave) makes and ships organic bread.

• Indiana Dunes National Park (10 miles east, ~15 min) — Beaches, dunes, and diverse ecosystems on Lake Michigan.
• Chicago, IL (30 miles northwest, ~40 min) — World-class city with museums, dining, and architecture.
• Hammond, IN (8 miles east, ~15 min) — Casino dining and the Purdue University Calumet campus.
• Michigan City, IN (25 miles east, ~30 min) — Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets and Blue Chip Casino.
• South Bend, IN (55 miles east, ~1 hour) — University of Notre Dame and the Studebaker National Museum.