BRISTOL, Ind. (WTHR) — Travelers passing through Bristol, Indiana have no doubt said the exact same thing I said when approaching the structure at the intersection of US 20 and Indiana 15..."What the heck is that?"
Gallops is the brainchild of Monte Singh and he opened this medieval themed, castle truck stop...oddity five years ago.
If you are driving between Middlebury and Elkhart, you have to check this place out. It really takes seeing to believe this place.
Photographer Steve Rhodes and I needed gas for our SUV and a snack for our bellies. As soon as we saw Gallops, we knew this place was going to be part of our Chuck's Big Adventure trip.
Outside...24 gas pumps and 12 diesel pumps. Inside, well inside...strangeness. Along with a McDonalds and Subway there is a huge 23,000 square foot floor that offers travelers food, 11 showers, a wine section and leather couches to sit on.
Although the Kentucky Derby has nothing to do with the medieval era, there are several pictures of Kentucky Derby winners on one wall paying tribute to the Run For The Roses.
Look at another wall and you'll see replicas from weapons in the Middle Ages.
Also, there is plenty for kids to see including everything from video games to a figure in a suit of armor.
Kitschy, head scratching...fun. Gallops was the highlight of our day...even if we didn't totally understand the point of it all.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified IN15 as IN50.
