Welcome to South County

Get beyond the beach and discover quiet living near the edge of the Indiana Dunes area.

Hebron

It may be small in size, but it’s big in pioneering spirit. Once an open prairie set along the beautiful Kankakee River, Hebron is now a town that celebrates its pioneering history with each charmingly preserved downtown building and museum.

It’s a piece of small-town America that you don’t often see anymore, one which draws in locals, visitors, and Hebron-lovers each fall and winter to celebrate the Hebron Block Party and Hebron Winterfest.

Learn More About Hebron

Visit Hebron Chamber

Do

Railroads and stagecoaches have played a major role in Hebron’s development, a history which visitors can see honored at the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot museum. View community artifacts, railroad memorabilia, and an exhibit dedicated to military service. Afterward, make a stop at Goodbyes Second Hand Shop, an antique and secondhand shop that ensures a unique vintage find.

A car show at Pav's restaurant in Hebron during dusk.

Kouts

Close your eyes, and imagine the quintessential Midwestern farming town. Now you’ve got a pretty good idea of Kouts. Driving in, you’ll pass vast green and yellow fields dotted with barns and silos before making your way to Main Street, where local restaurants serve up everything from hearty breakfasts to great pizzas. You’ll quickly notice that everyone knows everyone here—and visitors don’t remain strangers for long.

Learn more about Kouts

Pizza with mushroom, basil, and tomatoes

Dine

Head to downtown Kouts, and grab a bite at one of the great restaurants and pizza parlors along Main Street. If you’re lucky enough to visit during August, be sure to celebrate everything pig-related at the Kouts Pork Fest.

Do

Launch your boat and kayak, or cast a line into the Kankakee River from Dunn’s Bridge County Park. This is a spot that holds a sacred place in the area’s history, which guests and locals celebrate during the Aukiki River Festival that takes place each August.