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Address 355 N Washington St, Knightstown, IN 46148, USA Hours Open today · 9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday9AM–5PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PMSunday9AM–5PMMonday9AM–5PM Similar Indiana Basketball Hall of Fa, Knightsto High School, New Castle Chrysler High Sch, Eastern Hancock Jr‑Sr High, Carthage Elementary School Profiles | ||
Finding hoosier gym
The Historic Hoosier Gym, located in Knightstown, Indiana, is most famous for being the central location for the 1986 basketball movie Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper. The gym has kept the same look as it did when the movie was filmed 30 years ago and has been turned into a museum and community center.
Contents
Hoosier gym knightstown indiana produced by erick f dircks
Initial construction
In 1920, the Knightstown Community School had no gymnasium. Basketball games were held in Bell's Hall above Jolly's Drugstore and in the basement gym of the Presbyterian Church.
In February 1921, a half-dozen Knightstown businessmen met to discuss the fact that Knightstown was lagging behind other towns in the development of a children's athletic education. After much debate, a plan was developed and approved to build a new gym. To help fund the new gym, they raised more than $14,400 with donations from more than 250 private citizens and several local businesses.
Finally, on December 1, 1922, construction of the gym was completed. At 105 feet (32 m) long and 80 feet (24 m) wide, the new gym was big enough to not only accommodate basketball games and spectators (with bleacher seating around the sides and end of the playing floor), but also many civic and community oriented events.
Upon completion of the new construction, it became evident that additional funds would be needed for maintenance and custodial services, including heat and lighting. It wasn't long before arrangements were made for several professional basketball teams to play on the new floor, including the EmRoes, Michigan Rails and Baltimore Orioles (basketball). The town even persuaded players from various colleges to compete against local teams.
Within four years, the school board made the final payment on the gymnasium and took full control of the building.
Additional construction
As Knightstown grew, so did the demands for the gym. In 1936, the school board used local and federal Works Progress Administration funds to make major improvements. The project included an exterior facelift with a new front entrance and lobby, and the creation of basement dressing rooms.
Again in 1952, the gym was expanded. In order to accommodate the school's growing art, music and science departments, construction began on the east end of the gym with a corridor containing three large classrooms.
Closure
By 1966, the gym had become obsolete. Earlier that year, the Panthers of Knightstown played their last official regular season basketball game at the gym. So after 44 years of serving the community and providing a place for its young people to grow and develop, the gym was closed when a newer facility was built that April. For the next 20 years, the old gym saw little use.
Hoosiers Film location
In the mid-1980s, interest in the gym increased when a film crew descended upon the city of Knightstown looking for a place to film Hoosiers. The movie told the story about the unique phenomenon known as Hoosier Hysteria — Indiana’s obsession with basketball. The gym provided the perfect setting. As a result of the success of this film, the old Knightstown gymnasium came to be known as the Hoosier Gym. Now it is home to the "Hoosier Classic" where Indiana's best high school athletes play against each other with a classic theme.