(Note: this cache may seem familiar to cachers who have found the multi cache GC6XHE5 Camelot Lost – the container was formerly part of that multicache and is being reintroduced as a regular cache). This cache pays tribute to North Webster's town history.
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Have you ever wondered about the story behind the weird building in the center of downtown North Webster? It looks sort of like a castle out of a medieval Hollywood set. Well, back in the 70's it was the dream child of Homer Shoop, the head of the town's Farmers State Bank (which stood on the corner of the intersection - the odd little rectangular "box" that stands there to this day is the vault of the old bank).
Mr. Shoop was instrumental in sweeping the entire community of North Webster into a "Camelot" frenzy. Not only was the present Camelot themed castle built then, but other business facades all over town were modified to fit into the theme to act as a sort of tourist attraction. If you look around town, you will see many of the old buildings' roof lines still adorn their Camelot modifications.
This large castle built in 1974 was originally home to two of Shoop's businesses. The first was "The International Palace of Sports", a wax museum and sports hall of fame. The second was "The Counting House Bank" (the renamed bank that replaced the Farmers State Bank whose stone work has been made into a bench on the corner of main street downtown). In no time both the bank as well as the Palace of Sports would fail, but not before a few celebrities with equally interesting futures ahead of them would visit the location as "guests of honor". On the Palace's opening, O.J. Simpson visited and served as the Grand Marshall for the parade with 50,000 in attendance. Even gold coins were struck in honor of O.J. Simpson's visit. In the years to follow celebrities such as Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner (father of Kim Kardashian's step brothers Brandon and Brody Kardashian), and admitted sexist Bobby Riggs visited. But as the untarnished fame of these celebrities was doomed, so were the days of North Webster's Camelot.
The brain child of the whole movement retired in 1979 and moved to Florida to pursue championship bridge playing. He thus abandoned his venture in North Webster to slowly and sadly wilt into obscurity. By 1989 The Palace failed to attract even 200 visitors for the year. Expenses couldn't be met and the International Palace of Sports closed. The furnishings were auctioned off, wax figures went to adorn bars and basements. Camelot came crashing in upon itself.
The entire history in more details with photos can be viewed at the related web link listed on this page or
https://lostindiana.net/2009/08/01/international-palace-of-sports-north-webster/
An aerial view from the early 1970's showing the tennis court that used to be located on the roof
Opening day activities at the International Palace of Sports
Inside the bank at the castle where the coffee shop is in 2018
O.J Simpson "King of Sports" in the parade, North Webster IN, 1974
The mural located across the street from the castle in the 1970's
Ten remnants of this Camelot era remain visible in North Webster today.
#1 The castle in the center of town.
#2 The old bank vault with it’s turret topped roof line.
#3 The stage at the Mermaid Festival grounds retains it’s “Merlin’s Stage” sign above the center of the stage.
#4 What is now a vacant shop with a Red Moon antiques sign in front shows off some of the old castle style arches of the era. If you look closely on the side of the building you can see where cement blocks were added into the roof line to cover up the old turret style roof line,
#5 Fuzzy’s, or as it was known up till 2017 “Ye Ole Town Pub”, behind the local grocery store still has it's turret topped roof line.
#6 Indiana’s biggest billboard (see CG7P64F) located adjacent to the local grocery store.
#7 The local liquor store retains it’s Camelot name “The King's Keg".
#8 The building directly across the street from “The King's Keg” is what used to be Lamb’s bakery. It still has the turret tops across the roof line of the building.
#9 The Able Printing building on the west side of SR 13 on the south side of town still has all of it’s roof line turrets.
#10 The odd shaped curve on the front of the Ace Hardware building was a Castle turret that was the main entrance to what was the local town bar back in the 1970’s. When you enter the hardware store today you can clearly see the old entrance just inside the present entrance doors.