Indiana is home to the largest high school gyms in the U.S. Here’s a tour of 13 of them.
Indiana is home to the country's largest high school gyms — at one point 12 of the nation's 13 largest were here. –
The numbers change. The order changes. But this state's love for basketball doesn't. And for those who grew up at a time when Indiana high school basketball was the heartbeat of local towns, these mammoth houses of hoops were more than just gyms.
Take a tour of these 13 Hoosier cathedrals in our B.I.G. (Big Indiana Gyms) project.
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2021. We are republishing it as part of our coverage of the Indianapolis couple working on visiting every gym in the state.
110 down, about 300 more to go:Indy couple plans to visit every Indiana high school gym
Richmond: ‘It helped us become a state championship team.’
Richmond’s Tiernan Center opened in 1984 and ranked as fifth-largest high school gym in the state with a capacity listed between 7,786 to 8,100 fans.
Gary West Side: Cougar Den ‘full of history and tradition’
Almost from the outset of the gym’s 1969 opening, the Gary West Side gym has provided the backdrop for greatness.
Columbus North: ‘... it felt like you were part of the game.’
Columbus’ Memorial Gym has a capacity of 7,250 and hosted its first basketball game on Nov. 23, 1954.
Muncie: ‘It was as much a community building as it was a sports venue.’
When Muncie Fieldhouse opened in 1928, it was larger than gyms at Indiana and Purdue. After reopening after tornado damage it now seats 6,579.
Washington: Hatchet House a southern Indiana gem
Washington’s Hatchet House opened in 1967 with a capacity of 7,090. Richard Nixon gave the first speech of his presidential campaign there.
Southport: A crown jewel for Indianapolis high school basketball
Opened in 1958, Southport Fieldhouse is among the Indiana high school basketball’s crown jewel. It seats 7,124 and hosts the Marion County tournament.
Lafayette Jeff: ‘People would walk in and say, This is a high school gym?’
Lafayette Jeff’s Crawley Center, with a capacity of 7,200, still hosts big tournament games, including the sectional in many years and the semistate.
Michigan City: ‘You look in there and it’s just humongous.’
With a capacity of 7,304, Michigan City’s “Wolves Den” ranks among the 10 largest high school gyms in the country.
Elkhart: ‘It just has that old gym feel... you know it when you walk in.’
When the North Side gym in Elkhart opened in the fall of 1954 it was billed as the “world’s largest high school gym” with a capacity of 8,248.
Marion: Bill Green built Giants into ‘biggest show in town.’
Marion’s Bill Green Arena seats 7,560 fans and opened in 1970 and has been home to some of the state's most dominant teams.
East Chicago: ‘It’s huge, and there’s a lot to it other than basketball’
When Roosevelt and Washington consolidated, a new gym — a massive 8,100-capacity building — was built to host the East Chicago Cardinals.
Seymour: When it comes to hosting big games, it has few peers
Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium’s capacity, listed at 8,228, is second to only New Castle Fieldhouse in the state — and the country — for a high school gym.
New Castle: The nation’s largest high school gym — once again
New Castle recently raised the capacity to 8,424 and again push the fieldhouse to its perch as the largest high school gym in the state — and country.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Indiana Gyms: Tour 13 of the largest high school gyms in the U.S.
