Nestled far away (well, unless you live nearby), in Clarks Hill, Indiana, is a stretch of highway that plays host to a fascinating old building that’s currently in the process of decomposing. It’s the old U.S. 52, and just off the side of it, in rural Indiana is a brilliant little slice of history that you cannot miss (thanks in part to its brilliant orange color): a pre-fab diner that was once THE watering hole for small-town Hoosiers until around 2010, when it closed for the final time. Step inside this delightfully interesting abandoned diner in Indiana with photographer Johnny Joo and take a closer look.

Editor’s Note: It has come to our attention that the diner may not be next to old U.S. 52 anymore. When we discover where it has been moved to, we will update. Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing or other illegal activity but rather simply encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations that have been lost to time.

This little slice of old-school America was built in the early 1950s and brought to its photographed location by rail in 1952.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
It was one of more than 400 pre-fab diners made by its parent company at the time, and it didn't take long for it to become a staple of life for the locals.
When it officially opened for the first time in 1953, it was called the Rose Haven Diner - but this name was not to stick.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
...and neither were lots of other names the little place was called over the years, as ownership changed and the diner was opened and closed repeatedly. Some of the monikers it went through over the years included Country Crossroads, Alexander's Sit-N-Bull Cafe, and many more.
Its final iteration was named Flo's Roadside Diner. Nowadays, it stands quiet and nameless, decaying alone in the middle of nowhere, though it's most commonly referred to by locals as the Duck-In Diner.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
The inside is inaccessible, but if you were able to check it out, you'd discover a whole world frozen in time within the walls of this dilapidated little number.

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You'd see numerous booths where countless folks sat and conversed over delicious meals over the years.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
You'd take a moment to admire the various stools cozied on up to the front counter, where who-knows-who used to order their favorite diner classics. Maybe you can still hear the jukebox if it's quiet enough.
If buildings could tell stories, what kind of things would this old diner have to say?
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
It might speak of friendships, and budding new romances. It might whisper about first dates long past, and about families who made this place their weekend tradition. It would mention all the good times, and plenty of hard ones - after all, it's been opened, closed, and re-opened at least half a dozen times.
The place remained untouched from 2010 until 2019 when a freak car crash saw a vehicle plow right into the side of the diner.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
It's boarded up now - where the damage occurred - but in the ultimate show of strength, the little diner still stands, undaunted, facing the world as it has since its inception in the 1950s. Since these photographs were taken, the diner was moved to a new location for preservation until a decision is made what to do with it.
They say there are plans to build a gas station on the property, but as of the time of this writing, it has yet to come to fruition.
Johnny Joo / Odd World Studio, Contributed Photo
It's a fascinating piece of Indiana history, and there's something amazing about little places frozen forever in time that hold a special place in our hearts.

Get a closer look at this abandoned diner:

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, you can check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.

What did you think of this abandoned diner in Indiana? Let us know in the comments! For more of our favorite abandoned places in Indiana, you might want to pack up the car to do this awesome abandoned Indiana road trip.

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Abandoned And Creepy Places In Indiana

William Suphan | September 21, 2023

What are the most abandoned places in Indiana?

The most abandoned places in Indiana include:

  • The Palace Theater in Gary. This was a Vaudeville theater in the 1920s and 1930s which eventually closed in 1972 and is now falling apart.
  • Bush Stadium in Indianapolis. First known as Perry Stadium, this place had several names over the years and most of it is closed while parts of it became apartments.
  • Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Butlerville. This was a work camp for youths with developmental disabilities that closed in 2005.
  • Ambassador Apartments in Gary. These were luxury apartments that were originally built in 1928 for steel mill managers but later became low-income housing until 1985.

Find out more about the most abandoned places in Indiana. 

What are the most haunted cemeteries in Indiana?

The most haunted cemeteries in Indiana include:

  • Ewald Cemetery. This is locally known as the Little Egypt Cemetery and it is rumored that if you put a nickel on a particular grave, you will hear the cry of the baby that is buried there.
  • Hays Cemetery. It is rumored that Satanists dug up bodies here for their rituals and that there is a buried baby demon here with a grave where a plant grows in the shape of a pitchfork.
  • Crown Hill Cemetery. This is the resting place of John Dillinger and is also said to contain a mass grave of neglected orphans. It is thought to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in America.

Learn more about the most haunted cemeteries in Indiana.

What are the most haunted roads in Indiana?

The most haunted roads in Indiana include:

  • Reeder Road. It is said that a ghost named Elizabeth Wilson waits by the road to be picked up, but then vanishes when driven by the cemetery where she lies buried.
  • Hamilton Road. There is an urban legend that states that if you stop on a bridge and flash your vehicle’s lights, a ghost will chase you.
  • Ceylon Covered Bridge. A local legend says that teenagers held a séance and opened a portal that brings strange things through.
  • Avon Bridge on CR 625. This is considered to be one of the state’s most haunted places and there are stories of several ghost sightings here.

Discover more about the most haunted roads in Indiana. 

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