Hoosier Hoops Heritage: Historic Basketball Gyms of Henry County

Henry County is undeniably the home of basketball. In this region, iconic gyms like the New Castle Fieldhouse and the Hoosier Gym draw basketball fans from all over. Lesser-known gyms in Henry County also boast historic courts that once hosted renowned games, contributing to Indiana’s rich basketball history. In bygone days, enthusiastic spectators would pack the bleachers of these long-lost gyms, cheering fervently for their beloved teams.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written for Henry County Destination Development. You can find the blog post here.

Lost Basketball Gyms of Henry County

Cadiz Gym

IN-38, Cadiz (behind the Cadiz Friends Church)

The Cadiz Gym served as the basketball court for the Cadiz Spaniards until 1967 when the team merged with Shenandoah. It was located on the north side of the old Cadiz Elementary School building. Alumni recall the Cadiz Gym as one of the finest basketball courts in the county during the 1950s. The Cadiz Elementary School continued to operate until 1983, when the Northwest School Board voted to close it and merge it into a central site, Shenandoah. Over the years, efforts were made to renovate the building, but it was ultimately used for storage.

Church Street Gym

1200 block of Church Street, New Castle

Before opening the New Castle Fieldhouse gym in 1959, athletes competed at the Church Street Gym. The Church Street Gym, which had a seating capacity of only about 1,800 people, opened on January 4, 1925, as a brand-new YMCA facility. The venue gained iconic status when two prominent Hoosier basketball figures, Jimmy Rayl and Ray Pavy, engaged in an unforgettable shootout on February 20, 1959. The Trojans triumphed over their North Central Conference rivals, Kokomo, with a thrilling 92-81 victory. Ray Pavy scored 51 points for the Trojans in this legendary game, while Jimmy Rayl contributed 49 points for the Wildcats. The Church Street Gym was the stage for this remarkable showdown, now known as the “Pavy-Rayl shootout.” The gym still hosts games for the Indiana Legends, New Castle’s professional ABA team.

Cossack Gym

100 block of N. 11th Street, Middletown

The Cossack Gym, also known as the “Old Middletown High School Gym” to locals, served as the home court for the Middletown Cossacks basketball team from 1917 to 1967. In addition to basketball games, the gym was utilized for physical education classes. After many years of being unused, the gym underwent a thorough cleaning and restoration in 2023, enabling it to be in use again—basketball teams such as the Shenandoah Raiders practice in this historic facility.

Spiceland Gym

Corner of Broad St. and Bond Ave, Spiceland (behind the Spiceland Friends Church)

Constructed in 1937, the Spiceland Gym was the home court of the Spiceland Stringers and Spiceland High School. The gym was built in eight months and dedicated on November 2, 1937, with a crowd of 900 in attendance as Spiceland defeated Kennard 30-28. The final game played there occurred in 1969, the same year as the last graduating class. The following academic year, the school consolidated with Straughn and Lewisville to form Tri High School. Although the historic school building was demolished in 1973, the gym remains today and is used for youth sports practices.

Iconic Henry County Basketball Gyms

The Hoosier Gym

355 N Washington St, Knightstown

The Hoosier Gym is a prominent example of a former high school gym in Indiana and throughout the country. Construction began in 1957 and was funded by $200,000 (equivalent to almost $2 million today). The gym’s construction was completed in time for an open house just three weeks before the opening game, which drew an impressive 8,000 people.

The gym gained fame in 1986 as a filming location for “Hoosiers,” starring notable actors Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper. Today, the Hoosier Gym serves a dual purpose as a museum and a community center in Knightstown. It continues to host basketball games and attracts an average of over 60,000 visitors annually.

New Castle Fieldhouse

801 Parkview Dr, New Castle

The New Castle Trojans call the renowned fieldhouse their home. In the 1950s, following several disappointing seasons and the departure of a revered coach, the New Castle-Henry Township Building Corp. was established, and the “Gym Now” campaign aimed to garner funds for the fieldhouse. The primary objective was to accelerate the construction of a new fieldhouse to accommodate the growing crowds and sold-out games. Remarkably, over $875,000 was raised in less than a year and a half. Upon its completion in 1959, the New Castle Fieldhouse stood as the largest high school gym in the world. Although it once briefly relinquished that title, the school added more seating, and today, the gym remains the largest of its kind globally, with a capacity of over 9,000 spectators.

Nearby things to do:

• Exploring Henry County Parks
• Ice Cream Adventures in Henry County
• Explore Your Creativity with Art Classes at the Art Association of Henry County
• Shop for Unique Gifts and Crafts at the Knightstown Makers Market

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