Heavy bars and old jail cells are not exactly standard hotel amenities, but that is what makes a night at The Old Jail Inn in Rockville so memorable. This historic Indiana property gives guests the unusual experience of sleeping inside a former jail, complete with spaces that still reveal the building’s original purpose.
Its past is made even more intriguing by connections to notorious outlaw John Dillinger, adding a layer of local legend to the stay. Instead of checking into another predictable roadside room, adventurous travelers can spend the night somewhere with real history—and a story worth telling after checkout.
Sleep Behind Real Bars, Not a Fake Theme Set
Plenty of places use old-time decor, but this stay begins with actual steel bars. The Old Jail Inn uses the real structure of the former Parke County jail, so the overnight experience starts with thick doors, solid walls, and cell layouts that were built for function long before anyone thought of turning them into lodging.
That detail changes the mood right away. Instead of feeling like a gimmick, the building gives guests a clear sense that they are sleeping inside a piece of local history, only now the cell holds a made bed, climate control, and a clean room instead of a hard bench and a lockup list…