• Home
  • Contact
  • Rental
    • Food Options
  • Classic
    • 2022 Classic
    • Previous Classics
  • Games
  • News
  • Shop
  • Friends
  • Link Page

Hoosier Gym Archive

The Hoosier Gym (1921-Present Day)

​In 1985, the movie Hoosiers was filmed in the gym and brought new life to the nearly 100 year old structure. Before the Knightstown Gym became The Hoosier Gym, Home of the Hickory Huskers, it served the community for 64 years. 
 
Originally, Knightstown began playing basketball on the third floor of the Knightstown Academy Building. One of the requirements of playing on that court was playing around two posts one on each end of the court. Obviously, those were not ideal conditions to play the game. The citizens of Knightstown decided it was time to find a new home for the then Knightstown Falcons. That new home was above Jolly Drug Store in the downtown area. This was less than ideal as attendance quickly outgrew the drug store attic. It was time to find a more permanent solution.
 
Community leaders formed a group of investors to raise money for a new gymnasium. They successfully achieved their goal and on November 25th, 1921, the Sulphur Springs Blue Birds played the Knightstown Falcons in the first ever game held in the gym. The Gym stands today much like it looked in 1921, as a testament to their foresight.
 
However, the testament to those developers of the Gym, would not be here today were it not for the single minded determination of one special lady.  Prior to the filming of Hoosiers, a gym in Waveland Indiana was supposed to be the home gym of the Hickory Huskers. That special lady, Peg Mayhill, was determined that the Knightstown gym should be the home of the Huskers.  She had multiple reasons, her husband Tom was the Editor of the Knightstown Bannerand had attended almost every game played by Knightstown in the gym from 1947 through that final game in 1966. Her son played on the final KHS team that played in the gym, and her daughters had been cheerleaders there as well. For her it had to be filmed in Knightstown, where she had spent so many hours watching games. She was successful in her quest. Had it not been for her efforts, the Hoosier Gym would surely be a parking lot for the Academy Building Apartments next door.
 
Today the Knightstown Gym is now The Hoosier Gym & Museum and is visited by an average of over 60,000 visitors per year. It has been visited by individuals from 70 countries, and every state of the union many times over. First and foremost it remains a basketball gym. Each season the gym hosts over 100 games with the majority of those being between high school teams. All of those high school games are from the schools regular schedule and are not exhibitions. Teams from Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan and of course, the hotbed of high school basketball, Indiana have all played here.The Gym also hosts Indiana's best high school basketball players in the annual Hoosier Classic.
 
Visitors keep coming to mark an item off of their buck list. It has become more difficult to schedule games as more team want to play than there are dates. As you read this, if you have not visited, do so. If you have visited, come again. 

Below are archived newspaper, website, and magazine articles that have been gathered by Hoosier Gym volunteers and actors of the movie Hoosiers. For the full Hoosier Gym historical experience please visit the Gym in person.

​Go Hickory!

"The Boys of Hoosiers" article in Indianapolis Magazine, January 1986, by Mary Beth Moster

- Original copy owned by Lisa Smith-Mathews, who played a Cheerleader in the movie Hoosiers. Thank you, Lisa, for your help in sharing the Gym's history. ​

Hoosiers World Premiere, Program, Indianapolis Circle Theatre, November 10, 1986 

- Original copy owned by Lisa Smith-Mathews, who played a Cheerleader in the movie Hoosiers. Thank you, Lisa, for your help in sharing the Gym's history. ​​
the_world_premiere_pdf
File Size: 168030 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Newspaper Articles

​- Original copy owned by Lisa Smith-Mathews, who played a Cheerleader in the movie Hoosiers. Thank you, Lisa, for your help in sharing the Gym's history. ​​
Picture

Photo Album

​- Owned by Lisa Smith-Mathews, who played a Cheerleader in the movie Hoosiers. Thank you, Lisa, for your help in sharing the Gym's history. ​​

Cheers from the Movie

​​- Owned by Lisa Smith-Mathews, who played a Cheerleader in the movie Hoosiers. Thank you, Lisa, for your help in sharing the Gym's history. ​​

Features on The Hoosier Gym

Great column by Gregg Doyel IndyStar on Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic and Dean Tate https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2018/06/01/doyel-romeo-and-phinisee-hoosiers-gym-whats-up-dean-tate/664371002/
​

IndyStar report on the 13th Hoosiers Reunion Allstar Classic
​www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/06/01/deandre-gholston-and-carmels-tomi-taiwo-lead-hickory-victories/651778002/
​

Terry Pluto Talking the ‘Hoosiers’: https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=6bSKwRAFd1I

​Bu​lls coach Fred Hoiberg unplugged and going all in on the movie ‘Hoosiers’ by Joe Cowley: https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bulls-coach-fred-hoiberg-unplugged-and-going-all-in-on-the-movie-hoosiers/​

Hoosier Gym/Terry Pluto/ Cleveland Plain Dealer  http://plaindealer.oh.newsmemory.com/?selDate=20180427&editionStart=West&goTo=B08

Evaluating Players for The Hoosiers Reunion Classic Games 2018 www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/recruiting-central/2018/04/03/rosters-set-saturdays-north-south-all-star-classic/481832002/

​Hoosier Reunion Classic Star and Notre Dame witn NCAA Championship www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2018-04-01/notre-dame-pushes-past-mississippi-state-buzzer-beater-win

Glen Robinson III on wearing the Hickory Uniform https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcizwq27Ds

Corinne Denari Casey She lived the Milan Miracle State Basketball Championship  corrine_denari_casey.pdf

Hallowed Ground: Knightstown Gym by Patty Spitler: https://youtu.be/d-EWm7dVn7Y

BizVoice Story on Basketball Road Trip by Tom Schuman: www.bizvoicemagazine.com/media/archives/18janfeb/HoopsHeaven.pdf

Fox Sports Indiana, Basketball Day in Indiana: https://youtu.be/o-vBzhbTlOg

Trip Advisor on The Hoosier Gym
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g37231-d2369729-Reviews-Hoosier_Gym-Knightstown_Indiana.html

Indiana Daily Student Reports on Efforts to Save Milan Films
​www.idsnews.com/article/2018/02/enthoosiers021218-5a8275286ebb7

​Greenfield Reporter on Eastern Hancock vs Knightstown wresting              http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2018/01/10/01102018dr_eastern_hancock_vs_knightstown_wrestling/ 

Injured Senior Gets Chance to Play In The Hoosier Gym 
duboiscountyherald.com/b/seniors-surprise-entrance-caps-ranger-victory-2
​
Woodmen, Cougars win at Historic Hoosier Gym by Ryan O'Leary: www.dailyjournal.net/2017/12/29/12292017dj_greenwood_gca_gbb/

Greenwood Christian, Greenwood Girls To Play In Hoosier Gym Doubleheader by Mike Beas: www.dailyjournal.net/2017/12/26/hoosiers_gym_feature__dec_26/

History Of The Hoosier Gym video: https://youtu.be/WD_auTkJ7yk
​
Alexandria Monroe vs Blackford, a sold out barn burner: https://www.facebook.com/thehoosiergym/videos/10155417729482261/

Capturing Hoosier Hysteria, video by Taylor: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8q0cSsu5i0E

Shooting hoops in the "Hoosiers" gym by Joe Buscaglia:​ http://www.wkbw.com/news/shooting-hoops-in-the-hoosiers-gym

​The Hoosier Gym: Photos and Some History: https://news-banner.com/2017/12/the-hoosier-gym-photos-and-some-history/

Highland Visits Hoosier Gym 1/28/17 by Tom Brankin: https://youtu.be/Xz--NRHxyJU 

Dugger Union, A Trip To The “Hoosier Gym”, Where The Past Meets The Present: https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2017/12/05/dugger-union-a-trip-to-the-hoosier-gym-where-the-past-meets-present/

Hoosier Gym filled with history about "Hoosiers” by B.J. Hargis: http://www.sullivan-times.com/sports/article/id/24745 

Dugger boys and girls experience Hoosier Hysteria the way it used to be by Terry Schwinghammer: http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/2465829.html

Tour Caddies Scrimmage At The Hoosier Gym video: https://mobile.twitter.com/_/status/773294766733692928

​PGA Tour players, caddies shoot hoops at legendary Hoosier Gym by Adam Schupak: http://golfweek.com/2016/09/07/pga-tour-players-caddies-shoot-hoops-hoosier-gym/

Shooting hoops in the “Hoosiers” gym, WKBW TV: https://youtu.be/DIYFSuJcdCI

'Hoosier' basketball site is what game is all about, David Novak: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/hoosier-basketball-site-is-what-game-is-all-about-20200207

'Hoosiers' director, writer surprise visiting Spanish super fan after IndyStar story: www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/08/12/angelo-pizzo-david-anspaugh-surprise-hoosiers-superfan-knighstown-indystar/1985502001/

Journey Indiana Episode 101: https://indianapublicmedia.org/journeyindiana/episode-101.php
(Hoosier Gym starts at 8:39)​

Speaker at Hoosier Gym Coaches Clinic ​https://athletics.uindy.edu/news/2018/11/26/mens-basketball-gouard-tabbed-national-coach-of-the-week-by-hoopdirt-com.aspx

​Sam Chase Hall of Fame http://www.hoopshall.com/news/2018/11/27/general/58th-men-s-induction-class-announced/

The Indianapolis Star: Sam Chase one of the best to ever play in what is now The Hoosier Gym https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2018/11/08/real-hoosiers-star-14-he-led-knightstown-sectional-title/1845096002/
​​

Hoosier Gym Needing Roof Repairs (2018)

Movie Home of The Hickory Huskers Needs Repairs
​www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/gym-from-the-movie-hoosiers-needing-major-repairs/1295497586

Hoosier Gym In Grant Process for Needed Repairs
​www.wthr.com/article/public-meeting-input-could-help-hoosier-gym-win-grant-repairs

Newspapers Respond to Raise the Roof!

Los Angeles Times: ​http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-in--hoosiers-gym-repairs-20180715-story.html

Chicago's Very Own WGN 9: ​https://wgntv.com/2018/07/15/indiana-gym-in-1986-hoosiers-film-needs-repairs/

San Francisco Chronicle: www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Indiana-gym-in-1986-Hoosiers-film-needs-repairs-13076676.php

My San Antonio: ​www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Indiana-gym-in-1986-Hoosiers-film-needs-repairs-13076676.php

WLFI Channel 18 News Video: "Hoosiers" Gym In Need of Repairs

2020 Articles

The Gazette: 'Hoosiers' basketball sit is what game is all about by David Novak
https://www.thegazette.com/sports/hoosiers-basketball-site-is-what-game-is-all-about/

Home

Contact

Rental

HRAC

Schedule

Games

Social Media

News

Shop

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Rental
    • Food Options
  • Classic
    • 2022 Classic
    • Previous Classics
  • Games
  • News
  • Shop
  • Friends
  • Link Page