Fort Wayne Attractions
From historical museums to art museums, galleries, and science museums, Fort Wayne is home to venues and attractions that are great destinations for an afternoon activity.
Beloved attractions include The History Center, Artlink, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, The Old Fort, Science Central, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, the Botanical Conservatory and more!
Most Fort Wayne attractions are accessible. Learn more about that here. However, there are a few destinations that are not fully accessible or have limited handicap accessibility.
Sites with limited accessibility include:
- At the Old Fort, the Blacksmith Shop is accessible, but be aware that other buildings have a 6-8” front porch with no ramps, so the wheelchair would have to be lifted to access the first floors of the buildings. Second floors are not accessible.
- The Cathedral Museum is accessible, but you will need to alert the clerk a the front desk, who will guide you to the elevator.
Senior Things to Do in Fort Wayne
Fall
The Fort Wayne Community Center, 233 S. Main St., hosts amazing events year round like the Active Aging Week events the first week of October. The Community Center offers year-round programs, events and activities for people of all ages with special emphasis on programming for adults, age 50 and over.
Fall in Fort Wayne offers endless activities for the whole family. Take the grandkids apple picking and bake a homemade pie, visit a pumpkin patch to carve adorable designs or toast the seeds, or enjoy the beautiful fall foliage on a family walk through our beautiful parks and trails.
Spring
Spring is a great time to take a shopping trip and enjoy some of the early flower blooms at Fort Wayne area parks.
For a shopping trip with your friends, consider planning your trip to Fort Wayne during an outlet sale! Fort Wayne is home to the Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale that brings around 50,000 women over 5 days! Plus, there are numerous boutiques and shopping destinations in Fort Wayne that can make the perfect afternoon activity.
For a look at Fort Wayne's beautiful parks, take a visit to Lakeside Rose Garden or Foster Park for a look at their spring blooms.
Summer
Fort Wayne in the summertime is full of thriving festivals and beautiful scenery you can discover from more than 120 miles of trails of from our riverfront.
Cycling seniors can rent a 2-seat or 4-seat surrey bicycle at Pedal City for $20 and $30 per hour, respectively. Bikes that seat up to 14 people and host an electrical assist are also available. Or, rent a van (designated driver included) and sponsor a group tour of local wineries and breweries. More information and pricing can be found on the Pedal City website.
For those hikers, bikers, and wheelers the Fort Wayne Trails system, in particular, the Rivergreenway, has paths wide enough to accommodate those using wheelchairs or owners and their service dogs.
If you have physical disabilities or cannot pedal a bike, enjoy the YMCA's Trail Buddies Program, which is free for adults and kids to be pedaled by caring, trained volunteers on a 30-minute ride along the trail near the Jorgenson Family YMCA (sign up here) and Parkview YMCA (sign up here). It is recommended to sign up a few days in advance. Sign up by calling (260) 755-4961. *No YMCA membership needed.
For more of a leisurely ride around Fort Wayne, consider taking a tour of Fort Wayne's riverfront with one of the numerous boat tours offered in the summer. The canal boat, Sweet Breeze, is handicap accessible, but to ensure other boat tours are accessible, please call ahead.
All Year Round
Enjoy pool tournaments at the Corner Pocket Pub, 3215 St. Joe Center Road, on Wednesdays with check in between 11 a.m. and noon. Evening tournaments are held during the winter months.
If you're looking to tour some of Fort Wayne's beautiful historic homes, tours are hosted by appointment at Swinney Homestead Open House, 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd. The house is accessible, but regular wheelchairs are preferred over motorized chairs. “The floors cannot sustain the motorized chairs,” said the homestead’s curator and historian, Linda Huge.
Want to relax and catch the latest chick flick, drama or action movie? Fort Wayne theaters are accessible and several have recliners for patrons’ comfort. I can attest to the cozy warmth of those recliners. I love 'em! My biggest problem is not falling asleep and snoring through the movie.
Catching a concert of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra never disappoints. For a schedule of events, visit the orchestra’s website.
Or, catch a show at one of Fort Wayne's beautiful theatres like the Embassy Theatre, First Presbyterian Theatre, or the Arts United Center, which offer a variety of performances throughout the year including Broadway shows, theatrical productions, concerts, and more!
And, don't forget The Geneaology Center. Tours are available if you have never been to the center, which is the largest genealogy center in the U.S. The Genealogy Center has one of the largest research collections available, incorporating records from around the world. The staff specializes in genealogy and is always available to help or guide patrons in a tour or discovering their family history. If you plan to go, it's helpful to use the library's online catalog beforehand to prepare for your trip.
Accommodations, accessibility & discounts
Fort Wayne is a city for people of all abilities. As a major adaptive sports competition site, we understand the importance of accessibility and are intentional to provide resources for visitors and residents to experience our city to the fullest.
- Home Health Depot Rental Information
260-399-1355
Wheelchair rental only, 1-month minimum; Cost: $70 to $100 per month (depending on size).
- James Medical Rental Information
888-848-4077 or 260-423-9571
www.jamesmedical.com
Rentals include scooters and wheelchairs. Cost is $200 per week or $600 per month (includes delivery and pickup). Visitors may contact James Medical directly to make arrangements, but they request at least a week or two notice.
Most area hotels offer wheelchair accessible rooms. Search here to discover the hotel to fit your needs, including roll-in showers, 1st-floor access, and more.
UPDATED IN NOVEMBER 2024
