Historic Waveland Gymnasium

The Gymnasium in Waveland, Indiana originally opened in 1937 and housed the Hornets until Waveland High School closed in 1971. It remained in use as an elementary school gym until Waveland Elementary closed in 1984. Christian Webb gained access to photograph the gymnasium this Spring from the Alsip family, who bought the school and is in the process of turning it into “Schoolhouse Storage and Venues.” The storage units are open, but the gymnasium is currently being repaired from water damager that occured shortly after the school closed. While the school was up for auction last fall, Indianapolis Star writer Dana Hunsinger Benbow discovered the gymnasium and Waveland had been the No. 1 choice for Hoosiers Director Angelo Pizzo to film the entire movie in the town and gymnasium of Waveland, Indiana. The plan however faltered, and the locations of New Richmond, Nineveh and the gym in Knightstown became the filming spots for the 1985 basketball movie about the 1954 Milan state title team. Waveland was one of the most dominating teams in Montgomery County in the early 1950s — winning four sectional titles from 1949-53. Most noticeably was the 1951 team that started 25-0 before falling to Covington in the regional final. Led by players like Keith and Bill Greve and Mike Mitchell, the Hornets produced some of the state’s best basketball from 1937-1971. Read more about Waveland Hornets basketball history in Bill Boone’s column every other Tuesday in the Journal Review.