Last month, the City of Fishers announced findings from the Allisonville Road Corridor Study and our plan to revitalize the area. With a dated business corridor, increasing demand on the roadway, and a desire from residents for enhanced connectivity, it’s time to breathe new life into this cornerstone of West Fishers.
So, what makes Allisonville unique? Well as a longtime resident of the area and frequent patron of the restaurants and shops along the corridor, I can tell you, it’s a lot. But, in the interest of time, here are five things to know about the area and what’s to come in its future.
It has history!
Allisonville Road boasts some interesting local history, including the legend of Heady Hollow, Conner Prairie, and the Eller House. Technically the Eller House is on 116th Street, but its proximity to the Allisonville Road intersection has engrained it in the identity of the corridor. The historic structure built in the late 1800s used to be the site of a popular local restaurant and now serves as office space, but still stands out from the surrounding retail.
It borders the White River.
Behind those beautiful woods along Allisonville Road (making it, in my opinion, one of the prettiest drives in Fishers) is the White River, one of Fishers’ greatest natural assets. The new White River Park, coming to the intersection of Allisonville Road and 96th Street in 2025, will bring 125-acres of new parkland in the southwest corner of our community and invite residents to interact with the waterway through scenic hikes, kayaking adventures, and more.
It has unique shopping & dining options.
There are so many gems tucked along Allisonville Road, and it’s home to some of my favorite small businesses in Fishers. In the morning you can find me at The Roost enjoying their Weekender Breakfast at the counter. The cozy brunch spot is part of the family-owned Sahm’s Hospitality Group and has been in the space for nearly three decades. For lunch, my go-to is Thai Kitchen for delicious Red Curry or Pad Kee Mao. Allisonville Road has arguably one of the best international food scenes in Fishers, with Al Basha International Grocery & Restaurant, India Sizzling, Tiger Lily 2, Café Korea, and more accompanying Thai Kitchen. After lunch it’s time for shopping, and one of my favorite places for unique gifts, home décor, or to satisfy my green thumb is Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan (previously Allisonville Nursery). The gift shop at Conner Prairie is another personal favorite and you don’t have to be a member to check it out (although I highly recommend becoming one!) They have prairie-made pottery and textiles, Indiana-made food and gift items, and a great selection of kids’ games, toys, and books. For dinner, it’s all about MashCraft Fishers, with their one-of-a-kind brews (the Jamaica Joe and Last Light are my personal favorites) and great friend pickles, flatbreads, and burgers. They also have a great outdoor patio and pickleball courts so you can soak up the sunshine while you’re there.
It’s perfect for an outdoor adventure!
Whether it’s pickleball at MashCraft, golfing at River Glen, or kayaking the White River, Allisonville is a great spot to get outdoors and experience all our city has to offer. It’s home to Conner Prairie, one of the most visited outdoor museums in the country and Indiana’s first Smithsonian affiliate. You can spend hours exploring Indiana history, hiking the trails, adventuring in the play areas, and interacting with the farm animals at this one-of-a-kind destination. The Conner Trail is perfect for walking, running, or riding bikes, and allows you to travel from Conner Prairie and the Allisonville Road corridor to downtown Fishers and the Nickel Plate District. And Allisonville Road is also walking distance to several of Fishers’ more popular parks including Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve and Holland Park.
It’s getting a new (expanded!) Kroger store.
Bring on the in-store Starbucks and fresh popcorn! As part of the revitalization of the corridor, Kroger will relocate from the west side of Allisonville Road near the 116th Street intersection to build a new, expanded store on the east side of Allisonville Road. The new 120,000 square foot store will include features such as an expanded assortment of “fresher than fresh” foods, expanded Kroger Pickup, wider aisles, Starbucks, even fresh, store-made popcorn. As a regular at the existing Allisonville Road location, I’m excited for the new options the expansion will bring!
Want to learn more about the plans for Allisonville Road? Visit ThisIsFishers.com/AllisonvilleRoad to learn more.
Stephanie Perry is the Assistant Director of Public Relations of the City of Fishers. Born and raised in Fishers, Stephanie graduated from HSE in 2006 and is now raising her kids in her childhood home in West Fishers, which she purchased from her parents when they moved. She loves supporting the local small business community, running on Fishers’ trails, and spending time at Conner Prairie with her family (Headless Horsemen and A Merry Prairie Holiday are family favorites!). Stephanie and her husband enjoy getting outdoors and spending time camping, hiking, and boating. Stephanie has enjoyed watching her city grow over the past few decades and loves the assets and amenities that the community provides, from the parks and special events to the array of restaurants and shops.