Kokomo Indiana - My Hometown

PART II Link - • Kokomo, Indiana - My H...
We take a tour of Kokomo, Indiana. Yes, I consider this my hometown, I'm a 1980 graduate of Kokomo Haworth High School, joined the U.S. Air Force right after graduation...well I waiting until the summer was over. This was a tough video to create, so little time. I'm sure some obvious things were missed. Feel free to mention things not included in the video in the comments. I could have got more of the far north side of town like Ray's Drive, Kokomo Speedway etc. Maybe I will have a Part II and add things mentioned in the comments. Yes, I need to add some Elwood Haynes things and references why Kokomo is nicknamed the City of Firsts!
Some of the pictures were older, some were shot June 2022. All videos were shot June 2022. I hadn't visited Kokomo since 2018 prior to this recent trip, I was long overdue.
If you enjoyed the video please consider giving it a "like" This channel focuses on RV adventures, DIY projects and tools, travel adventures, and more if you are interested it that sort of stuff, please subscribe to the channel.
Part II is uploaded, check it out! • Kokomo, Indiana - My H...
Part III - • Kokomo Indiana, My Hom...

[@RobC41]

See Kokomo, Indiana My Hometown Part II - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGO7foagfsxni8k Also Part III - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ3OaHhvh8SgaJo

[@edwardreidt1230]

I miss the Kokomo, Fantastic video sir I enjoyed it I did not know how much I miss it

[@RobC41]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@statusIRL]

Loved this video, brother! Great work on the drone footage as well. It was a delight seeing all of the stills and video as I was able to show my girlfriend a piece of my childhood. Thanks again! Incredble. We need more footage of this historic city, done right.

[@RobC41]

STATUS, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Appreciate the kind words! Hopefully I will get home sooner than later and not 4 years later. Maybe a Part II will be in the mix?? I encourage viewers to comment on what they would like to see in a future video. I'm sure there are hidden gems and things I don't know about in Kokomo.

[@u_cannot_rick-roll_me]

Damn I miss Kokomo, it brings me childhood memories. I had lived there for 4 years.

[@RobC41]

Thanks for the comment! If you haven't already, there is a Part II. The link is in the description. Stay tuned, a Part III is coming soon in a couple of months.

[@vinceprice4089]

Hello Rob, thank you for the aerial footage and video tour of Kokomo, Indiana. I recently relocated to Kokomo (the downtown area specifically) and I am enjoying myself immensly; had a blast buying some vintage albums at the Black Wax Vinyl Records store . There is a sense that the "town" is on the upswing. Investors are converging on the area and property values are rising along with the population. I read that Kokomo gained approximately 14,500 new residents within the last 10 years. Incidently, a couple of days ago, I saw a man running full tilt down Sycamore Street past the police station wearing a complete batman costume minus the yellow utility belt! This is an interesting place. I will be taking my first trolley-bus ride tomorrow. The trolley lines are free; can you believe that! Thank you for this video. And yes, I was in the Air Force too. lol Aurelius

[@RobC41]

Yes, I agree Kokomo is headed in the right direction. I was there when downtown was the place to be then the migration to the by-pass. I actually worked downtown in the late 70's. Good to hear downtown is on the upswing. I still have yet to catch a Kokomo Jackrabbit game. Thanks for viewing and taking the time to comment.

[@ChristoConfido1985]

My wife is from Tipton. We lived there for four years! Spent lots of time in Kokomo. We were married at the Center Road Church of Christ in 2012, and had our rehearsal dinner at Half Moon Restaurant and Brewery. I used to keep a few growlers full of their beer in the fridge. They were my favorite local place to get beer! Thanks for posting this!

[@RobC41]

Hope you checked out Part II. I placed a link in the description and info card on the Part I video. Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@MB-ok6np]

My hometown! Good vid👍🏽

[@travis2333]

This is such a great video, thank you for making it! My dad graduated from Kokomo High School in 1974, and we spent a lot of summers up there growing up.

[@jennifermurphy899]

That's my hometown. I love Kokomo.I live close to it and go there all the time.I was born there.Its a great place to raise a family. My children and grandchildren live there.Thank you for the vidio

[@RobC41]

There is also a part 2, Please check it out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@LaddDentalGroup]

Love this and love the Kokomo community!! Thanks for the content!

[@jensenmcfarland7980]

Good ole Kokomo. Moved away to join the Navy about 2 years ago and I miss it from time to time. My dad was a 1978 Haworth grad. Daniel Freeman!

[@RobC41]

Thank you for your service! My oldest son joined the Navy and served 6 years.

[@vanhaley175]

Love my town! Love the video! 🥰

[@RobC41]

Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to comment

[@bigjimmy6690]

Thanks for posting the video. I moved to Texas in 2022 at the age of 43 after living there all of my life. I graduated from Northwestern in 1977 and had worked at Haynes International since I was 19 years old. My wife transferred to the GM assembly plant in Arlington Texas so we could be near our son and new grandchild. Unfortunately, my parents died within the next year and I have not returned since my father's funeral in 2003. I can't say I miss much other than family and friends. The people are great and I would love some Lord Johns and Pizza King. Funny you showed Bon Air I went there from the first through sixth grade. I can't believe how much things have changed. I barely recognized anything.

[@robertcrawford4712]

1979 KHS grad... Lived on East Sycamore between Graves Sheet Metal & Mays Roofing before they demolished our old house across from the graveyard. Played a lot of basketball with Byron Ellison at the old YMCA downtown. Moved to Houston in 1979 after graduation. Appreciate the pics/videos!

[@RobC41]

Hello Robert and thanks for the kind words! I reached out to Byron, he mention you being a classmate with a mean fade away jumper! Guess you are still in Houston? I'm down the road from you in San Antonio. My son played at U of H with Case Keenum, coached by Kevin Sumlin (Purdue).

[@darrinstanfill6846]

Happen to know any wards?

[@RobC41]

@@darrinstanfill6846 Hello Darrin, if the question was for me, I don't know any Wards.

[@robertcrawford4712]

@@darrinstanfill6846 Jimmy, Donnie, Dee Ray, Dick, Lonnie and Irene....

[@darrinstanfill6846]

@@robertcrawford4712 that love in Kokomo? My mothers maiden name is ward and that’s where her side of my family lices

[@Rowetationnetwork]

Great video I loved it, ready for the next Ep

[@johnharland2336]

This is a great video though difficult in retrospect as it brings back so many good and melancholy memories... and the spirited times I had with so many dear friends. To many of which have since gone to their reward. I too went to old Kokomo high, back when we had the Central building across the street and Haworth after, in the mid 70's. And, strangely enough, I went to Bon Air, where I became 2nd in the city in the hurdles and the worst pole vaulter on the planet! Of course, back when they let kids do things like that. I learned to swim at the YMCA as part of the KHS curriculum. Ya yes, Lord John's Tacos. Legendary! I see these places and can remember specific moments in time. Thanks for your time and effort. It was a wonderful journey...

[@RobC41]

John, thanks for taking the time to comment! I felt the same way while putting this together. I have bad news for you, you are not the worst pole vaulter on the planet, I believe I would give you a run for your money and tried it at Bon Air. Hopefully I will have a part 2 video, sooner than later.

[@johnharland2336]

@@RobC41 Looking forward to your second vid. Appreciate your consideration regarding pole vaulting. To this day, I cannot remember what could have been going through my mind, attempting that insanity! 🤣🤣🤣Interestingly enough, tension was high back then, however, I was blessed to have close dear friends on both sides of the racial divide. Like the Kirby, Quarles, Sinkfield and Woodard brothers. Big Charlie Scarbrough and because of Willie Miles, who went to Sycamore, Bon Air was second in the city in every sport, especially basketball. Even though we had the tallest kid, Tim Swihart. Who was a giant at 6'6". I went back to Kokomo several years ago and so much has changed yet the memories remain. Seems so small these days. Washington St seemed so busy then, now it's like a side street. Thanks again, I'll revisit this vid often. Be blessed...

[@minecraftmikago4208]

Wow my hometown is beautiful 😻

[@RobC41]

Yes, Kokomo is heading in the right direction. Thanks for commenting!

[@minecraftmikago4208]

Of course

[@myis300turbo]

Lived there from 1980 to 1986. Miss that town

[@myis300turbo]

Now live 30 miles west of Chicago for the past 35 years

[@myis300turbo]

Lived in the neighborhood just west of kokomo country club in the 80s gentily court. Miss that place watched everything there from star wars to never ending story to even dune. I even remember my babysitter knew the mom of ryan white. Remember going on the trail of highland park. Cant remember the name but remember in the 80s you can slide down easy. Left kokomo in the in 1986 at 6 years old to elgin illinois. To this day i miss that town. Was a magical place to me. Still want to go bavk to visit.

[@darleneroe3994]

loved your video on Kokomo, Indiana. Please do more on city history. Thats more interesting. How Kokomo began being a city.

[@RobC41]

Hello Darlene, I don't live in Kokomo now but will look into doing something on the history on my next visit. I also want to document some locations I missed. Thanks for taking the time to comment and subscribing to the channel

[@RobC41]

If you haven't already, please check out Part II, the link is in the comments. I added some history as you requested.

[@unclebrother6244]

I'm a Maryland guy, born and raised, but I've been to Kokomo several times. It's a cool little city. Shout out to Dirty Dan's donuts!! Easily in my top 3 favorite donut shops. Also, shoutout to the Mexican restaurant over there on the south end of town off of Lafountain!! Excellent, authentic tacos.

[@tedlawrence4189]

Lived in So.Bend. Travelled thru Kokomo many times on the way to Indi. and south. Ate at my first Steak and Shake there. Thought that it was a steakhouse! Been eating at them ever since. Kokomo is a very decent place to live. It is far enough south that you avoid the lake effect snow that we got up in So.Bend. Well my late wife and I solved the snow problem by moving to Georgia. Lol.

[@apropo0]

Wow! Isn't that (a) Studebaker Park, (b) Carver Community Center, (c) the 900 block of N. Purdum St, (d) my cousins (the Kirby's) house on the corner behind the ballfield? Man oh man! I'm sitting here in Japan, and typed my hometown in the browser and look what popped up! Yeah, those are the projects, right?! Dude, I'm also a 1980 graduate from the original KHS. I wasn't aware of the merging of schools. Man, this is trippy! Even though I'm a continent away, you've brought me home! Can you please confirm if that's the 900 block of N. Purdum? My aunt and cousins used to live in that house on the corner across the street from the projects. Me and the other neighborhood ruffians used to play scrimmage football in the small field on the corner. I went to Lafayette Park Middle School where I ran track & played football. Go Lancers! Green & White represent! Yikes!

[@RobC41]

Sup apropo0, (a) Yes, it is Studebaker Park, I parked by the tennis courts when I flew the drone. (b) Yes, Carver Community Center was featured and you can see it from the drone footage. (c) Yes, Purdum street is also on the drone footage, same street Carver Center is on, you knew that ;-) Not sure of the block number (d) Kirby house on Elm is on the footage as well as the Breckenridge house on Locke St. Both Haworth High people ;-) By the way, man on the motorcycle in front of me in the video is no other than Mike Ellison 1980 KHS graduate, cross country and track star. Nice Lafayette Park reference, I played YMCA football and our practices were at Lafayette Park, I was in 6th grade. I probably know you or at least your family name. I was talking to the Ellison boys and I didn't know a lot of Kokomo High people unless they were family. I grew up on Havens street. What are you doing in Japan? I spent some time in Misawa AB and just a little time at Yokota. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@Kyle-cj5fj]

Watched this just because I love the song Kokomo, IN by Japanese Breakfast!

[@RobC41]

I will have to check that song out! Thanks! Hope you enjoyed the video ;-)

[@pattykat1124]

You’ve done a great job. Even the music. Wasn’t too loud & was pleasant.

[@RobC41]

Pattykat, thanks for watching and commenting! I'm trying to put out good videos and hoping to get better.

[@flqr2019]

Living in Atlanta but planning to move here soon, I love the cozy vibes it has.

[@RobC41]

A handful of Kokomoans left Kokomo for Atlanta for opportunity and big city life!

[@spacewallaby96]

Grave mistake

[@White__Hammer]

Don't let anybody fool you Kokomo sucks I lived here for the first 15 years of my life move back when I was 18 tried moving away again get sucked right back once you're here it's a black hole

[@Rowetationnetwork]

lol mannn don’t do that

[@SansAziza]

I haven't listened to Daft Punk in about 9 years, but I think this is them. 🤔

[@RobC41]

Interesting as the background music is from the KZbin Audio Library. Please see the music list in the video description.

[@teal_animates8445]

My hometown

[@dkst1962]

Wow! This is so cool! Confession #1. I hate the grasshopper. Ugly. Grasshoppers are just ugly. #2. I have never had Lord Jon Tacos. #3. I attended Bon Air when it was an elementary.1st-4th.

[@RobC41]

Thank you for the kind words! The grasshopper is actually a Praying Mantis, if that makes a difference...lol. Lord Jon Tacos is something my older sister turned me on to. So popular, after they closed several bars and restaurants in Kokomo still sell them. Nice, on the Bon Air deal! Go Bobcats!

[@stevesutton5498]

Alot of people leave Kokomo,But I would guess about 90% return.

[@cathywallace6990]

Always Haworth class of 1975

[@UncleShaggy23]

And I'm sure everyone has heard the Kokomo jail is called "chomo camp"

[@RobC41]

Did you mean Covid camp? I don't get your reference??? Thanks for watching

[@KKelly-ng1ni]

@@RobC41 I'm not sure ,sir, but Chomo means child molester.

[@RobC41]

@@KKelly-ng1ni I should have did this in the first place but I searched it on Urban Dictionary and sure enough, you are correct. Thanks!

[@alexandercoffman8319]

@@KKelly-ng1ni /I heard that word too from a friend.

[@dontsubtomebro9458]

I’m 59 miles or 1 hour and 22 minutes west of Kokomo

[@RobC41]

You must be near the Lafayette area? Thanks for watching and adding a comment!

[@dontsubtomebro9458]

@@RobC41 Benton county is where I live