Tell City's Schergens Center Offers Flexible Space for Weddings, Events, and Community Use

The Schergens Center at 1140 31st Street in Tell City is a city-owned venue that handles everything from Saturday night wedding receptions to Tuesday morning walking laps. That range, from black-tie banquet to weekday health routine, is what makes it the most versatile public facility in Perry County, drawing residents not just from Tell City but from Cannelton and Troy as well.

What the space looks like

The centerpiece is a large hall measuring 4,500 square feet, rated to comfortably accommodate a reception of 298 people. Alongside it, a band area and dance floor provide an additional 725 square feet, though the city's listing does not specify whether that figure is included within the main hall measurement or separate from it. Either way, the combined footprint gives event planners substantial room to arrange a stage, a dance floor, and a seated dining area without crowding guests.

For smaller gatherings, two dedicated meeting rooms named Magnolia and Germanium can be reserved. Combined, they hold up to 40 people, making them practical for a bridal shower, a corporate training session, a community meeting, or a nonprofit board gathering. The gymnasium is separately available for athletic rental, a detail worth noting for anyone organizing a youth sports clinic, a fitness event, or recreational league play.

The kitchen deserves its own mention. At 500 square feet, it is fully equipped with three sinks, two ranges, and two refrigerators. A bar window connects the kitchen directly to the dining area, which speeds service during large receptions or banquet-style dinners. The center permits outside decorators to style the hall for any occasion, and staff will supply a list of preferred caterers who are licensed to serve both food and alcohol and have provided the city with proper insurance documentation.

What it costs to rent

The city publishes its rental rates directly on the Tell City municipal website. Reserving the large hall, which includes the gymnasium and dance floor space for up to 298 people, runs $450 plus a $200 refundable deposit. Meeting room rental for groups of up to 40 is priced at $50 per day plus a $50 refundable deposit.

Educational organizations and nonprofit groups qualify for special rates. To ask about those discounts or to confirm current availability, contact Dodie Otto at the Mayor's Office by phone at 812-547-5511. The city also accepts reservation inquiries through an online contact form that requests a name, phone number, email address, and message.

Prospective renters should verify current rates directly with the Mayor's Office before finalizing any booking, as the published figures may not reflect any adjustments made since the city last updated its website. It is also worth confirming the exact refund process and timeline for the deposit.

A proven venue for community events

The Schergens Center has hosted gatherings that matter to Perry County's civic and business life. On June 21, 2016, more than 155 business professionals and community leaders filled the venue for the Perry County Chamber of Commerce's 15th annual awards banquet, one of the county's most significant business recognition events of the year. At that banquet, Waupaca Foundry, the gray and ductile iron foundry operating in Tell City, was named 2016 Large Business of the Year.

The Chamber recognized Waupaca Foundry for its business practices and its contributions to the broader community, citing the company's financial and in-kind support to public and technical schools, as well as its backing of local charities, events, and fundraisers. Mary Roberson, then superintendent for Perry Central Community School, offered a perspective on the foundry's long-term presence in the county.

"As a community we are fortunate for their generosity, but equally important is Waupaca's attitude of common sense solutions and ways to solve local challenges," Roberson said. "It is particularly fitting that Waupaca Foundry is honored during this, their 20th anniversary year."

That evening is a useful illustration of the kind of event the Schergens Center is built for: large enough to seat a crowd exceeding 150, equipped to handle a formal banquet service, and central enough to draw attendees from across the county.

Everyday community use

Beyond ticketed events and private rentals, the Schergens Center functions as a weekday resource for Tell City residents. Many people use it on weekday mornings and afternoons to walk laps inside, particularly during months when outdoor walking is less practical. That use reflects the city's intention for the facility to serve not just special occasions but ongoing community health and wellness.

That dual role, formal event venue and accessible public space, is the defining characteristic of the Schergens Center. A facility that hosts a chamber of commerce banquet for 155 people one week and serves as an indoor walking track the next is providing genuine value across a wide cross-section of Perry County life.

How to book

Reaching Dodie Otto at the Mayor's Office at 812-547-5511 is the most direct path to reserving the space, confirming availability, and asking about nonprofit or educational pricing. The online inquiry form on the city's website is a secondary option for those who prefer to start the conversation in writing.

Before finalizing plans, it is worth asking the Mayor's Office to clarify exactly how the hall's square footage and the dance floor area are measured and counted, confirm the maximum capacity for the specific layout you need (seated dinner versus standing reception versus theater-style seating), and request the current preferred caterer list along with any vendor insurance requirements. Parking and accessibility details are not published on the city's site and are worth confirming in advance, particularly for events expecting guests with mobility needs.

For anyone in Tell City, Cannelton, Troy, or elsewhere in Perry County planning a wedding reception, a business conference, a nonprofit fundraiser, or an athletic event, the Schergens Center at 1140 31st Street is the county's most capable publicly owned option, at a price point that is difficult to match with a private venue.