Originally established in the mid-1940's under the Huntingburg Teenage Canteen, Inc., a non-profit organization, which was set forth under the direction of a Youth Board Council.  Their main directive is to support the youth of the local area. Operation first as the Teen Canteen, the Huntingburg Youth Board Council offered the young people in post-war Dubois County with opportunities for social functions. During the first few decades, the Canteen held dances in the "opera house" of the Old Town Hall, in the 1970's the Canteen moved to the old gymnasium at the corner of State Road 64 and US 2331. As the facility continued to age and with no money available for necessary repairs the Canteen closed in 1991. However, the Teen Council did not give up hope of re-opening the facility.

In 1998 with the assistance of a $100,000 grant secured from the Lilly Foundation through the Huntingburg Community Foundation, as well as donations from local businesses and citizens, the Teen Council was able to revitalize and refurbish the 10,000 sq. ft. facility. To help in this year long project, much volunteer work was organized in 1998 and in October of 1999, the doors were again opened to all the local teens. In fact, they were asked to come up with their own name for the facility and it thus became known as the "Teen Outback".

In April of 2006, more changes and additions were made to upgrade present facility to what it is today. The Youth Center is also host to several organizations for meeting place but the main focus is for the support of the local teens.