Windows To The Past: Indiana's Amish Country
RV Travel in Indiana's Amish Country
Article Date: December, 2011
Article and Photography by Mark Quasius
Our RV travels frequently take us to northern Indiana. Originally it was to visit various manufacturers when
deciding which RV to purchase. After all, the greater Elkhart area is known as the RV Capital of the World. It's also the home to one
of the largest Amish communities.
Approximately 20,000 Amish people live in northern Indiana. The Amish movement began in Switzerland back in
1525 and went against the state-controlled church that required infant baptisms. The Anabaptists, as they were known, headed for the
freedoms offered by William Penn in the New World. In 1693 Jacob Ammann led a group that was to become known as Amish and split from
the more liberal doctrine of the Mennonites. Both the Amish and larger Mennonite factions migrated from Pennsylvania into Ohio and
northern Indiana.
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The combination of the RV industry and the Amish people has been a great fit for the area. The Amish have
a great reputation for building quality products that last. That reputation, as well as an excellent work ethic, is well put to
use in the many RV assembly plants scattered throughout the area.
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Horse-drawn buggies and flowered gardens are a common sight in Indiana's Amish country.
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One popular event is the annual quilt gardens tour. Eighteen gigantic gardens are located at 12 locations
throughout the area. Each garden is planted with uniquely colored flowers that are arranged in a patchwork quilt pattern. Between
Memorial Day and October 1 these brightly colored gardens can be a real photographer's paradise.
Local roads are shared by motorized vehicles and horse-drawn buggies. Major thoroughfares are generally quite
wide with dedicated buggy lanes to minimize any conflict. On some narrow roads you just need to extend a bit of courtesy when
encountering a horse and buggy. Even the parking lots have parking and tie-up rails for the buggies. Just be careful of where you
step when walking through the lot.
Elkhart
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The RV/MH Hall of Fame will take you through time as you walk the road of RV development over the years.
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Numerous campgrounds and RV parks can be found throughout the area. Reservations are helpful during the busy summer season.
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Elkhart is home to the RV/Motorhome Hall of Fame, which will take you back in time with displays of early
RVs, covering everything from the first Model T campers to 1970s vintage motorhomes. The library houses an extensive collection
that can be used to help document most anything RV related. The museum is easy to find because it's located right off of Exit 96
on the Indiana Toll Road.
Another popular stop is the Bradd and Hall showroom. It handles Flexsteel furniture, as well as the popular
Lambright wall hugger recliners, MCD shades, and a wide variety of other RV interior accessories. You can purchase your interior
upgrades outright or have its crew install them in your RV. Its service center is capable of performing a complete interior
restoration should you decide to do some major upgrading to your RV's interior.
Middlebury
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In addition to being home to the massive Jayco and Entegra Coach complex, Middlebury is also the
location of Das Dutchmen Essenhaus, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area. Das Dutchmen Essenhaus features
an inn and conference center, as well as a restaurant and bakery. The restaurant serves home-cooked meals from the menu
or family-style dinners using traditional Amish recipes.
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Family-style Amish meals are served up with liberal portions of good home-cooked food.
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The bakery is always my favorite stop and it's not uncommon for us to leave with some Amish pies to take
back to the RV. Home-baked breads and cookies are present in the store, as well as cheeses, syrups, preserves, and noodles. A
classic car cruise-in is featured every Thursday night during the summer, drawing 100 to 400 cars.
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Guggisberg Kasse Haus Cheese is another well-known stop. This is where Baby Swiss Cheese originated.
Visitors can watch local cheeses being made and choose from a wide selection from their cooler displays or deli counter. Even
though we're from Wisconsin, we still manage to bring some of the local cheeses home with us.
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You can watch cheese being made at Guggisberg's Deautsch Kasse Haus and load up your cooler or fridge with a great
selection of locally made cheeses.
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Shipshewana
Shipshewana is best known for its flea market. Billed as the Midwest's largest flea market, it runs every
Tuesday and Wednesday from May through October. It's located right off the main street in town and close to nearby quality merchants.
Yoder's Meat & Cheese Company is one of them. We always load up our freezers with good, naturally-raised meat when in the area. A
wide selection of cheeses and homemade sausages are available, and samples are freely displayed.
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Shipshewana is also the home of the Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre. Dinner shows featuring Amish
cooking are well attended, so it's a good idea to make a reservation during the busy summers. Within easy walking distance
are plenty of shopping possibilities. From Yoder's Hardware to the many smaller shops in Riegsecker Marketplace, you can be
assured to find a store that sells a gift for anyone. On the top floor of the Davis Mercantile, a large carousel will make
a big hit with the younger RVers.
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The Menno-Hof Visitors Center will take you on a journey from the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement in 1525
Switzerland to the present day.
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E&S Sales is where many of the locals, as well as well-informed visitors, shop. E&S is a bulk-food store
that offers a huge selection of spices, flours, and baking supplies. I didn't know that many different kinds of wheat, grains,
and sugar existed until I browsed through E&S. This can be a real gold mine for anyone who cooks or bakes.
The Menno-Hof Information Center is the best place to learn about Amish and Mennonite history. Interpretive
exhibits will take you through their beginnings in a Swiss courtyard in 1525 up through today. It's located right across the street
from the flea market.
Nearby Communities
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Wakarusa is the home to a Monaco Coach facility, which offers tours to the public. Also, Spartan Chassis
is relocating its motorhome chassis business to town and is scheduled to be operational by mid 2012. The Wakarusa Dime Store is
home to the giant jelly bean, as well as a large quilt made out of jelly beans.
In nearby Nappanee you'll find Newmar Motorhomes, where daily plant tours are given. After the tour, be sure
to stop at Amish Acres for a meal. This historic farm features lodging, old fashioned Threshers Dinners, and entertainment.
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Das Dutchmen Essenhaus is located in Middlebury and is one of the premier stops for any visitor.
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Goshen is home to a number of RV businesses. When driving through the historic downtown section, watch for the
police guard tower erected during the Depression to protect the banks from robberies by Bonnie and Clyde, Dillinger, et al. The heavy
bulletproof glass and rifle ports protected the guard from any return gunfire.
The South Side Soda Shop and Diner has enjoyed increasing popularity since being featured on the Food Network's
Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's a throwback to the past with a '50s-era soda fountain and a great grill. Oh, and the desert tray is
irresistible.
Places To Stay
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There are plenty of lodging accommodations for traditional travelers. Motels and bed and breakfasts are
scattered throughout the area. There's a good selection of campgrounds and RV parks.
In addition to the typical private campgrounds in Shipshewana and Middlebury, the Elkhart County fairground
in Goshen also has a large RV park area. Shipshewana has campgrounds within the city as well as to the north. There is a campground
located immediately next to the flea market, which is very convenient to those RVers attending the flea market.
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Shipshewana's Flea Market is considered to be the largest in the Midwest. Everything from produce to hardware, to artwork, to
useless trinkets can be found scattered amongst the many booths.
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When To Go
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Naturally, you'll encounter more crowds during summer. But it's also the time when everything is open. If
you want to attend the flea market or take in a dinner show at the Blue Gate during spring, you won't want to go too early in the
season because much of that doesn't begin until May.
Autumn can be another nice time to go. The kids are back in school, and the crowds have thinned out. If
you time it right, you can still view fall colors before everything closes up.
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Quilting is another Amish pastime. The intricate designs and patterns are displayed in many of the area shops.
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Winter in the Midwest is not the most favorable time to travel. By November most RV parks are closed, but if
you are feeling adventurous between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you'll see a great display of Christmas lights and decorations.
Final Tips
There are plenty of tours available at the many RV manufacturers in the area. Most have scheduled hours, but
if you contact one that doesn't, chances are good that they will accommodate you on a personal tour. The list of RV tours is too
extensive to place in this article, but most are listed at www.amishcountry.org.
The Amish are a unique culture. The scenic countryside and laid-back atmosphere here are a nice break from normal
hectic life. Just take it slow and enjoy. Be sure to respect the beliefs of the Amish, refrain from taking photos of them, and yield
way when encountering horse-drawn buggies during your drives. Sit down and enjoy some good old-fashioned cooking. And above all, save
room for pie.
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Great bakery is easy to find in the area. This selection of mouthwatering pies at Das Dutchmen Essenhaus can make it very
tempting to ditch any diet plans.
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The third floor of the Davis Mercantile includes a carousel that is popular with the future RVers in your family.
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The Rise 'n Roll Bakery and Deli is located just west of Shipshewana on US-20.
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The Blue Gate Restaurant is a popular place. An evening dinner theatre is put on during the summer months.
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Amish craftsmanship is legendary and nowhere is it better showcased than in the furniture. Handmade furniture that is
designed to last many lifetimes is available in many locations throughout the area.
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Goshen's South Side Soda Shop and Diner was featured on TV's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and is a throwback to the
old soda shop days.
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