For groups seeking authentic and unique, local experiences, Shipshewana, Indiana, delivers in a big way. Here, groups can revel in the talents and craftsmanship of the area’s Amish Country artisans, enjoy some of the region’s best antiquing, or soak in the sights and flavors along curated arts and culinary trails.
Visitors get the opportunity to shop locally and experience the quality of Amish handmade products firsthand, from leather goods, baskets and furniture to Amish peanut butter and pies.
Shipshewana offers visitors a place “to escape and connect and to rejuvenate and refresh,” said Sonya Nash, executive director of the Visit Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Groups can explore Indiana’s Amish Country with experienced hop-on guides provided by Visit Shipshewana — or follow their own route using provided maps and audio guides.
The CVB’s Off the Beaten Path tour weaves across roughly 100 miles of working farms and scenic countryside, with stops marked for more than 120 Amish cottage shops. Groups can explore visitor-favorite locations like Yoder’s Rug Weaving, Silver Star leatherworking, B Honey and Owl Toy Craft, maker of handmade wooden toys. The route also includes locations for more than 80 Amish Barn Quilts, whose pops of color and artistry add another layer of beauty to the picturesque rural landscape.
“Along these stops, groups can experience Amish craftsmen and women selling their wares directly to the public,” Nash said. “They’ll get to meet the maker, and their kids and grandkids will see, on a personal level, the craftmanship and artisanship and history that goes into the creation of these leather belts, purses and other handmade items.”
Visitors can also sample an array of delicious Amish treats — like pies, pretzels, jams and candies — at many of the area’s Amish shops. Often, groups can meet the makers and bakers to hear their stories and learn about their recipes. At one stop, groups even have the option to make their own Amish peanut butter as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
“We love welcoming people here,” Nash said. “Our hospitality partners are extremely open to doing all they can to facilitate truly unique experiences for our guests. We’re always open to ideas, so if groups have a special interest or a need, we’re happy to work with them to create their own customized itineraries.”
Antiquing
As the Midwest’s largest outdoor flea market, the Shipshewana Flea Market includes more than 700 vendors spread across a lot the size of 30 football fields. Booths there operate Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May through September, featuring everything from memorabilia and collectibles to tools, clothing and craft décor.
The flea market is also home to a popular antique auction each Wednesday, where antique vendors from throughout the region bustle to grab bargains in six to nine simultaneous, live bidding rings.
Visit Shipshewana has developed multiple ways for groups to dive into the fun of the flea market, from providing scavenger hunts that encourage booth exploration to a hands-on class called Bidding and Bargains, which teaches groups about the cadence of auctions and how to bid — so they can head into the weekly event feeling prepared and unintimidated.
Dining
At mealtime, groups can work with the CVB to schedule authentic, in-home Amish meal experiences at area working farms. Two local-favorite diners, the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery and the Shipshewana Auction Restaurant, also offer full menus stocked with both Amish homestyle specialties and other group favorites, from fried chicken and meatloaf to salads and sandwiches.
LaGrange, the county seat, offers a variety of additional dining options — including pizza and barbecue — just a 15-minute drive from Shipshewana.
Lodging
“Shipshewana specializes in locally owned, boutique hotels,” Nash said. The Blue Gate Garden Inn and Farmstead Inn — with 150 rooms each — are skilled in working with larger groups. Both offer free Wi-Fi, bus parking and complimentary buffet breakfasts. The Van Buren Hotel, while smaller in scale, also offers group rates and a deluxe continental breakfast.
For groups focused on antiquing and shopping experiences at the Flea Market, both the Blue Gate and Farmstead are in easy walking distance — allowing visitors the freedom to come and go easily between their hotel room and vendor browsing.
Farm Life
Groups looking for a hands-on farm experience have lots of options as well. Shipshewana’s Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park offers safari-style wagon rides, a petting zoo, and up-close opportunities to feed exotic animals, including zebras, camels, lemurs and more.
At Cook’s Bison Ranch, guests can enjoy a wagon ride to see and feed the farm’s bison herd. Not far away, the Stutzman Dairy Farm — a sixth-generation family farm — allows guests to watch dairy milking in action, meet and bottle-feed baby animals, and experience the farm’s pigs and cows up close.
Curated Experiences
“We have so many customized experiences we can offer groups — from Meet the Makers Tours to Taste of Shipshewana,” Nash said.
The CVB’s curated Once Upon a Farm tour, for example, offers guests the opportunity to explore Amish businessman Mervin Yoder’s vast collection of restored antique tractors and other farm equipment. Guests can see how Yoder uses traditional equipment to churn butter before visiting with a nearby Amish hay farmer to learn how a blend of modern and antique farming methods and equipment supports his day-to-day field operations. The tour ends with a stop at a working Amish dairy farm, where groups can sample the farm’s fresh whole milk.
Culture and Entertainment
Menno-Hof, an attraction in Shipshewana, offers a museum-like exploration of the Amish-Mennonite culture and heritage in the region. Groups can explore displays featuring replicas of a traditional Amish meeting house, a 17th-century sailing ship and more. Guided tours are available.
For evening entertainment, the 1,500-seat Blue Gate Performing Arts Center books a rotating schedule of popular artists and shows — from Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel tribute groups to headliners like ventriloquist Terry Fator, comedian Jay Leno and singer Rhonda Vincent. High-impact visual shows — including iLuminate, Peking Acrobats and The Wizard of Oz on Ice — offer engagement for visitors of all ages.
