Named after the Potawatomi Chief, Shipshewana is home to a large population of Amish and Mennonites in Northern Indiana. Settled in 1831, the town of less than 1,000 people attracts more than 2 million visitors a year and is the third-largest Amish community in the U.S. Located in LaGrange County, Indiana, visitors will see horse-drawn buggies riding down the road, can sample Amish favorites and shop for Amish-made goods. Here are the BEST things to do in Shipshewana.
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Stop by the Shipshewana Trading Place
Visit the Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Museum
See a Show at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Enjoy an Amish Romance or Mystery at the Blue Gate Music Hall
Make a Doll at Kid’s Kreations
Browse Davis Mercatile
Craft a Wood Basket at Teaberry Wood Products
Bike on the PumpkinVine Trail
Spot a Mural in Shipshewana
Travel along the Barn Quilt Trail
Stop by the Hoosier Buggie Shop
Experience the Clear Spring Produce Auction
Stop by E & S Sales Bulk Foods
Shop at Silver Star Leather
Buy Amish-made Noodles
Snack on a Fried Pie
Sample Fresh Amish-made Jam with Freshly Made Bread
Eat a Slice of Pie at Blue Gate Bakery
Made a Haystack at an Amish Home Experience
Spend the Night at the Blue Gate Garden Inn
Attend a Seasonal Event
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Shipshewana Trading Place
This is the real deal, and it is a place for bargains. From its famous antique auctions to its flea market, shoppers from across the country come to the Shipshewana Trading Place.
It all started in 1922 as a livestock auction, and those continue to this day. During my visit, there was a hay auction. Its horse auctions are legendary.
Today’s auctions feature antiques and Americana. During my visit, there were six auctions going on at once, all under the pavilion.
The Shipshewana Flea Market is the largest flea market in the Midwest. It is located next door to the antique auction pavilion. When I walked through, I found a bit of everything from live plants to household goods.
Located at 345 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana. Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May until September 30. The live auctions are on Wednesdays and start at 9 a.m.
Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Museum
While in Shipshewana, visitors can learn about the Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites’ faith. Built by a barn-raising in 1986, the red barn building covers five centuries of their history and culture.
Located at 510 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sunday). Adult admission is $9.50 and kids (6 to 14) are $5.
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Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Located in the heart of Shipshewana, the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center was nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Theater of the Year. With 1,500 seats, the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center offers a line-up of Country acts.
Located at 760 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, next to the Blue Gate Garden Inn. Reserve tickets in advance, as shows sell out.
Blue Gate Music Hall
This theater holds 300 guests for a variety of shows, numbering 300 each year. One of its most popular shows is its live production of Amish romance and mystery novels. Yes, each year the Blue Gate chooses and develops a new family-friendly show.
Located at 195 N Van Buren St., Shipshewana, in the same building as the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. Reserve tickets in advance..
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Make a Doll at Kid’s Kreations
Dedicated to the young-at-heart, kids (and adults) can make a doll. From simple Amish dolls with traditional clothes to look-alike dolls that you can create, kids can pick out a doll head to add to a doll body. Then dress them in an outfit.
Kid’s Kreations is a full-service doll store. So visitors will find clothes of all sizes, some made in-house. Plus, it sells accessories, like hats, shoes, wigs and even glasses.
Located at 150 N. Harrison St., Shipshewana. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Sunday and Mondays from January to April). Free to enter, doll making extra.
Davis Mercantile
Home to 20 different shops, from candles to fabric to furniture, across four floors. Stop here first to get an overview of the shopping in Amish Country.
The 1906 hand-painted carousel is a highlight. Highlights include Lolly’s Fabrics.
Located at 255 Main St., Shipshewana. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
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Craft a Wood Basket at Teaberry Wood Products
Locally crafted in several types of wood, this charming store sells wood home accessories and handmade baskets. From small baskets for fruit to large baskets for blankets, each is handmade.
The home accessories are seasonal, like Fall, Spring and Christmas favorites. During my visit, I purchased a couple of cute mushrooms.
Teaberry also hosts make-your-own basket workshops. During my visit, I got several wood pieces that magically turned into a basket under the patient eye and advice of our basketmaker.
Located at 160 N Morton St., Shipshewana. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations required for Basketmaking. It is offered at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Teaberry also has a booth at the Shipshewana Flea Market.
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Bike on the PumpkinVine Trail
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, the Maple City Greenway and the MapleHeart Trail are a regional network of trails that connect Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana.
Utilizing part of a former railroad line, the Pumpkinvine Trail is a 17-mile multi-use trail that connects Middlebury, Shipshewana and Goshen. Perfect for families, this trail is paved for the majority of its length and about the width of a single-lane road.
During my ride, the scenery changed frequently, from woodland areas to cornfields to animal paddocks. I also found interest stops, like Mooey’s Ice Cream Shop, at 14408 Co Rd 20, Middlebury.
Also along the route, I found places to stop and rest. Some stops offered picnic tables, others just benches. Another interesting area is the Drider “World’s Fair” Garden Park in Middlebury. Originally a 1934 World’s Fair exhibit, visitors can enjoy a landscaped garden with water features and a quilt garden.
During my visit, I used the Pumpkinvine Cyclery for a rental bike, delivery and pick-up. Located at 413 N Main St, Middlebury, it is a full-service bike shop. For my ride, I started on the Ridge Run Trail at the Das Dutchman Essenhaus.
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Spot a Mural in Shipshewana
With over two dozen beautiful murals in Shipshewana, the arts are alive in town. Painted by local artists, the tradition of artistry continues.
To find the murals and sculptures. Shipshewana compiled a list, Art in the Heart Trail. Don’t miss the Shipshewana sculpture, which visitors can stay in.
Art in the Heart Trail
Travel along the Barn Quilt Trail
The colorful and geometric squares adorning barns in Northern Indiana are barn quilts. In total, there are 80+ barn quilts in the area.
In Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, barn quilts adorned buildings 300 years ago. The tradition traveled to North America and can be found in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
These quilts tell stories about the family, history, and culture of the area. Now, the Shipshewana Visitors Bureau compiled a Barn Quilt Trail for visitors.
Barn Quilt Trail
Stop by the Hoosier Buggie Shop
The Amish buggies glide up and down the highways in Northern Indiana, pulled by retired race horses. Each buggy is handmade and lasts about 25 to 30 years.
Maynard Hostetler is an Amish buggy maker who shares how he constructs buggies. Each buggy weighs about 800 pounds and they take about 6 months to construct.
Mixing old design and tradition with newer technology, Hostetler adds LED lights and battery packs. Some can be outfitted with solar panels and speedometers. Each is required to have lighted turn signals.
Hostetler also restores antique sleds and wagons for others. He also makes traditional Amish caskets, made of wood.
Located at 24070 Co Rd 46, Nappanee. Open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Experience the Clear Spring Produce Auction
Northern Indiana is agricultural, and many of the farmers grow crops on a smaller scale. To sell their harvests, they auction them off to farmers’ markets, smaller grocery stores and individuals.
Early in the year, the Clear Spring Produce Auction sells off live plants and hanging baskets. After Memorial Day, it shifts to produce.
Located at 2050 S. 300 W, LaGrange. Live auctions are held on Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 10 a.m., throughout the growing season.
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Where to Shop in Shipshewana
The Amish community is very entrepreneurial. During my visit, I saw many roadside stands selling lots of goods from you-pick flowers to birdhouses.
When traveling through Amish country, it is a good idea to carry cash for purchases, especially at the roadside stands. There usually isn’t anyone at the stands, so it’s on the honor system, and exact change is helpful.
During my visit, I bought the red bird house. It hangs on my porch and was immediately occupied. Best of all, it is well-made and was well-priced.
Stop by E & S Sales Bulk Foods
This is the Amish warehouse store. It sells popular Amish-made goods, like noodles. Plus E & S Sales includes a bakery (get its freshly baked cookies) and a meat market.
Founded in 1986, it also sells bulk items, especially baking ingredients. I also found unique items, like cloth napkins.
Tip: Stop at E & S Sales on your way out of Shipshewana to pick up those last-minute Amish goodies.
Located at 1265 IN-5, Shipshewana. Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed on Sunday).
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Shop at Silver Star Leather
For quality leather goods, like wallets, belts and purses, visitors should stop by Silver Star Leather. Here, Loren Yoder crafts items in-house from top-grain leather.
During my visit, I found a well-made leather belt. Yoder cut it to size and added belt holes as I waited.
Yoder also crafts items out of exotic skins and hides. He stocks rattlesnake, crocodile, rhino and more.
Located at 6875 N 800 W, Shipshewana. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Silver Star Leather accepts cards.
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Grab Essenhaus Amish Egg Noodles
Made by the largest family-style restaurant in Indiana, Essenhaus Amish Egg Noodles are available throughout the U.S. They are made in Northern Indiana from simple ingredients: durum wheat flour, water, and eggs.
The noodles are served alongside beef with gravy throughout the Midwest. Egg noodles can also be served tossed with butter or added to soups.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus Restaurant and Bakery is located at 240 US-20, Middlebury. It features a hospitality complex and open Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Sunday).
Snack on an Amish Kuntry Fried Pie
The hand-filled and fried pies are a specialty of Amish Country. Anna Miller runs the business with her family, including her children. Each pie is made from filling made in-house that is scooped into the pastry by hand before it is folded and crimped.
Each pie is fried in-house. The Amish Kuntry Fried Pie is offered in over a dozen flavors. During my visit, I sampled a cherry, and it was a perfect blend of sweet and tart with a flaky crust. Other flavors include plack raspberry (an Amish favorite), apple, peach, strawberry, blueberry, Bavarian cream, lemon, chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate.
Located at 10750 W. 600 S., Millersburg. Amish Kuntry Fried Pie accepts cards at its factory, and the pies are sold at several locations in LaGrange County,
Stop by Carolyn’s Kitchen for Amish-made jam
Owned by an Amish woman, Carolyn cooks up sugar-free jams and jellies, sweetened by fruit juice. Now assisted by her granddaughter, the jellies are available in a host of flavors and sizes.
During my visit, Carolyn and her granddaughter were making a batch. Its storefront offers samples of the popular varieties. Favorites include Black raspberry, apple butter, apricot, blackberry, blueberry-rhubarb and more.
Located at 5965 S. 675 W., Topeka. Cash Only.
Where to Eat in Shipshewana
While in Shipshewana, sample some traditional Amish favorites, from its Haystack to its Fried Chicken and pie. There are restaurants serving homestyle food, like meatloaf and roast ham.
Or diners can arrange an Amish home visit. There, an Amish family will welcome its diners in for a traditional Amish meal.
Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery
The Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery serves a menu of Amish favorites, like Amish Beef and Noodles, Fried Chicken and Homestyle Meatloaf. It makes its entrees fresh from scratch.
The Blue Gate features a bakery that bakes its famous pies, cakes, dumplings and bread puddings. During my visit, it had over 20 different pie varieties available, from seasonal fresh strawberry to old-fashioned sugar cream pie.
Located at 195 N Van Buren St, Shipshewana. Open Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Sunday).
The Carriage House
In the Amish Home of the Jones Family, visitors can attend a cooking demonstration, a quilting demonstration or enjoy a traditional Amish meal. The Carriage House is located on their farm.
During my visit, I made Amish peanut butter, a staple in Amish households. The Carriage House is displayed with beautiful quilts that are available for sale.
My group enjoyed a traditional Amish Haystack, where each layer is stacked. Starting with a layer of crushed crackers (or chips), add seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, sour cream and topped with melted cheese. It is like a decomposed taco salad.
Each item is passed family-style, and seconds are welcomed. Coffee and water is served. During our meal, we also enjoyed freshly baked bread (divine), served with locally made apple butter.
Located at 5280 S 500 W., Topeka. Reservations required and available via 260-768-8199, ext. 2128. Call and leave a message for availability.
Yoder’s Homestyle Cooking
Another Amish home-cooked meal, I enjoyed Yoder’s Homestyle Cooking one evening during my visit. At the Yoder’s, their house is configured to host large groups.
Most Amish cooks made their own bread in-house, which is a must for bread lovers. Meals start with a green salad, and at the Yoder’s it was a Broccoli Salad.
For our meal, we enjoyed short ribs, chicken, plus home-style mashed potatoes and carrots.
Desserts are celebrated in the Amish community. Pies is ususally served, and for our meal, we also enjoyed a molded gelatin dessert, topped with fresh fruit.
Located at 10667 W. 325 N., Shipshewana. Reservations required and available via 260-768-3078. Call and leave a message for availability.
Ben’s Pretzels
During my visit, I met Ben, and he told my group how to roll pretzels. After a few tries, it’s really not that hard. Ben’s Pretzels are made on-site daily and hand-rolled.
Founded in 2008, Ben’s Pretzels features 130 locations in 12 states and sports stadiums. Its recipe is tender with a distinctive twang.
You can buy them freshly baked, or get a kit to make the pretzels at home. They also sell filled pocket sandwiches and pretzel dogs.
Located at 100 Berkshire Dr, Shipshewana. Open Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed Sunday).
Shipshewana’s Seasonal Events
From Spring to the New Year, Shipshewana hosts a variety of seasonal events.
In the Fall, visitors will find close to 40 decorated hay bales throughout the area. It is also the season for fall festivals, including pumpkin patches.
Shipshewana is lit up with beautiful lights during the holidays and looks like something straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. There are season Christmas shows, and visitors can do their shopping as well.
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