Posted in Indiana
February 08, 2016
These 14 Places In Indiana Amish Country Are Unique And Worth Visiting
Indiana has famously beautiful Amish communities in the Northeastern part of the state, but there are several to explore in the Southern region as well! We’ve gathered together a list of can’t-miss places across the state where you can enjoy the laidback lifestyle (and delicious baked goods!) of Amish Country.
Nappanee
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
It’s hard to beat handmade candy, and you haven’t truly lived until you’ve tasted the chocolates from Veni’s. The business first opened in Niles, Michigan in 1910, but they have set up shop here in Nappanee, bringing their centuries of sweet-making practice with them.
You can find Veni's Sweet Shop at 101 West Market St., Nappanee, IN 46550
Editor's Note: Dutch Village Market is permanently closed. This massive marketplace is impressive; there is so much to see! We love the laid-back pace here, and it's fun to stroll past hundreds different vendors selling their unique wares. From snacks to crafts, vintage glassware to beautifully handcrafted furniture, the Dutch Village Market is one very relaxed adventure.
You can find Dutch Village Market at 700 N Tomahawk Trail / CR 101, Nappanee, Indiana 46550
You may not find baked goods this delicious anywhere else. Nappanee’s Bakery makes their sweet treats the traditional way, and their deli specials are sure to fill you up. Their pies and cinnamon rolls are heavenly!
You can find Nappanee Bakery & Treat Shoppe at 401 E Market St, Nappanee, IN 46550
Goshen
The Old Bag Factory building has been around since 1896 and has become a cool spot to find all sorts of handmade goods from local artists and merchants. Inside you will find Goertzen Pottery, selling one-of-a-kind hand glazed and fired ceramics, Quilt Designs, offering the beautiful work of Shirley Shenk, John Mishler Sculptures, and Carriage Barn Antiques—all definitely worth checking out!
You can find The Old Bag Factory at 1100 N Chicago Ave, Goshen, IN 46528
This flour mill was built in the 1830’s and has produced high-quality stone ground since day one. There are visitor guides to lead groups through the history of the mill and allow you to see the massive grist stones in action. The Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. You can pick up some of their delicious products at the nearby Barn Gift Shop.
You can find the Bonneyville Mill at 211 W. Lincoln Ave.
Goshen, IN 46526
Wakarusa
This cool little market has an awesome deli and bakery, as well as tons of specialty items - including gluten-free goods. Grandma’s Pantry is a great spot to stop for a bite to eat and pick up some homemade sweet treats.
You can find Grandma's Pantry at 201 Keystone Dr, Wakarusa, IN 46573.
This 110-year-old hardware store is truly amazing—you must see their floor-to-ceiling “Wall of Drawers” (there are over 1000!). A hardware store might seem like an unusual stop, but it's a sight you won’t see anywhere else! You can find Wakarusa Pro Hardware at 108 S. Elkhart St. Wakarusa, IN 46573
Daviess County
Dinky’s is a central piece of the local community, and a truly fascinating event to watch, even if you aren’t shopping for anything specific. Auctions are held every weekend.
You can find Dinkys Auction Center at 9084 E 550 N, Montgomery, IN 47558
Shipshewana
If you’ve only ever tasted meats and cheeses from your local supermarket, you really are missing out. Yoder’s has four generations of family history in both raising cattle and professional custom-cut meats—it really doesn’t get any fresher than this. And if you are a total cheese addict like me…they have over 100 different varieties to choose from, all made by Amish Mennonites in the Indiana and Ohio area. Oh, and if you’ve never tried fresh, handmade butter, you’re in for a treat - it’s nothing like what you’ll find in stores!
You can find Yoder's Meat and Cheese at 435 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
Shipshewana’s Flea Market is the largest in the Midwest—with 900 vendors covering 100 acres!—and has been offering farm-fresh foods and handmade artisan crafts since 1922. The market is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from May to October.
Alongside the amazingly fresh produce, you will also find tons of unique antiques and tasty homemade treats…and the auctions are fascinating to watch, even if you aren’t in the market for livestock.
You can find the Shipshewana Flea Market at 345 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
Yoder’s has so many cool shops, it should really be declared its own village. You can find traditional handcrafted Amish furniture, beautifully decorated gifts and collectables, handmade body products and more delicious treats than you can ever eat in one sitting. Prepare to stock up on the homemade pretzels, kettle corn, and tasty candies!
This beautiful carousel was built in 1906 and is still running over 100 years later! All of the animals were hand carved by Al Bontrager and were styled after the animals you can find in the area: horses, cows, chickens, dogs, and more. The attention to detail is absolutely stunning.
You can find the Dentzel Carousel at Davis Mercantile at 255 E Main St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
Gasthof Amish Village
The Blue Door has a huge collection of antiques, vintage glassware and jewelry, pottery, Amish rugs, and cast iron products. It’s easy to get lost among these awesome items that are packed with local and cultural history.
This Amish gift shop has beautiful home items, including handmade candles, soaps, and lotions, natural baby products, children’s toys and books, and beautiful antiques. This is a great spot to spend an afternoon poking around the beautiful treasures!
You can find The Pig and Fiddle at 6683 E Gasthof Village Rd, Montgomery, IN 47558
We love to pop into the Amish stops to poke around, and we’ve brought many treasures home with us on our visits. Whether it’s an Amish restaurant, general shop, or flea market, there is something really cool about taking a step back in history and slowing the pace of life down for an hour or two.
Also, the baked goods. We really, really love the Mennonite baked goods.
Have you been to any hidden gems in Amish Country? Do you know some places that we should check out? Tell us about it in the Comments Section below!
