Shipshewana, Indiana at a Glance
Location: Approximately 45 miles east of South Bend, 140 miles east of Chicago
Access: South Bend International Airport; interstates 80 and 90; U.S. Route 20
Major Meeting Spaces: Michiana Event Center
Hotel Rooms: 464
Off-Site Venues: Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre, The Carriage House
Contact Info:
Visit Shipshewana
260-768-4008
For planners seeking something a bit different, Shipshewana, Indiana, delivers a warm, culturally infused setting designed for memorable meetings and events.
“We’re the third-largest Amish settlement in America and really have a unique and beautiful culture here,” said Judy McConnell, group sales manager with Visit Shipshewana. “Our people are a little bit different in that they love having visitors and tourists — it’s integrated into our society. We’re committed to protecting the Amish heritage and our safe, warm, cozy, agricultural community.”
McConnell said that Shipshewana, located near Indiana’s northern border, attracts more than 2.5 million visitors a year. The community is a magnet for all sorts of groups ranging from quilting aficionados to corporate retreats. Various banks, numerous church groups and AAA have also embraced the locale for meetings and events.
“We love groups here and are designed with groups in mind, with easy parking and walkability,” she said. “It feels like a perfect destination for people looking for something comfortable.”
Unlike some hubs of Amish life in Pennsylvania and Ohio, this intriguing farm-focused culture is interwoven throughout the community’s general populace, making it extremely accessible. This adds a unique flavor for group dining and other events and experiences — and even for downtime diversions that attendees can explore on their own.
Attendees coming to Shipshewana feel like they’ve been transported to a simpler time and place, with the Amish culture infused into almost every experience, whether it’s an authentic group dining affair, shopping excursion or one of the various treks and tours that are so abundant.
McConnell added that while the community is at its most popular for groups during the summertime, it’s a four-season setting that is also known for its spectacular holiday decorations. This is highlighted by a two-mile stretch known as Lights of Joy, where nearly 3 million LED lights are on display.
While the wholesome community is technically a dry town, event planners can serve alcohol via a licensed third-party caterer.
Hotel Harvest
Shipshewana has three hotels with strong group appeal. Blue Gate Garden Inn & Conference Center has 154 guest rooms, amenities that include a large indoor pool and small arcade, and a variety of event spaces. The 3,000-square-foot Magnolia Room is the hotel’s largest venue with capacity for up to 300 attendees theater-style and 230 for banquets.
Another attractive option is the Farmstead Inn & Conference Center, similarly sized with 151 guest rooms, various meeting rooms and even larger venues, like a 30,000-square-foot expo barn and 9,300-square-foot event pavilion. Other amenities include a three-story atrium space with fireplaces, an indoor swimming pool and a hot tub within a barn-styled silo. Finally, the 86-guest room Van Buren Hotel is a promising pick for smaller groups, with a pair of meeting rooms, each with space for 100 guests for theater- or conference-style functions.
Eventful Settings
For planners needing more space than the local hotels provide, the Michiana Event Center (MEC) is a large venue playing frequent host to everything from trade shows to rodeos. It offers over 150,000 square feet of space, including an indoor equine driving arena and concert auditorium. The MEC is a hot spot for gatherings of all kinds and has attracted events like bull-riding tours, craft festivals, Christmas celebrations and large banquets.
Another popular setting for a group function is the iconic Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre, with impressive dining spaces that include a Garden Room able to host up to 144 for banquets. Adjacent to the restaurant, Blue Gate Music Hall can seat 300 and has welcomed numerous live musical acts — Donnie and Marie Osmond have performed here — and other entertainment. Less than a mile down the street, next to the Blue Gate Garden Inn, the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center can seat 1,500 guests.
Dynamic Dining
One possibility planners should consider is the traditional group meals that offer a true taste of the local food as well as its culture.
“Five certified Amish homes host traditional meals, including The Carriage House that can host up to about 220 guests and has amazing food,” McConnell said.
The dining experience at The Carriage House in neighboring Topeka is a warm, authentic Amish gathering where guests enjoy family-style meals in a welcoming atmosphere. The homestyle meals are presented in plentiful portions, usually centered on traditional Amish dishes, such as fried chicken and homemade noodles.
Beyond the food, the experience can include quilting bees, pastry baking and cooking demos, showcasing an immersive window into Amish traditions.
Tours and Treks
For groups, Visit Shipshewana can customize tours with stops and experiences and also offers specific itineraries, such as Once Upon a Farm, Roll a Pretzel, Basket Making, Feeding a Bison and other options. These customized tours make group outings easy and manageable and can include a local expert guide who has substantial area knowledge to share.
Smaller groups seeking some serene sightseeing should consider a horse-and-buggy outing like those offered by Buggy Lane Tours, stationed at the town’s downtown boardwalk. The Amish-owned outfit provides a range of authentic horse-and-carriage excursions that run the gamut from eight-minute saunters through Shipshewana to half-hour narrated treks and full-blown working farm tours that include an Amish-Mennonite “thresher” dinner — a traditional communal affair shared with farm workers after a day of threshing grain.
Downtime Delights
Retail lovers will find lots of shopping options in Shipshewana, including a bustling seasonal flea market — reportedly the largest in the Midwest — that covers 40 acres and boasts over 600 vendors, as well as a downtown strip known as the Mega Mile, which is home to over 100 singular shops of all kinds.
Many of the shops in town offer artisanal products made by the Amish community. Homemade jams, handcrafted clothing and ample antique offerings are at the heart of it all, and attendees will appreciate the singular treasures that let them bring home an authentic souvenir of the area. An appealing one-stop retail option is Davis Mercantile, with 21 shops spread across four floors in a former hotel built in 1891.
Attendees can also explore the area’s fascinating culture at the Menno-Hof visitors center, an interactive and immersive museum capturing the Amish and Mennonite heritage.
