Shipshewana Stories
Part 1 in a Series of Travel Memories by Shipshewana Visitors - Shipshewana is full of traditions and visitors love creating memories here. We recently asked you to share some of your Shipshewana stories through photos and we can’t wait to share them all so you can discover how others are experiencing making family traditions in Indiana’s Amish Country.
Rebecca’s Winning Photo Submission
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
Rebecca has been coming to Shipshewana, IN with her family from Cedar Springs, MI for over 35 years, way before anyone even knew what Shipshewana was so she says. She remembers staying at the old Davis Hotel before it became the Davis Mercantile. One fond recollection of that visit she shared was “the doors weren’t locked and you just knew this was a town that you could feel safe in.”
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
While a lot more people now frequent the area, and well let’s be honest, most of us do lock our doors… Shipshewana is still a wonderful place to visit and here are some of the reasons Rebecca keeps coming year-after-year, even bringing her grown children and grandchildren now too!
Why do you keep coming back to visit Shipshewana?
Photo Courtesy of Shipshewana.com
“One thing we really like and one reason we keep coming back is because the people in the area are just wonderful and they always treat you like you’re their friend. You can trust them. It’s just a very restful place and you feel like you’re at home.”
What events do you like to attend in Shipshewana?
Auctions
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
“We like going to the Haiti Benefit Auction. There are always doughnuts there and the kids… and we all… just love going to that.”
Special Events
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
“We met a man who towards the end of July, has a “get-together” on his farm (Old Fashion Farming Days) with all the antique farm equipment and he tells us all about it. It’s just things like that. It seems like every time we come, there’s some new connection and you feel like you’ve known these people your whole life.”
Family Friendly
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
Rebecca's family enjoys staying close to downtown at the Farmstead Inn. She says,
“You can get together in the little gathering areas with different members of the family. It’s just very family friendly. We use the pool and the basketball courts. You just feel comfortable there.”
What else do you love about Shipshewana?
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
Biking the Backroads
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
“We always go biking, even with the group.”
“I like finding the little places that nobody knows about, the backroads places, and biking the backroads. You can see the countryside so much more when you’re doing that.”
“After hours and on Sundays, we enjoy the bike rides and when we have the grandkids, we always use the Pumpkinvine trail since it is a bit safer for the entire family to use together.”
“Of course, the shopping is a must-do, we always visit E & S Sales, Eash Sales and I just can’t get the fabric selections back home I can get here in the Shipshewana quilt shops.”
What final piece of advice would you give to a new Shipshewana Traveler?
Photo Courtesy of Rebecca (Cedar Springs, MI)
“Plan your trip around activities. Shipshewana has something going on almost every week now it seems like. There are special activities that can really be fun for the kids. You just become part of the community while you’re there which I think is really the best part!”
For more amazing trip planning ideas, check out all the year-round events and festivals and craft your very own Shipshewana Tradition with us soon!
