Excellent Experiences in Elkhart County Indiana

My husband Keith and I traveled to Elkhart County for the amazing Apple Festival in Nappanee. With the 7’ Indiana’s largest apple pie, this was something I had to see. But before the festival that was celebrating their 50-year anniversary, we joined a press group seeing what Elkhart County has to offer.

Lisa Trudell, co-owner of the Midwest Travel Network, recently brought up that returning to a place offers chances to see things you missed before. Launching her Reasons To Go Back, I agree that going back to a place heightens the experience. It offers you more of a local’s insight. That was true with Elkhart County Indiana. When I got the chance to be part of a Visit Elkhart’s press trip this September, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more, share more, and see what I missed the first time around. The main towns within Elkhart County, are Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Millersburg and Bristol.

Arts & Culture in Elkhart County

The first day of our trip, we headed to cultural destinations in the lovely town of Elkhart. It has been a few years since I have visited this lovely area. While I took in a day of culture, Keith took the opportunity to do a bucket list item, go the to the Shipshewana fleamarket.

Wellfield Botanic Gardens

I had been to this beautiful garden before, but that was pre-visitor center, and pre many updates. The visitor’s center is lovely and hosts a lot of events. There was a quilt group the day we were there.

With lots of water features Wellfield Botanic Garden offers paths to walk, the chance to soak in the variety of garden types.

There is art scattered throughout.

Kurt Dreislker the garden’s Executive Director has an Illinois connection. Before going to Wellfield, he worked at the Morton Arboretum, not far from the Chicago Botanical Gardens. What a small world.

Kurt shared a bit of garden history. “In the US, there are 600 gardens, and 3,000 around the globe,” Kurt said.

Kyle Strain, the Horticulture Manager at the garden said that there is occasional wildlife at the garden like the baby snapping turtle we found.

He added that besides the garden’s beauty, it is here to serve both research and educational purposes as well. While the garden is 36 acres, half of the acreage is water. “The garden is a living museum,” he added.

With 20 garden spaces, one fact that I learned that made me happy is that paths are accessible and if you call ahead, you can schedule a Golf Cart Tour. This is a great option for the less mobile visitors, so the garden is a space that can be enjoyed by everyone. Wellfield Botanic Gardens offers several events. One that sounded amazing was the holiday celebration that illuminates the garden with a million lights. What a great way to chime in the holiday.

The Wellfield Botanic Garden is a success story, that was once a local public playground that needed a bit of assistance. When the Elkhart Rotary Club celebrated 100 years in 2005, they undertook raising funds for the master garden plan. Since then, in 2006, the project took off. With 13 active wells onsite, this is the water base for the city. That means it is an important water source besides being a public garden.

Ruthmere campus

Again, I had been to the Ruthmere Campus, but pre-visitor’s center.

Our group that was a mix of travel writers and travel planners viewed a wonderful documentary about the history of Ruthmere’s mansion property. Along with the visitor’s center, this was something new.

Our tour guide shared stories of the Beardsley family, including the story of Albert Beardsley of the Miles Laboratory fame. Another important story was how this parcel of land came into the family. Dr. Havilah Beardsley, the founder of Elkhart, so named because an island at the rivers’ conflux was believed to resemble an elk’s heart, was purchased the land from the Potawatomi Chief, Pierre Moran for $1500.00.

The reminder that western settlers were not the first to enjoy this property makes you reflect.  Besides, Ruthmere, you can also tour the oldest home in the city, Havilah. I saw this home on a previous visit and enjoyed it. While I enjoyed it’s time capsule history, the home doesn’t have the beauty enjoyed at Ruthmere. Named after the baby daughter they lost, the house is a wonderful tribute.We viewed family artifacts, art pieces, and stained glass to name a few. 

A stop at the carriage house to see the lovely automobiles, and the conservatory to view the family’s personal greenhouse is also quite lovely.

Lerner Theatre

One of the loveliest theatres around is the Lerner. While photos were not allowed inside Ruthmere at this time, we could take pictures to our hearts content in the Lerner during our guided tour. The Lerner first opened in 1924 as a vaudeville theatre. Then it became Warner, and later the Elmo theater.

Eventually becoming the jewel of Elkhart and property of the City, you can still view the Elmo letters, seeing a bit of the past during the tour.

Restored in 2011, using no tax money, the restoration was at a cost of $18 million. New additions have been added like the beautiful Crystal Ballroom. The addition is seamless without any obvious signs of what is new and what has been added. The theater is beautiful, and besides offering professional performances also serves as a community theater as well.

Das Essenhaus

We stayed at the beautiful das Essenhaus, which offers an amazing Amish style restaurant, but best of all, shops, walkways and more. You really would never even have to leave the campus.

In the morning, Keith and I took a long sunrise walk capturing the first rays of sun on the pond as we walked through their covered bridge.

During the summer months, they have a Classic Car Show on Thursday nights and have been doing this for over two decades. With only one more Classic car show before calling it a wrap, we enjoyed viewing the classic beauties, and talking to the owners. Keith was in his element. He recently purchased a 55 Chey and ran into a gentleman that could assist him with information!

Amish Country, Brown Bag Tour Experience

After our big culture day on Wednesday, we all loaded into a big bus, and hit the Amish countryside with our guide Vicky Estep of Great Life Tours. She told us a bit about the local Amish and Mennonite population.

I learned a lot during our day with her. The local Amish comprise the 3^rd largest Amish settlement in the US.

First stop, Teaberry Wood Products.

Our first stop was Teaberry Wood Products LaVerne Miller the owner jumped on the bus and told us about his family’s journey which began with handcrafted wood puzzles, and now is primarily baskets, a business his wife, Rachel started.

They share their devout faith as well as their products with items like nativity scenes. This family business offers group experiences, and we had the wonderful opportunity to create a handmade basket.  This fun project was with a lot of assistance from the young women Jenna and Jana.

Baskets completed, we shopped and visited with the friendly staff about the products they offered.

A little shopping!

Dutch Country Market & Katie’s Homemade Noodles were a fun shopping stop. It was cool to view the noodles as they dried.

We sampled Amish Crack candy also known as Cashew Crunch. It is a wonderful chocolate and nut candy and more. Rise N Roll Bakery meant more carbs our way. They are famous for their Cinnamon Carmel donuts. Yum! Of course, we had to have a donut and filled our cart with more items as well.

Carolyn’s Kitchen Experience

Carolyn’s Kitchen Experience and Tasting was great fun. This family business located in rural Topeka, Carolyn Yoder shared her tasty homemade, no-sugar added jams and jellies. They were so good.

We got to choose a jar to take home, and that turned into a lengthy decision. She also shared her salsas and butters. Best of all she showed us how she performed her jam and jelly making and told us her story. She also makes spreads and salsas.

She touched all of our hearts telling us about losing her husband soon after their 50-year anniversary. Since then, she along with family members have expanded the business, and she offers several jelly choices.  It was also interesting how she said the favorite flavor depended on where the customers were from!

Silver Star Leather Shop

Silver Star Leather is a shop ran by Loren and his wife Dorcas Yoder and their children.  With both domestic and exotic leathers Loren showed us how he makes belts and explained about the different leathers.

So many cool hides, ar Silver Star Leather, this was a very educational experience that made us bring out our pocketbooks. Keith got a belt, and happy early birthday to me with a new beautiful leather purse.

Brand new signature experience

Visit Elkhart County Tourism has devised some brand-new immersive signature experiences for small groups or individuals. We experienced the Streams of Power: The Story of Water in Elkhart County. The Water Signature Experience began at the Elkhart Historical Society.

They shared the story of the story of water in Elkhart County and how we are all connected through water.  The story began with the Potawatomi following the Great Lakes in search of “mnomen-food that grows on water” aka wild rice.

We had a chance to go down by the St. Joeseph River, then over onto the historic 1837 Bonneville Mill.

There we learned about the mill, its history, and how water powered this grist mill that can still operation today.

Dining

What fun is a trip without food. Besides the fun shops we stopped at that offered multiple opportunities to consume amazing candy etc., we had some awesome dining experiences.

The Vine in Elkhart offered Italian cuisine offers a wine and dine experience. Our group sampled from appetizers to entrees to desert. I had a wonderful pasta dish.

The Vine offers a full wine and dine experience in downtown Elkhart.

Goshen Brewing Company is in a historic building that has been repurposed.

We met the owner, and even the Mayor of Goshen.

With soft easy listening music in the background, this southern inspired menu was delicious and relaxing making it easy to see why it is an Elkhart County favorite.

Lunch on Thursday was at West on Warren, a bright open casual dining spot in Middlebury.

Fresh ingredients provide a base for great food.  Local art dons the walls, and the open addition make this a perfect place for a summer dining stop.

Thursday supper was family style dining at das Essenhaus.

We met the owner Josh and learned about his family and their wonderful restaurants. Das Essenhaus offers Amish style food that is buffet style giving you a chance to fill your plate with all your favorites. The meal ended with a piece of pie. 

Josh said during Thanksgiving they make over 7,000 pies. They are also famous for their noodles that are sold to grocery stores all over the US. The only problem as getting up from the table at the end of the meal. Keith and I had that same problem when we had a hearty breakfast Saturday morning before heading back to the festival and home!

Returning to Elkhart County is a chance to rewind, reset, and experience. Lisa Trudell is right, it is amazing what you can find on a return trip. Don’t think that just because you have been somewhere where there is nothing new to see. A return trip is a view through new eyes!