Shipshewana, IN is a very interesting place, basically an Amish and Mennonite community that has learned the art of tourism. Most of the stores are of an Amish nature, of course that is what the tourists are coming here for. Great place to browse and enjoy the hometown flair and colors.
It is also beautiful with the fall colors and so many well kept farms. In Minnesota Amish communities you can usually pick out the farms that are Amish by the lack of electrical service lines. Here with the combination of Amish, Mennonite and "English" (the rest of us), it may look Amish although with power lines. I also noticed "telephone booths" that looked more like outhouses. The location was wrong for an outhouse and the phone conduit and box on the building was a give away. This shows in the first photo, the little white building on the right. We think it is because they will not have a phone, power, tv or computers in their home. To keep the outside world out of their home and religious life. Business life must be different, at least with some.
However different around here, we have found people to be courteous and friendly. But those buggies..... seemed to go late into the night up and down the road along the RV Park and the noise from the horses' hooves was so loud. Guess it really means it was a nice quiet place to spend several nights. It really was peaceful.
While here we have found several breweries and a couple of wineries.
We also found the RV/MH Museum in Elkhart, IN. Lots of old and unique RVs. Made for a fun afternoon.
We have also found lots of wonderful fall colors as we traveled around.
The Shipshewana area made for a fun visit with great sights, people and things to relax and do. Definitely worth the time if you are going to be anywhere near. It is also the RV and Motor Home capital of the world. Although not all are built here, many have facilities in other parts of the country, making different models. There are a few manufacturers that are not located here and our Arctic Fox is one that is not.
The morning after we first arrived, we watched this woman, whom we suspect is Mennonite, climb up on our neighbors rig and install roof vent covers. She knew what she was doing and did it much faster than I took doing mine. In my defense, I believe she was likely 30-40 years younger than myself.
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