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Nappanee is a town in the heart of Indiana’s Amish country. The main attraction is Amish Acres, but it’s nice to stop in the small downtown. (NOTE: Amish Acres closed at the end of 2019 and reopened on May 15, 2020, as The Barns at Nappanee.)
History
Nappanee was originally settled by Potawatomi who arrived from near Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the 1700s. The first European settlers arrived in the 1830s, driving out the natives. It was incorporated as a town in 1889. Amish settlement in the area began in the middle of the 19th century, mostly from Germany. The first Mennonite church was built there in 1854, and the first schoolhouse in 1867.
Downtown Nappanee
There’s not much to downtown Nappanee as it only takes up a couple blocks, although there are 26 buildings that make up the downtown historic district. The downtown historic district was developed between 1874 and 1939 and includes a handful of interesting buildings. There are a few antique shops to browse through if that piques your interest, and some restaurants.
Main Street Coffee House
It’s worth stopping at Main Street Coffee House, which is right on the corner of Main Street and Route 6. Well, the coffee isn’t the best, to be honest, but the cakes and desserts are excellent.
Seward Johnson Sculptures (2017)
We enjoyed the street art, which depicted everyday people in motion. It’s similar to what we saw on the square in Crown Point, Indiana, featuring bronze statues by artist Seward Johnson. The statues were on display from May to October 2017.
