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Nappanee is a town in the heart of Indiana’s Amish country. The main attraction is The Barns at Nappanee (formely Amish Acres), but it’s nice to stop in the small downtown
Brief History of Nappanee
Nappanee was originally settled by Potawatomi who arrived from near Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the 18th century. The first European settlers arrived in the 1830s, driving out the natives. 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. Nappanee was incorporated as a town in 1889.
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 developed between 1874 and 1939 and includes a handful of interesting buildings, including the post office built in 1935. There are a few antique shops to browse through if that piques your interest as well as some restaurants.
Seward Johnson Statues (2017)
During our visit, we enjoyed the statues by Seward Johnson (1930-2020), which depicted everyday people in motion. It’s similar to what we saw on the square in Crown Point, Indiana, a year earlier. The statues were on display from May to October 2017.
The Barns at Nappanee
The Barns at Nappanee (formerly Amish Acres) is a historic farm and park in Nappanee. It’s centered around the Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns Farmstead, which was built in 1873. The farm was purchased in 1968 and Amish Acres opened to the public in 1970 in order to enlighten and educate outsiders about the Amish way of life.
Amish Acres closed at the end of 2019. It was sold and reopened as The Barns at Nappanee on May 15, 2020. It’s now a wedding and event venue with a restaurant. There are also a handful of different packages to learn about Amish life running during the summer months, daily except Sundays. The most comprehensive tour is the Barns Passport, which costs US$42.95 for adults and US$19.95 for kids (as of February 2025). It includes a house tour, a horse and buggy ride, and a meal.
(Note: all of the photos and information below are from Amish Acres. I can’t tell you what it’s like at The Barns at Nappanee. From what I gather, almost everything I’ve written below is different. When I have a chance to see the changes in person, I’ll update this post.)
Round Barn Theatre
At the parking lot, you’ll see the Round Barn Theatre, which houses Indiana’s only professional repertory theatre company. It features several different shows throughout the year.
Greeting Barn
Next to the theatre is the Greeting Barn, where you can buy ticket packages and shop for crafts. There’s also a small documentary film theatre where you can learn more about the history of the Amish.
Shopping
Outside of the Greeting Barn are a few small buildings where you can buy authentic Amish treats such as apple butter, sausages, and cheese. There’s a cider and grist mill, soda fountain, and meat and cheese market. You don’t need a ticket to go shopping.
Restaurant Barn and Thresher’s Dinner
The Restaurant Barn sells baked goods such as bread and pies. It’s also where you can chow down on the delicious family-style thresher’s dinner. The dinner includes a choice of meats and sides, a drink, and an amazing piece of pie for dessert. Everything is delicious, and you’re even encouraged to ask for seconds!
House and Farm Tour
The house and farm tour is the highlight of Amish Acres. You learn about the family that occupied the farm for nearly 100 years as well as how the Amish have lived and worked up until the present day. The guide does a fantastic job answering all questions and explaining how everything works.
The tour starts outside the main house where you can see how the Amish prepare and store foods, smoke meats, and cultivate honey.
Once inside the house, you can see authentic items used by the Amish. Clothes are hung up on the wall and items they would use in everyday life, such as beds and washboards, are on display.
Next, you can walk through the Grossdaadi Haus, where the elders are sent to live as the families of their children grow. After that, it’s possible to see the barn, live farm animals, and outbuildings that have been moved to the site. They include a buggy barn, blacksmith shop, maple syrup barn, and ice house.
Horse and Buggy Ride
A friendly Amish man runs the horse and buggy ride. He takes you around the beautiful grounds past several of the historic buildings.
Wagon Ride
Finally, you can take a wagon ride around the grounds. It stops at the old schoolhouse, which was relocated from down the road. Next to the schoolhouse is an Amish school bus wagon and an old railroad crossing house.
Where to Eat in Nappanee
While our main meal was part of our package at Amish Acres, we did stop into one place downtown.
Main Street Roasters
It’s worth stopping at Main Street Roasters (formerly Main Street Coffee House), which is right on the corner of Main Street and Route 6. They opened in 2003 and rebranded in 2018. During our visit, the coffee wasn’t the best, to be honest, but the cakes and desserts are excellent. We’d give the coffee another chance since we haven’t visited since the changes in 2018.
