Location
Nappanee Indiana is located in Elkhart county in the middle of Amish Country as well as the largest area of RV manufacturing in the United States. It currently has a population of 6,913 residents as of the 2020 census. It is home to some well known names in the RV industry like Newmar, ATC Trailers, Guflstream, and the new Gen-Y Hitch facility.
Nappanee Indiana Downtown
I had to go to Nappanee Indiana in order to get warranty work completed on our new Newmar Class A motorhome. Each morning while I was at Newmar for service, they take your coach at 6am so I would go out exploring. I was surprised at the amount of time put into the downtown area with beautiful flower beds adorned with sculptures created by local artists in several locations around town.
There were also lots of painted advertising on the downtown buildings in Nappanee Indiana reminiscent of what was used during the end of the 19th century.
While you are downtown you can grab a bite to eat at Hunter’s Hideaway then stop by Sweet G’s Ice Cream Shop for a cold dessert. For the ultimate breakfast, head out of town West on Route 6 and look for the signs for Rentown Country store. Across from it you will find the Dutchmaid Eatery which is probably the best breakfast I have ever had. I met a couple there from Atlanta and they had eaten there every day during the week they were in town.
McCormick Creek Golf Course
If you love to golf then this may be for you but there is much more around this course. There is a hiking/biking trail along the perimeter of the course that is definitely worth exploring as you will find more hidden gems in the town.
Tunnel Of Love
Just north of the Golf Course there is a parking area for the Burkholder Nature Center. Near this you will find another artistic installation called the Tunnel of Love.
The Dog Pound
Nappanee has a wonderful dog park near the Tunnel of Love. Along it’s fence line is a silhouette cutout of nearly every dog breed you can imagine. What is most interesting is another art installation just north of the dog park which is named “The Dog Pound”. It is a collection of dog sculptures made up of all kinds of scrap metal items.
The Flower Garden
After visiting The Dog Pound you can walk South along the Oakland Trail which borders the golf course on the East. Along the way you will pass a row of sculptures called the Flower Garden.
The Apple Orchard
As you continue South on the trail you will come across the entrance to the apple orchard. These are apple statues painted by local artists.
Quilt Gardens
Each year, the quilt gardens along the Heritage Trail joins quilting, gardening, and art into a one of a kind event. Nappanee is one of the towns that participates and you can find a few right here.
Newmar Service Center
I recently visited to have work done on our new Newmar Bay Star Sport motorhome. The Newmar Service Center is located one block off of the main street in Nappanee. They provide around 60 sites for those scheduled for work at the center. The visitors area is top of the line with plenty of seating with televisions, a kitchen area, two pet friendly waiting areas, laundry facilities, and a parts department.
While there you should book a tour of their manufacturing facilities which are located on the West side of town. The tour begins at the service center and then you are taken on a shuttle bus to tour the manufacturing facilities. I have been to other facilities and was very impressed by Newmar. We did not get photos as they have a large Amish workforce so we wanted to be respectful.
Another great thing about Nappanee is it’s proximity to other great areas to visit like Elkhart, Shipshewana, Goshen, Middlebury, and others.