Ep. 274: Indiana Amish Country | RV travel camping

This week we're visiting the Amish country of northeastern Indiana, which not coincidentally is also the heart of America's RV industry. From our campsite in Shipshewana we'll explore the local Amish food and culture along with the agrarian beauty of the farmland here and Chain O'Lakes State Park, and even take a ride in an Amish buggy and pay a visit to the RV Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart.
Filmed: August 28-September 5, 2022
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:55 Shipshewana, Indiana & Amish culture
4:15 Indiana's RV industry
5:22 Staying with an Amish family
6:46 Shipshewana RV Park & Service Center
9:33 Shipshewana Trading Place Auction & Flea Market
12:11 Indiana farming
13:26 Middlebury, Indiana
14:58 Albion, Indiana
15:56 Chain O'Lakes State Park
18:32 RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum
23:20 Wrap-up and what's next
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* Our campsite goo.gl/maps/v7GYv6Mr3xKf85vU6
* Shipshewana RV Park & Service Center shipshewanatradingplace.com/r...
* Shipshewana Trading Place Auction & Flea Market shipshewanatradingplace.com/
* Chain O'Lakes State Park www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/pa...
* RV Hall of Fame & Museum www.rvmhhalloffame.org/
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Welcome to Grand Adventure, a KZbin channel that focuses on RV-centric outdoor activities including not only of course camping, but also mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, skiing and more, always filmed in stunning 4K.
We're based in Salt Lake City, Utah during the winter months, and invite you to come along as we travel all around the U.S. My wife Patricia and I, and dog Zoe are avid boondockers, so while you'll occasionally find us in RV parks or even dry campgrounds, we're usually camped in some of the most remote and beautiful spots that you could ever pull a travel trailer into. We've now transitioned from "long-timing" for six months a year, to living and traveling in our RV full-time.
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[@CherLou1]

Sure wish there were pictures of how Shipshewana use to look when I was a young girl, spending summers there with my grandparents. They were Mennonite and lived close to town. Such beautiful memories!

[@GrandAdventure]

We can believe that they are. It's such a beautiful area, and we found the people to be truly wonderful -- as we're certain your grandparents were.

[@yohann1960]

I'm new to Middlebury. We've lived here 2 months. Need to know that these Amish towns close up at 4:00. Shipshewana there are a few bigger shops stay open until 5:00. They start early and finish early. Definitely an adjustment when you live here. It IS a beautiful community and very clean.

[@GrandAdventure]

😄 Yep John, we definitely noticed that ourselves. Everything is an early bird special.

[@CozyQueenAdventures]

This makes me remember being a child and going to the Amish to purchase milk then taking it home to churn butter from it. oooh, I am telling my age now! Great memories!

[@GrandAdventure]

Great memories indeed. Thanks for sharing that!

[@aaronchandler2380]

Those farm fresh veggies would be worth a stop over for me!

[@scottreinhard6226]

Great job Mark! If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were in the Lancaster County area of PA. The similarities are striking.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Scott! Yes, the parallels are striking, but after all the Indiana Amish migrated there from PA.

[@scottreinhard6226]

@@GrandAdventure smart move on their part!!!!

[@Passionforkitchen]

Beautiful Amish country

[@GrandAdventure]

It certainly is! As westerners, we almost had green overload.

[@laughingram7287]

This was a great video; so much stuff. I’ve never been to Amish country, so what you showed was interesting. Their buggies look solid. They definitely have that perfected. Very special that you stayed with a family. The campground you stayed at looked so clean. Really a plus to have a service center on site. Of course it looked like you got the best spot! Nice to see Mrs. Grand Adventurer back safely. Surprised that you didn’t have your kayak in the lakes. The RV museum looked so interesting! I did not know there were campers way back in the early 20th century. Thanks for a great video. Ram 👍🏼👍🏽

[@GrandAdventure]

We're thrilled that you two enjoyed it! We were indeed truly lucky to spend some time with such a wonderful family. As for the kayaking, there's only so much you can squeeze into a week, especially when part of that week is in a hotel while the manufacturer addresses your warranty list.

[@karenenglish4900]

Great job Marc! I just missed you in Ship!! We were there the Tuesday after Labor Day. You hit the flea market on a light day. Usually they are swamped. I happened to be at my hometown, Goshen, for 2 Amish reunions. Thanks for sharing. Also at the RV Museum, I saw the Daydream Bluebird of Keep Your Daydream. The museum was closed when I got there. Again, thanks for sharing. You made my day. Karen Yoder

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks so much Karen! Sorry that we missed you, for we love crossing paths with viewers, although it sounds like you had a truly busy visit. Safe travels!

[@DavidJohnson-bf2cl]

Thanks, I'm heading to that area for May to visit and have some MorRyde disc brakes put on. Really enjoyed your episode. Thanks

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you David, and enjoy that brake upgrade!

[@mccarthy7566]

👍👍 HOW does a couple from Utah find, and deliberately go to the Hocking Hills region of SE Ohio?!?! Can't wait for next week's video! Hocking Hills is our favorite hiking area near our home. We live about an hour north in Granville. I hope Ohio treats you two well (oh, and Zoey too).

[@GrandAdventure]

As you'll see Pete, we enjoyed it immensely. 5 hikes in one day, no less. LOL!

[@jessicamanion3577]

I’m looking forward to next weeks’ Ohio video too. We spent a night in Kenisee, after visiting Cleveland’s RnR Hall of Fame. I would like to return sometime.

[@thomasglunt5925]

You will live Ohio.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@thomasglunt5925 we sure did, as you'll see next week.

[@brookeshaffer4377]

Nice video Marc.Loved seeing the old style Rv's🍁

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Brooke. Happy to hear that you enjoyed the visit to the museum.

[@alanjones9884]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your adventure.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Alan!

[@daviscrt]

WOW, another great video. Thank you. Don

[@GrandAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it Don, thank you!

[@sondraodell9351]

Excellent program Mark. Your program certainly offered to us a wonderful insight of the Amish, their homes, family life, and the life they live. Impressive! My husband and I enjoy your channel, We have camped and RVed briefly, in our younger years...we still miss the open roads, and the traveling experience...being out in nature, living the RV life, and having that incredible sense of freedom that a RV offers to those who seek adventure. Thanks Mark.

[@GrandAdventure]

You've nailed that description, Sondra. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

[@SevenBears1]

Really enjoyed that one.. So interesting and informative. You could have made two episodes from this one. Thanks GA !!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks as always J!

[@timothyjohnson8036]

Marc another awesome video. 👍👍👍

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Timothy!

[@garymann5998]

Well you're in our home state, but you're up north and we're down south, we also have Amish towns down here, Montgomery is a nice one too, the food is very good there. They have a large auction barn there also. My wife wants to go up there for the flea market now, lolol. We haven't made it to the rv hall of fame yet but plan to. Another great video Marc, travel safe.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Gary! We'll have to put Montgomery on our list.

[@geraldsouthard7092]

Another great video mark. We’ve been in that area three times. We love that area. You nailed it!! I am soooo envious that you were able to get a ride in an Amish “sedan”. Thanks!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Gerald! We were blessed to spend such a wonderful evening with such a wonderful and generous family. They invited us to stay longer, but our rig went into KZ for some minor warranty items and we reluctantly headed for a hotel.

[@lorih379]

Such a beautiful and interesting area, and I love all of the old RVs at the museum

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Lori! Beautiful indeed.

[@normgibson6565]

CHEERS Marc

[@GrandAdventure]

Norm!!!!

[@GimpyCamper]

I have stopped in that town on my way to Michigan, oddly so my wife could deliver a rescue dog. It seemed to be a great area that we would like some time to explore further.

[@GrandAdventure]

Put it on your list, Barratt.

[@akgobears]

Love the outdoor RV matt lol...I got the same one too...Two things i noticed about the Amish when ive been in the area your in here in this video...Concerning the buggies, Amish must take very good care of their horses as it seems each and every one looked in great shape and well groomed...Secondly, all of the old time bicycles ive seen there....Bet some of them are valuable simply because of the age and makes...Very enjoyable video..Would have liked that Pretzel shop Bens as it reminds me of a place a lot like it ive been to a couple times called Yoders ...Thank you, travel safe , be welll, and stay away from IAN...P.S. I have been to that flee market...Had my very first Whoopie Pie there lol....

[@gorrdd]

I've heard of a Whoopee Cushion... I dare not even think of a Whoopie Pie! 🤯

[@akgobears]

@@gorrdd Remember the old Hostess Susie Q's ?? They are a lot like those except round...And they have different flavors...And of course , they are Amish...

[@gorrdd]

@@akgobears Thanks. I only remember the Hostess Twinkies. But I was definitely around back then... Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

Appreciate it @akgobears! It's like a step back in time. And yes, they treat their horses like family.

[@jessicamanion3577]

Nice memories of our trip last year. We liked revisiting with your video, with great info on the Amish, in nice detail. Did you use Boondockers Welcome to find that moochdock space? We are now camped at Washoe Lake, Nevada again, where we camped that same WINDY night as you in June. It’s so nice this week with wonderful above average temps for this time of year with only mild breezes. It’s time for us to head south. Are you? Safe Travels!

[@GrandAdventure]

Safe travels to you as well Jessica! Nail everything down there at Washoe. 😄 We're headed south for now, but we'll be back in SLC for ski season. Our night mooch docking was arranged by a mutual friend.

[@thomasglunt5925]

I think that I see Gary.

[@msc775]

Excellent video Marc!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Matt!

[@micheleelliott4726]

Good video. So much great info.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Michele!

[@eprohoda]

fellow~ total splendiid video~ talk you later~🙌

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you!

[@ricksplace55]

Great video❤❤❤❤

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Rick!

[@jrchiles18]

I really liked the area and the part about the Amish community was very interesting. Just wanted to ask. Was that a Buc-ees hat you had on? Only reason I ask is because I used to live right down the road from the very first one. Another great video. Appreciate what you do.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you! Yep, that's a Buc-ee's hat and I get more comments on that than you can possibly imagine. As recently as in a McDonald's today in NC, actually.

[@kevinwheat390]

As always your videos are great and make me want to travel more in our 5th wheel. If you are heading north to Michigan I have two properties thet I own that you are welcome to d Stay at within a few hours north of the museum. Just off highway 96. Just reach out if you wato Google the address. One is country on is hidden in the city by the Meridian Mall. Behind our building, No one would ever know you were there. I hope you keep enjoying traveling through life.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Kevin! We appreciate the offer, but we're now down in the Carolinas. Our videos currently appear about a month after filming to allow for production and editing.

[@joemiles6917]

Great video as always. Since you are headed east, I wonder if you will get to PA? We are half way between Harrisburg and Lancaster in Elizabethtown. If you are in the area would be happy to meet you.

[@GrandAdventure]

We would've loved to meet you, Joe, but as you'll see we headed SE from there. PA will have to await future seasons, but I've got family in the Lehigh Valley so it's bound to happen.

[@bruceprigge5212]

Thank you so much for the video! 🙂. There’s a beautiful banjo tune that starts at about 7:30. Would you share the name of the tune please?

[@GrandAdventure]

You're most welcome, Bruce! That track is entitled "Porch Light" performed by Andy Ellison, and was licensed from soundstripe.com.

[@bruceprigge5212]

@@GrandAdventure Thank you! I’m a banjo player and want to learn the tune. 🙂

[@gorrdd]

Hey Marc, That rig on the cover needs at least five hundred horses dragging it down the road for a qualifying time... you explained that to the guy, right? 🤣 Do they keep those display tents up all the time and rent out the spaces under them for the two days each week? Or do the owners take them up and down every week? Still... setting up all those displays for just two days each week seems like a laborious undertaking. I really liked the towns in the area. Everything is so well kept up and beautiful. Like a time out of time. Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

We were motoring along at a pretty good clip even with 1 HP, Gord! Nope, those vendors leave everything set up -- some even leave their wares outside, which was surprising to me. It is indeed a time out of time.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Thanks Marc... I feel better now 😊👍

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Marc, I meant to ask you where you hi-tailed it off to after leaving the Carolinas? Ft. Myers and Naples got slaughtered... completely. And all of Tampa Bay drained out into the Gulf from those winds. A guy did a video from one of the bridges, showing only puddles here and there in that huge bay... for as far as you could see. Amazing... Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

@@gorrdd we're currently along the NC coast awaiting landfall #2, but our itinerary looks like Ian's Greatest Hits: Charleston, Savannah, St Augustine, Sarasota and Naples.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Wow... Sarasota is ok. But Naples will be a hurricane aftermath episode... Gord

[@mattkaminski6618]

How is your solar setup working out so far?

[@GrandAdventure]

Amazingly well, Matt, although we're not using it now that we're in the East and have to resort to campsites. We went 3 full months this summer boondocking in the West without plugging into anything or even unpacking the generator, and we positively burn through a ton of electricity -- we're not careful at all.