Visit Middlebury Elkhart Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Middlebury, Indiana: Discover the Amish Country! Experience the traditional way of life and visit craft businesses such as the Menno-Hof-Farm or the Shipshewana Flea Market. Eat in an Amish restaurant and enjoy the tranquil nature of the Elkhart-Countys.
Travelers from all over the world appreciate Middlebury's attractions because the small town has more to offer in the heart of Elkhart County than you would suspect at first sight. I remember the dusty rails that rolled through the then wild borderland for the first time in 1830 – a short but decisive moment that made Middlebury from a pure agriturismo a hub for trade and later for the furniture industry. Today you drive by car over the US-33, which practically forms the backbone of the region, and thanks to the nearby I‐80 you can take off from South Bend to Chicago in a few minutes if you miss the urban getaway.
What I like most personally is the slightly cynical flair of the locals: They like to talk about “our history”, while testing the latest food truck on the main road – a mix of nostalgia and modernity that rarely looks as authentic. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual farmers' markets, but the cozy chatting on the old bank in front of the town hall is really great and gives you the feeling of being part of a small but proud community. So if you're looking for a place that breathes history, but doesn't stare in a museum, Middlebury will quickly realize that the true Middlebury sights are where people have a little more time to smile.
This guide invites you to explore with me a small but surprisingly charming spot Indiana – Middlebury, in the middlebury township. I have to admit, I came here only for a date with an old school friend, but already at the first glance on the simple main road I realized that there is more here than only Feldweg and Mais.
At the front, where the old town hall was transformed into a tiny museum, the Middlebury Historical Museum. The building itself is a relic from the 1870s, and the exhibitions – from handwritten diaries of the pioneers to a crumbling tractor engine that still seems to smoke – give you the feeling that you would browse through a lively history book. I discovered an old photograph where a bear with a straw hat can be seen – no joke, that was a real advertising poster for the local butcher in 1903. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly antiquities flea market spectacle starts.
A short walk, barely overlooked, stands the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The gothic façade almost exaggeratedly looks venerable for a small town, which otherwise advertises with barns and corn fields. I sat there once during a Sunday Mass and had to smile when the pastor greeted the church with a loose “God bless you, your land rats!” – a little hint that people have humor here, even when they talk about their own traditions.
If you're looking for a place to get your head free, my way almost always leads me to Middlebury Community Center. This is not only a building, but a gathering point for everything that makes the village life: yoga classes, bingo evenings and occasionally a local rock band, where the best guitarists from neighbouring villages compete against each other. I once experienced a cake competition where the winner presented an apple cake that was so dry that I almost took the word “art” in the mouth to describe it.
A few steps further Middlebury Public Library, a place I personally call the silent heart of the city. The shelves are filled with local history books, but also with a surprisingly large selection of science fiction novels – a hint that the inhabitants not only think about corn. I met an older gentleman there who told me that he held a “book and beer club” every Wednesday, discussing Dostojewski while trying a local craft beer. Well, that's a bit too much culture for a place that is otherwise only overtaken by tractors.
In summer the main road turns into the Middlebury Farmers Market. Fresh strawberries, homemade jam and a stand where an older couple sells handmade wooden toys make the whole a colorful kaleidoscope of smells and colors. I tried a piece of corn bread there, which was so dry that I wanted to use the word "art" again – but this time in the positive sense, because it reminded me of the hard work of farmers.
For those who prefer to swing the racket, there is Middlebury Golf Club, a 9-hole course that has more charm than some 18-hole facilities in the big cities. The Fairways are lined with ancient oaks, and the clubhouse serves a coffee that is strong enough to awaken a bear. I once met a local Pro golfer who told me that the true secret of the game here is not the technique, but the “Geduld—with—a smile—on—the face-to-face” mantra – an approach that I have ever used in all my everyday problems.
A short trip from the city centre leads to Elkhart River Trail, a narrow path that runs along the river and offers breathtaking views of the water. The path is well maintained, and the sound of flowing water is almost meditative. I once saw an older man standing in the water with an old fishing hook and speaking loudly about the “good old times” – an image that captures the mixture of nostalgia and present perfectly.
If you now think that Middlebury is just a sleepy village, then you have the Middlebury Attractions not yet fully experienced. Each of these places has its own history, and I find that the true pleasure is to discover the small peculiarities that make the village an unmistakable piece of Indiana. And honestly, after all the visits here, I learned that a bit of cynicism and a great appetite for authenticity are the best travel companions.
The old railway shed on the edge of Middlebury, which I accidentally discovered when a tractor driver escapes, is actually just a relic, but it leads you directly to the Ruthmere Museum, a magnificent mansion that tells more about the Golden Twenties than any Instagram story. I got a lead there with a guide who knew more about the family history of the Studebakers than I had about my own relatives. Parking is almost always a children's game – a few empty places right in front of the main entrance, as long as you don't collapse with the local vintage car fans on Saturday night, this will be a real patience game.
A short trip to South Bend brings you to Studebaker National Museum. I have to admit, I was skeptical if a car museum can be really exciting, but the huge, shiny bodies from the 1920s have almost made me open my own workshop. The museum is located in a former factory site, so there is always a bit of industrial flair that you rarely find in classical museums. The entrance is free, parking is free at the main building, but if you visit the visitor centre on the weekend you have to arrange between the tourists and the enthusiastic Old Timer fans.
Back in Elkhart St. Joseph River Trail extends like a silver band through the city and offers a perfect mix of nature and urban life. I once joged there at sunset and suddenly discovered a small jazz ensemble that played on the shore – a real secret tip that I hardly betray anyone. The path is well developed, and parking at the beginning of the route is usually easy as long as you do not meet the families from the surrounding suburbs at noon.
A bit further north, almost in the heart of the Amish country, lies the Amish Farm & House in Shipshewana. I do not quite understand the hype about the “authentic” land life, but the house I visited there was a real time certificate: no electricity, only a wood stove and a huge vegetable garden that produced more vegetables than I could eat in a whole year. The driveway is a bit bumpy because the streets here are still from the 19th. Centuries come, and parking is an open field – you just have to find a free spot and hope that the farmers do not exactly execute their cows.
Back in the center of Elkhart, the Elkhart County Historical Museum is an underestimated jewel. I saw an exhibition on the local aircraft industry there, which reminded me that this area was once the “Mekka” of the Middle West. The museum is located in a former school building that still sprays the charm of the 1950s. Parking is right in front of the main entrance, but at the weekend it can be full because the school classes here make excursions.
A last stop that is often overlooked is the Lubeznik Park on the edge of Middlebury. I made a picnic with friends there, while a local artist just finished a graffiti project – a colorful contrast to the otherwise rural landscapes. The park has a small lake where you can drive pedal boat in the summer, and parking is practically always free, because most visitors just park the road and run a piece.
Next time you drive around the area, don't forget that the Middlebury area has more to offer than just the city itself – from historic mansions to impressive museums to idyllic nature trails. These Middlebury Attractions show that the surrounding area is a mix of history, culture and surprising vitality that you should not miss.
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