Visit East Enterprise Switzerland Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. East Enterprise, Indiana: Discover the adventures at Little Beaver Scout Reservation! Camp, boot and experience the natural experience in this attractive place.
Honestly, if you're looking for East Enterprise attractions, you'll have to understand that this tiny little town in the heart of the Township of Cotton was originally a railroad stop in 1855 and has been more or less in the shadow of larger neighbors like Vevay since then. I took the dusty Highway 56 from the 70 motorway for the first time, because I had enough of the usual tourist streams, and suddenly the whole “Old-West-Feeling” was right in front of me – only that here the only cowboys are the pensioners with garden dogs.
The charm lies for me less in any museums (which is hardly available here) but in the small, almost overlooked corners: the old brick cellar on Main Street, where I heard the story of the first cotton mill in a cool beer, which here in 1862 made the village a short time an economic center. And yes, the county court of Switzerland County, a sober brick shed, at first glance looks like another administrative building, but if you turn around there, you feel the echo of the 19th. Century debates about the shipping on the Ohio River.
A short trip by train from the nearby station in Vevay will take you back to the present, because the regional railway is still moving – practically if you don't have your own car. And while you're sitting there, you can ask why everyone talks about the "main attraction" of the place while I'm just telling you about the quiet places that I love to keep for me. So, it was first – but the East Enterprise sites have more to offer when you dare to walk a bit off the beaten paths.
I have to admit that I would never have thought that I would write a guide for a tiny little spot of Earth like East Enterprise – but here I am, with my favorite place, the East Enterprise Community Parkand I can't wait to tell you why he's for me the epicentre of all East Enterprise Attractions is. The park is practically on the main road, so no wonder that parking is almost always a Klack, except when the high school football team stops their weekly training – then the cars stack like cans in the supermarket. I spent my first grilling evenings there, and the noise of the nearby Ohio River is not directly audible from the park, but the stroller you hear from the distance reminds you that you are not in the middle of nowhere.
A short walk further, past a few old oaks, leads you to East Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department. The building is a real witness: The red towers, the crunchy sign with the letter “Volunteer” – this is not only a place where you get help in case of emergency, but also a popular meeting place for the neighborhood when the annual Chili Festival is up. I remember the day that I entered the old tube camp from pure curiosity and was almost renamed by a rusted fire brigade – a real adventure that I would put to each newman's heart.
If you have a flaw for history (and I don't just mean that because I like to stare old gravestones), then that's what I'm saying. East Enterprise Cemetery A must. The silence there is almost tangible, and the artfully worked tombstones from the 1800s tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide. I once found an old veteran whose name I no longer know, but the inscription “Here rests a man who had more courage to give than the country” made me really contemplative. Parking is a children's game here because the grounds are hardly visited – except on the first Sunday in November, when the whole city comes together for a memorial service.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the reworked old school house, which now serves as a community center. The crunching wooden floors and the faded panels give the place a charm you would never find in modern buildings. On a Saturday I attended a yoga course where the teacher told more about the history of the building when she talked about the Asanas – a bit ironic, but somehow fitting. The room is small, so it's better to bring the most necessary; the parking spaces behind the building are usually free as long as you are not there at the same time as the weekly Bingo night.
My personal secret tip comes now: the Miller’s Diner, a small restaurant serving more than just coffee. The walls are decorated with photos of previous generations, and the breakfast menu is so discreet that you're wondering if you just landed in the 1950s. I ate a pancake there that was so fluffy that I almost thought he could take off. The staff knows every visitor by name – this is not only a nice detail, but almost a social network. Parking is right in front of the diner, but be warned: Saturdays this is a battlefield, because the whole city here takes its Sunday brunch ritual.
A short detour to the south leads you to Ohio River Overlook, which is technically not in the city centre, but only a few minutes by car. The view over the river is breathtaking, especially at sunset when the water is dipped in gold. I have often sorted my thoughts there while I repaired an old, slightly rusty bike that I accidentally found on the roadside. The parking lot is small, so come early, if you don't want to be in traffic – this is almost a ritual here.
Finally, a little hint I almost forgot: that Cotton Township Historical Marker at the intersection of Main Street and County Road 12. The marker is not particularly big, but the information he offers is worth gold if you want to understand why East Enterprise exists at all. I once had a conversation with an older gentleman who told me that the village was once an important hub for cotton production – a fact that most visitors never experienced. Parking is practical here because you can just turn off at the edge of the road as long as you don't block the road.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Amish Farm and House close to Shipshewana – a place where time seems to have stopped, while the visitors with their smartphones are shooting the idyll loudly. I have eaten half a piece of corn there, which once gave me the grandmother of my neighbor to take away; that was probably the most authentic meal I ever had in a museum. Parking is a children's game as long as you don't come on Saturday morning, then the field behind the museum becomes the battlefield of tourist buses.
A short detour to the north leads directly to Pokagon State Parkwhere the lake is so clear that you can almost see the mirror image of the surrounding trees – if you are not distracted by the quaking frogs. I tried the famous “Toboggan Run” there, although I must admit that I don’t understand the hype around the toboggan run; The whole thing feels more like a nostalgic childhood memory that can be reminiscent of beer in your hand. The parking lot is huge, but on hot summer days you can feel like landing in the middle of the campsite.
A little further west, almost in the heart of the Indiana-Amish-Land, lies this Shipshewana Flea Market. Here the word “market” is redefined – stands with handmade furniture, antique tractors and more than enough stuff you never wanted to know that you need it. I found a hand-carved wooden puzzle that is now in my living room and is a starter every time visitors ask why I spend so much time in a “lea market”. Parking is practically right in front of the gates, but be warned: On market days, the field turns into a labyrinth of cars and shopping carts.
For those who want to combine a bit of nature and history, this is LaGrange County Historical Museum an underestimated jewel. The exhibition about the beginnings of the Amish-Siedlungen is not exactly spectacular, but the personal stories that are told there have touched me more than any tourist brochure. I found an old diary that was written by an early settler – a real find that made me feel like touching a piece of past. The museum is located in a quiet side street, and parking is mostly free, except when the school classes pass.
A little away from the known paths lies the St. Joseph River Scenic Byway, a stretch that is perfect for a relaxed ride. I drove the route on a nebulous morning when the sun just rose above the river and turned the water into a silver band. There are several small docks where you can stop and enjoy the silence – a rare luxury in a world that constantly demands for the next “love”. The road is well-developed, and parking at the viewpoints is usually easy as long as you are not on the main road.
Last but not least, Ligonier Covered Bridge not to forget that is not the largest building, but with its rustic charm every photo lover enthuses. I made a spontaneous picnic there with a local baker who sold me a piece of apple cake that was so good that I almost took the whole piece home. Parking is a small parking lot next to the river, and the whole feels like a short but intense trip to the past.
If you are looking for East Enterprise attractions that offer more than the usual “small” of a small town, then these places are just the right thing – a mix of culture, nature and a pinch of local peculiarity, which makes every traveler a little snuck and think.
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