Today we have the latest installment in our regular 10 views feature. I took these photos last summer while in the Nappanee, Indiana Amish community. The town of Nappanee is at the center of a large Amish community of around 5,000 people, which stretches over 4 northern Indiana counties: Kosciusko, Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph.  Founded in the early 1840s, this community is one of the two oldest in Indiana.

Nappanee is an interesting area in that it’s one of the few places you’ll find Amish and Old Order Mennonites living more-or-less next door to each other. The Amish community is much larger than that of the Old Order Mennonites, which is centered near the town of Wakarusa.

Nappanee is home to Amish Acres, one of the older Amish-themed tourist attractions in the country. Amish Acres is based at a former Amish farm, and has been in operation for over 40 years. This popular destination also includes the Round Barn theater, which has hosted the Plain and Fancy musical among others (looks like the Johnny Cash show was in town the week I visited).

Below you’ll see a couple of photos of the numerous Amish-owned small businesses in the area.  In addition to farming the men here have long worked in the recreational vehicle industry.  One of my favorite things about this community are the railroad tracks which run through Nappanee and bisect the Amish community.  Trains pass through pretty frequently.  There are a number of crossings; in some cases you have to wait (as you can see in the photo below), at other crossings overpasses let you continue on under the tracks.

Nappanee Water Tower

Amish Train Crossing Nappanee

Round Barn Theatre Nappanee

Nappanee Amish Buggy

Amish Home Nappanee IN

Stetta Discount Nappanee

Childrens Bicycles Nappanee

Little Nook Amish Bookstore

Mennonite Farm Nappanee

Two Hoops Nappanee

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