Shipshewana Civic and Industrial Development

The town comprehensive master plan outlines goals for commercial and industrial development. The comprehensive plan identifies tourism as the major engine for economic development but also clearly states the importance of appropriate light industry for the welfare of the community. The goal is to attract industry that is compatible with tourism.

A number of new civic and commercial developments are in the planning stages or are presently under construction. The new Davis Mercantile Building is slated for completion in the summer of 2005. Two RV sales and repair shops plan to begin operation in late spring of 2005. E & S Sales is constructing a new retail store on their property near the intersection of US 20 and SR 5. Landmark is moving from their present store located on the corner of US 20 and CR 900 to a new building being constructed near the Der Ruhe Blatz Hotel on SR 5. A new Bakery is to be located on Berkshire Drive, near the intersection of SR 5. Expansion of the Shipshewana South Campgrounds will be completed by mid spring of 2005. Focus Enterprises, headquarters in Valparaiso, Indiana, will begin construction of a 154-bed hotel and 30,000 square foot water park in late spring of 2005 with completion of project slated for late winter of 2006.

The town redevelopment council has taken action to construct a Town Center that will house a visitors center, exposition center, and a Hudson car museum. Construction is to begin in late spring of 2005 and scheduled for completion in late winter of 2006.

For the benefit of developers we've made available a Shipshewana Town Map (2008) showing street layout, town boundaries and other features. Note this is a large PDF file; we recommend you print it out on paper for easy reference.