Three words describe Amish Log Cabin Lodging located within North Park Campground at the corner of SR 5 & SR 120 in Shipshewana, Indiana.
Word #1: Serene
14 cabins with full shower and television line the far back hillside of the property, while six “rustic” cabins glide to the west. These latter cabins are “rustic” in that they have no shower facilities. Those are located in a red barn located within 20 steps from the cabins.
All the cabins evoke harmony with nature. Trees and open fields surround the cabins, with horses gazing near the rustic cabins.
Word #2: Clean
Spotless. Neither speck of dust nor hint of cobweb can be found in these cabins.
Everyone wants to know about bath facilities. Here, they’re spotless.
My first experience camping elsewhere included an unwanted guest: a tree frog in the shower. I’ve not camped since, but these dreamy cabins could change my mind.
The ladies stripped the bark, and the men made the headboards.
Even the shining woodwork has an interesting history: Owners Harry & Rose Scott tell me the wood was taken from the same property to a sawmill in Topeka. An Amish man readied the wood and then built each cottage by hand, along with each piece of furniture.
The final cabin the Amish man constructed on the property mimics the school he attended as a child, complete with a bell tower.
Word #3: Ice Cream
Or, to be more exact, custard (but that didn’t rhyme).
Jesse, the young man who works at the ice cream & custard shop, tells me the recipe is under lock and key with an armed guard, but he reassured me the custard is made on site, and that it’s the best around.
I was a bit skeptical, but I stood in line to give it a try. The flavor of the week was black cherry.
I asked the couple in front of me where they were from. They replied, “New York,” and they proceeded to tell me each year when they drive through the area, they stop for the custard.
But then the real evidence came when I tried it: best I’ve ever tasted. I’ve returned twice in the same week, and brought my family. The.Best.Ever.Custard made at the Ice Cream Stand at the Shipshewana Amish Campground. The.Best.Custard.Ever.
About Amish Log Cabin Lodging
Twenty years ago, Harry and Rose began to wind down their chiropractic business and enjoy something new. They purchased land at the corner of State Roads 5 and 121 and opened Shipshewana Amish Campground & Amish Log Cabins. Since then, they’ve watched a small campground become an oasis of peace and memories for new and return guests. The campground is small enough to feel intimate, but big enough for privacy.
Also on the grounds is a tourist information center decorated with a barn quilt mural, part of LaGrange County’s Barn Quilt Trail. Given the scenery, friendships, and amenities, nothing more is needed for a great camping experience.
