FAQ’s
FAQ’s about Shipshewana, IN
Q: Is there free Wi-Fi at the hotel and conference center?
A: Yes! The hotels and conference center offer FREE Wi-Fi.
Q: Do I need to bring cash or does every place take Credit Cards?
A: Some of the Amish businesses that we will visit on the tours or experiences do NOT take credit cards. Guests should plan to bring cash for those cases and if they want to buy direct from the Amish. There are ATM’s located at the Visitors Center, E&S Bulk Food Store, Davis Mercantile and Shawna Rae’s Bakery & Café.
Q: What time zone is Shipshewana?
A: Shipshewana is on the Eastern Standard Time Zone (New York) and is one hour different from the Central Time Zone (Chicago).
Q: Can I get any of my items shipped home to me AFTER the meeting vs. packing them in my suitcase?
A: Yes, Visit Shipshewana will be happy to coordinate return shipments with anyone from SATW. UPS Account numbers will be requested to cover shipping costs OR payment in another form. Packing materials, boxes, tape will be supplied at no charge. Visit Shipshewana will facilitate labor and arrangement’s.
Q: Are there any special events occurring the same time as this meeting?
A: Yes, the famous weekly Shipshewana Flea Market & Antique Auction will be occurring Tuesday & Wednesday of SATW week. One tour will be going there on Wednesday morning. In addition, special concerts will be occurring all week at the PAC including the hosted closing night featuring “Meet Loaf” on stage.
Q: Will there be adult beverages available in Shipshewana?
A. Yes, each evening a complimentary hosted hospitality suite will be available to registered SATW delegates inside the Blue Gate Garden Inn which does NOT offer an on-site lobby bar (check agenda for specific details). Three evening dinner functions (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) will have alcohol available for consumption and/or purchase. Shipshewana is a “dry town” meaning alcohol is not allowed to be sold in town at retail establishments in respect of the large Amish population and culture in the community. Most Amish churches adhere to strict religious beliefs prohibiting consumption of alcohol, including beer and hard liquor. Nearby towns of Middlebury, Topeka and LaGrange offer packaged liquor stores.
Q: Are there taxi’s or other public transportation offered in Shipshewana?
A: No, as a small, rural community, Shipshewana has very little public transportation. There are no formal taxi’s, buses, or trains that run in or to this community. The Amish use a “for hire” transportation system (aka Amish Hauler) consisting of retired seniors who pick up and take the Amish to wherever they want to shop, eat, visit or go (think Walmart, Kohl’s, or even their cousin’s house 3 towns over). Amish haulers are similar to a rural Uber, but trips are usually confirmed in advance by phone through landlines shared by Amish families vs. an app on the phone. Contact the Visitors Center at 260-768-4008 for a list of Amish Hauler names/phone numbers in advance of your arrival.
Q: Is it easy to walk around Shipshewana to get to the shops from the Blue Gate Garden Inn?
A: Yes, pack your walking shoes and come prepared to enjoy a slower pace of travel. There is a new, paved, wide, accessible sidewalk on both sides of SR 5 that leads from the Blue Gate Garden Inn both north and south providing easy, fun access to the E&S Bulk Food Store, Ben’s Pretzels, Yoder’s Meat & Cheese, Yoder’s Hardware & Department Store, plus right downtown to over 80 individual shops. You’ll be walking on the same path the Amish walk and ride their bike on making this a fun, healthy alternative mode of transportation.
Q: Does the Conference have a hashtag?
A: Yes, we encourage you to use #VisitShipshewana and #SATWShipshe.
FAQ’s about the Amish Community
Q:Why do Amish not have their photos taken?
A: “We have discouraged photos using one of the Ten Commandments, ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything in heaven above or the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.’” (Exodus 20:4-5) Use of all photos is not strictly shunned in our community, but photos of people are not for display.
Q: Why do Amish men have beards?
A: Most men grow beards when they marry, but they may also do so when they choose to join their church.
Q: Why do Amish have phones in outbuildings but not their homes?
A: An object or technology is usually deemed unacceptable if it could possibly be a distraction or hindrance to normal family life. Having communal phones located in outbuildings is a compromise that keeps the phone out of the family home while also following its practical use for emergencies or business purposes.
Q: Why are there so many different variations of Amish?
A: Amish communities are organized by district, and the districts are small, with each having its own elementary school within walking or riding distance of their pupils. A church district is measured by the number of households, rather than by the number of baptized persons, and families take turns hosting the biweekly services.
Q: Why do Amish children leave school after 8th grade?
A: Amish children attend their district school until they finish eighth grade, which is considered adequate for formal educations, and they begin learning more adult tasks and chores at home. They also live at home until they eventually marry and start families of their own.
