Concept
The concept of purchasing the farm and creating Amish Acres for the purpose of preserving and restoring the buildings and opening it to the public for guided tours with historical and cultural interpretation came from LaVern and Richard Pletcher, furniture merchants since 1933. The secondary purpose was to introduce and formalize Amish tourism in the Indiana city.
Restoration was completed by 1970 with the assistance of Fred Simic and Albert Kuhns, son of Manassas. Albert’s vivid memory helped bring long dormant buildings and mechanisms back into working order. The farm opened to the public on the second weekend in June 1970.
A master plan was drawn by architect Robert Holdeman of Traverse City, Michigan. Holdeman grew up in Elkhart County whose roots remain in the Holdeman Mennonite Church near Wakarusa, Indiana. The plan has been executed closely over the decades and now includes the dining, lodging, and theatre programs originally envisioned.
The Pletchers incorporated Amish Acres following the successful bid with investors Freemon Borkholder, Ivo Heckaman, and Gordon McCormick. These investors were successful business entrepreneurs in Nappanee. Shortly after the opening of the farm a dispute about Sunday opening led Mr. Borkholder, an Amish-Mennonite, to sell his interest in the project. Heckaman and McCormick were soon bought out and the Pletchers have continued to develop the attraction. Richard’s daughter, Jennifer Wysong, is now president of the company.
Over half of Amish Acres visitors come from outside of Indiana, although many local constituencies are served by the restaurant, musical theatre, and arts and crafts festival.
Amish Acres has been recognized by Time, Newsweek, and US News and World Report magazines for its contributions to reviving Nappanee’s economy, early Internet retail selling, and the arts and crafts festival. Travel Trade magazine has named Amish Acres Indiana’s number one tourist attraction, and Mobil Travel Guide has listed Amish Acres as a must-see Midwest attraction, the only private entity on the list.
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