Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

What Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau does

Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit destination marketing organization (DMO) established in 1994 that promotes tourism to Shipshewana and LaGrange County in Northern Indiana. It functions as the official county-level CVB, operating from a visitor center at 350 S. Van Buren St in Shipshewana across from the Midwest's largest flea market, and serves both leisure visitors and group travel organizers seeking authentic Amish cultural experiences, shopping, outdoor recreation, and entertainment. Its core proposition rests on LaGrange County being home to more than 28,000 Amish residents as of 2025, making it the third-largest Amish community in the United States after Lancaster County, PA and Holmes County, OH.

The organization's product portfolio is delivered through a CMS-driven website (visitshipshewana.org) and physical visitor center. Core digital products include the Visit Shipshewana website with event calendars, the FREE Visitors Guide (mailed or digital flipbook), and a portfolio of interactive digital passes and themed trails — My My American Pie Trail, Sip Shipshewana Trail, Barn Quilt Trail, Farm Trail, Pumpkinvine Trail, and Shipshe Quilt Gardens. Sub-branded attractions include the Shipshewana Flea Market, Blue Gate Theatre (ACM Theater of the Year nominee), Menno-Hof (Amish-Mennonite interpretive center), and seasonal events such as Autumn Adventure and Shipshewana Christmas. The Visitor Center provides free maps, guides, referrals, and discount coupon books.

The business model is a non-profit DMO funded by lodging tax contributions from local lodging providers, membership fees from tourism partners, and partnership advertising programs. Pricing for visitors is freemium — all guides, maps, digital passes, and itinerary tools are free. GTM is event-driven and partnership-driven: multi-channel digital marketing across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn; the 'Beyond the Buggy' email newsletter; and a network of formal partnerships with the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, LaGrange County EDC, SRMA, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Visit Indiana, Indiana Foodways Association, and Visit South Bend Mishawaka (via the 'Bones to Buggies' joint 4-day-3-night group tour). Group travel distribution is reinforced by memberships in the American Bus Association, Ontario Motorcoach Association, Religious Conference Management Association, Group Travel Family, and Heartland Travel Showcase. The organization operates with a lean six-person team led by CEO Sonya Nash (CDME-certified).

Name

Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Legal name

Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Website

https://visitshipshewana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit destination marketing organization promoting tourism to Shipshewana and LaGrange County, Indiana — the third-largest Amish community in the United States — serving leisure visitors, group travel organizers, and local tourism partners through a visitor center, website, digital trail passes, and partnership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shipshewana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism Promotion Services: Convention and Visitors Bureau funded through lodging tax contributions, membership fees from tourism partners, and partnership advertising programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Shipshewana/LaGrange County CVB is a non-profit destination marketing organization that promotes Shipshewana and LaGrange County, Indiana as a tourism destination. It provides free visitor information through a physical Visitor Center and the Visit Shipshewana website, including event calendars, the FREE Visitors Guide, digital trail passes, and itinerary planning tools. It also markets group tour packages (e.g., the Bones to Buggies joint tour) and supports local Amish-owned businesses, attractions, lodging, and dining through partnerships and promotional programs.

Product overview

The Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau operates as a destination marketing organization offering a unified tourism platform centered on the Visit Shipshewana website. The core offering includes visitor services at the physical Visitor Center combined with comprehensive digital tools including event calendars, the FREE Visitors Guide, and digital passes. The product portfolio includes themed trail experiences (My My American Pie Trail, Sip Shipshewana Trail, Barn Quilt Trail, Farm Trail, Pumpkinvine Trail), major attractions (Shipshewana Flea Market, Blue Gate Theatre, Menno-Hof), seasonal events (Autumn Adventure, Shipshewana Christmas), cultural experiences (Indiana Amish Country Experience, Amish Country Transportation/Buggy Rides), and content resources (Homestyle Recipes). The digital passes and trail systems allow visitors to self-guide through curated experiences, while the Visitor Center provides in-person trip planning assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visit Shipshewana Website The primary digital platform for Shipshewana and LaGrange County tourism, offering event calendars, visitor guides, trip planning tools, and comprehensive information about Amish Country experiences for leisure travelers and group tour organizers.
• My My American Pie Trail A digital pass/trail experience allowing visitors to explore pie shops and bakeries throughout Amish Country, featuring local favorites and culinary destinations for self-guided food tourism.
• Sip Shipshewana Trail A digital pass for experiencing local wineries, breweries, and beverage venues throughout the Shipshewana region as a self-guided tasting tour.
• Barn Quilt Trail A self-guided driving tour featuring hand-painted barn quilts throughout LaGrange County, showcasing folk art and Amish craftsmanship for cultural tourists.
• Shipshe Quilt Gardens A seasonal trail featuring decorative quilt-patterned gardens on display May through October, combining horticulture with traditional Amish quilting aesthetics.
• Farm Trail Agricultural tourism experiences showcasing Amish farms, animal encounters, and farm-to-table offerings for visitors interested in rural heritage.
• Pumpkinvine Trail A recreational trail for hiking and biking through the scenic Amish countryside, supporting outdoor tourism in LaGrange County.
• Visitor Center Services In-person visitor services at the Shipshewana Visitor Center providing free maps, local guides, event information, referrals, and discount coupon books to walk-in visitors and group tours.
• FREE Visitors Guide A complimentary printed and digital travel guide available via mail or online flipbook, containing comprehensive information about Shipshewana and LaGrange County for trip planning.
• Bones to Buggies Group Tour A packaged 4-day, 3-night group tour itinerary blending South Bend and Shipshewana destinations, combining prehistoric experiences with Amish culture for motorcoach and group travel operators.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, flagship and minor.

• LaGrange County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty-level tourism partnership for promoting LaGrange County businesses and attractions. Located at 513 W Central Ave, LaGrange, IN 46761
• LaGrange County EDCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEconomic Development Corporation partnership supporting business growth and tourism development in LaGrange County
• SRMA (Shipshewana Retail Merchants Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Shipshewana Retail Merchants Association representing local retail businesses, Post Office Box 637, Shipshewana, IN 46565
• Northeast Indiana Regional PartnershipregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partnership for promoting Northeast Indiana tourism, located at 200 E Main St, Suite 910, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
• Visit IndianaregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level tourism partnership with Indiana's official tourism marketing organization
• Visit South Bend MishawakaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 'Bones to Buggies' group tour program - a 4-day-3-night experience combining South Bend (including Notre Dame, dinosaur museum) and Shipshewana (Amish culture, buggy rides). Managed by Nicole Lawler at Visit South Bend and Judy McConnell at Visit Shipshewana
• Indiana Foodways AssociationregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCulinary tourism partnership promoting local food and beverage experiences, located at 6335 South Scatterfield Road, Anderson, IN 46013
• East Region TourismregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism partnership covering Eastern Indiana
• ABA (American Bus Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership organization for motorcoach and group travel industry
• Group Travel FamilyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGroup travel industry membership and marketing network
• Heartland Travel ShowcaseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional group travel trade show and networking organization
• OMCA (Ontario Motorcoach Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMotorcoach tourism industry association
• RCMA (Religious Conference Management Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation for religious conference and group travel planners

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClANSNzu4yLmTjYWtMdoegQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/VisitShipshewana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shipshewana-lagrange-county-cvb
• Instagraminstagram.com/visitshipshewana
• Pinterestpinterest.com/visitshipshewana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau