On Oct 4th we headed south to Middlebury, Indiana via Rt 131. It was a short 2 hour drive to the “RV Capitol of the World.” The Elkhart region of Indiana is home to over 80% of global RV production! While there we toured the production facilities of Newmar and Entegra (the one we own). It’s amazing to see how these big coaches are made–no pictures allowed inside the factories though……sorry.
We toured the RV Hall of Fame Museum, which has many RVs on display. You can view the earliest forms of camping and see how the traveling life has changed through the years.
It was interesting being in the Amish community. Many Amish craftsmen work at the RV factories and create the beautiful cabinetry inside each model. We also ate at some delicious Amish bakeries.
Our reason for visiting Middlebury was to attend the Entegra University, a 4 day owner’s course to learn about our coach. The class was awesome and we met some great new friends. Our coach also got a thorough 2 year inspection and several warranty items were fixed while we were in class each day.
We then made a detour back up to Charlotte, Michigan, to visit the Spartan facility. It is the company that makes our coach’s chassis and they fixed a small air leak while we were there. We visited a small town harvest festival in Grand Ledge and saw the leaves really changing colors now that the temperatures were much cooler.
We wrapped up our brief time here by visiting a local brewery and then a restaurant called Wee Willies. Mike had a gigantic stuffed burger called the Zinger, which was two hamburger patties with lots of cheese, bacon, peppers and onions stuffed in between them.
Looks like you two are adjusting well to RV living! Enjoying the posts.
We are learning a lot, Jacki! Thanks for keeping up with our posts–we hope to be in your neck of the woods around February next year. Hope all is well with you and yours 🙂
That was a jam packed trip! What a variety of things you did and got accomplished. The decorative pumpkins are very interesting and pretty. I want a Zinger too!
Yes, it was a full trip. Mike ate that whole stuffed burger–I couldn’t believe it! lol Michigan and Indiana were pretty, but too cold for my taste at this time of year.
Y’all really been busy and learning so much about your motor home. We don’t have fall festivals here, our fall and leaves changing colors is too short but I love those big leaves there.
Yes we have! I have never seen leaves so big. The aspens in Colorado are beautiful there, though.
I grew up in Goshen, just west of Middlebury (near Elkhart). I live in South Dakota’s Black Hills now. I do miss the Amish though!
We really enjoyed seeing this new area of the country for us. I was amazed at the RV industry there and awed by all the Amish woodworking talent! We haven’t been to South Dakota yet, but it is on the list for this summer.