Amish Acres Tracts Sell For More Than $4 Million
NAPPANEE — After more than two hours of bidding, the Amish Acres property in Nappanee sold for more than $4 million on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
And while plans remain unsettled, the sale of tracts from the old Amish Acres property – a major tourist attraction in northern Indiana – there is hope that some aspects of the tradition will be revived.
“I am thrilled with the outcome,” said Nappanee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jeff Kitson.
“This will change the landscape of what was Amish Acres; however, we are happy that the six new buyers will be engaged in our community and we welcome them. I look forward to working with the new owners to help them get open and make them successful,” Kitson said.
The auction drew a large crowd, as it was standing room only within the restaurant barn, where bidding took place.
The property was offered for sale in 16 tracts, with six unique bidders bringing in a total of $4.2 million. Tracts 4 through 7 and 14 through 16 brought in the highest bid at $1.5 million. Those specific tracts included The Round Barn Theatre, restaurant barn, two log cabins, the soda and fudge shop building, meat and cheese building, and cider and grist mill building.
Marlin Stutzman, a former Congressman from Indiana’s third district, and John Kruse are two of the new owners of the theatre and restaurant.
The purchase of Tract 6 also included the rights to the annual Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival, a three-way liquor license and the Amish Acres trademark.
Tracts 1 and 13, which include The Inn and two acres of property adjacent to the building, were both sold at $1.295 million.
Kitson said the Chamber will work closely with the city of Nappanee “to welcome the new owners and help out in whatever way we can within our limits.”
According to Kitson, all of the new owners are local.
After 50 years in operation, Amish Acres closed after its Dec. 31, 2019, New Year’s Eve Cabaret. The Pletcher family, who formerly owned the business, is retiring.
Schrader Real Estate & Auction, Columbia City, was in charge of auctioning the property.