Members of the LaGrange County Council, LaGrange County Commissioner, LaGrange County Community Foundation and LaGrange County Trails Board celebrate the closing on the property transfer.
From left: Harold Gingerich, County Council member; Jeff Campos, County Council member; Peter Cook, county commissioner; Sherryl Rhinesmith, vice president of LaGrange County trails; Jeff Wingstrom, president of LaGrange County Trails; Marilyn Wingstrom; Karen Eagleson, County Council member; and Octavia Yoder, executive director of LaGrange County Community Foundation. Photo from LaGrange County Community Foundation.

News Release

LAGRANGE — On Wednesday, Nov. 26, LaGrange County Trails officially purchased 114 acres from Norfolk and Southern Railroad for $1.1 million, securing the abandoned rail corridor that will become the backbone of the Hawpatch Trail.

The acquisition concludes five years of negotiations and gives the organization full control to begin designing and engineering the trail system in LaGrange County.

The 17-mile corridor runs through Millersburg, Topeka and Wolcottville. With the LaGrange County parcels now secured, LaGrange County Trails can begin developing the first two phases of one of the county’s largest multi-use trail projects.

“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for years,” said Jeff Wingstrom, president of LaGrange County Trails. “It’s the foundation for the project that will benefit the community for decades.”

Securing the land marks a pivotal milestone for the Hawpatch Trail, positioning the nonprofit to transition from negotiations to active construction planning.

“This is more than a land purchase – it’s an investment in the safety, health, and quality of life of our community,” Wingstrom added. “We are thrilled to officially call this corridor ours and can’t wait to see it come to life as the Hawpatch Trail.”

Funding for the purchase came through a $1.5 million LaGrange County Major Moves Grant approved by LaGrange County Commissioners and the LaGrange County Council in 2020. Despite years of setbacks, LaGrange County Trails continued to push forward to secure the corridor.

County officials have also expressed strong support for the long-term community impact of the trail.

“This trail is more than just a normal bike trail that other communities have, in the simple fact that it will serve dual purposes,” said Peter Cook, LaGrange County Commissioner. “We have a community that will use it as a means for daily transportation, and we will be able to leverage it for visitors who can say that they have biked a trail with our Amish community,” he added.

“The (project) is a wonderful thing for LaGrange County and our visitors. This gives the number of bicycle groups that visit LaGrange County a more scenic and safer way to enjoy their ride,” said Jeff Campos, LaGrange County Councilman.

Campos said the trail will also benefit the growing number of residents who rely on bicycles as a mode of transportation, adding, “This gives them a safer commute and lowers the risk of vehicle versus bicycle accidents, especially in the early morning and late evening hours.”

The Hawpatch Trail is envisioned as a multi-use connection between Noble County’s Fishing Line Trail and Elkhart County’s Connect in Elkhart Trail. When complete, the full 17-mile route will represent an estimated $18 million investment. Phases 1 and 2 – about 10 miles in and around Topeka – will form the project’s foundation.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation received a $5 million Lilly Endowment grant to support the estimated $11 million cost of these first two phases and serves as the project’s fiscal sponsor. All contributions for the project should be directed to the Hawpatch Trail Fund at the Foundation.

Wingstrom noted that securing the corridor marks the beginning of the most exciting stage yet.

“We’ve hit an important milestone, but we’re not slowing down. Our community deserves a safe route, a beautiful trail, and a project that reflects the forward-thinking spirit of LaGrange County. This purchase puts all of that within reach. The Hawpatch Trail is now full steam ahead.”

For more information about the trail, visit LaGrangeCountyTrails.org or contact the LaGrange County Community Foundation at (260) 463-4363.