Visitors' Center
   The City of Elkhart calls themselves "The City With a Heart." For years and years we have heard a little different slogan: "Musical Instrument Capital of the World". We don't know about the former but the latter is definitely true. They say that more band instruments are manufactured in Elkhart than any-where else in the world. Not just one but four major, world renown, manufac-turers of musical instruments are here. But there is much more and the best place to start is the Visitors' Center at 219 Caravan Drive.
   From the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90), take exit 92. At the end of the long off-ramp, turn right, go about a half block to the first road on your left. Turn left onto Caravan Drive and you'll see the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau just ahead (on the other side of Interchange Drive).
   As might befit the 'Musical Instrument Capital', the visitors' center has audio tapes and CDs so you can take your own 'guided tour' of the area. Phone: 1-800-262-8161.

RV Industry in Elkhart County
   Elkhart County, Indiana, is home to many Recreational vehicle (RV), mobile  home and boat manufacturers including such well known companies as Bennington Marine, the Damon Corporation, Four Winds, Hy-Line, Keystone, Monaco, Skyline, Sun Valley, and Travel Supreme all located in the City of Elkhart. In the surrounding Elkhart County area are many other industry notables including Dutchman, Gulf Stream, Heartland and Jayco.

Forest River
   Forest River has grown to become one of the largest, privately owned recreational vehicle manufacturers in the United States and America's largest producer of towable RV's and cargo trailers. You've undoubtedly seen Skyline products on the highways (Aljo, Forest Brook, Freestyle, Layton, Nomad, Rampage, Seaview, Trailrider and Weekender).

Monaco Coach Factory Tours
   Monaco Coach is a leading producer of luxury diesel motorhomes. Thouch the corporate headquarters is in Oregon, they maintain significant production here.
   Monaco offers special plant tours. A plant tour typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. While no appointment is necessary be advised that you will be led through some very congested areas and be inundated with a lot of factory noise. (They have also warned that restrooms are not available during the tours.) Tours are scheduled at 10a and  2p Monday through Friday (except holidays). Phone 1-800-634-0855 for details.

Jayco Factory Tours
   Jayco, founded in 1968 on a family farm in Middlebury, is among the largest RV manufacturers in the world. Jayco has renovated the 1880s farm-house into its visitors center from which their tours depart weekdays at 12 noon. Phone 574-825-5861 for details.

Major Events in Elkhart County
   Perhaps you will be visiting Elkhart to attend the Midwest RV Supershow and Rally. While you are visiting Elkhart County you can take some time off to relax for there are a number of different opportunities. One favorite is to canoe down the lazy Saint Joseph River which bisects the city of Elkhart. Or you can bicycle on one or more of the many bike paths or quiet county roads.

Amish Country Tours
   This is Amish country and they welcome visitors. They host the annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival at the Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort in Nappanee. Here you can view 350 juried artists and crafters from across the nation. Most of their works are available for purchase. Four stages of live entertainment, puppet shows, and plenty of eats are available on this historic Amish farmstead.
  The Visitors' Center has tapes and CDs for 'guided' tours. You can chose to take a buggy tour if you like and have the time. For more information, contact the Visitors' Center. Phone: 1-800-262-8161.

New York Central Railroad Museum
  Founded in 1987, this museum is not only a preserver of the great NY Central Railroad and its super trains which connected New York City and Chicago - through Elkhart, Indiana back in the days when rail travel was the vital impetus to the economic and physical growth of the U.S.A. The museum also allows us to see and understand Elkhart's role as it functioned in this rail network. Elkhart's rail yard is still among the largest in the United States and Elkhart still is an important link in our nation's rail system. 
  From the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90), turn left at the end of the long off-ramp and follow IN-19 southbound into Elkhart to its end at Beardsley Avenue. Turn right, go 3 blocks to Main Street (marked by a traffic light) and turn left. Continue south on Main, crossing the St Joseph River, to the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and turn right into the Museum's parking lot. 721 South Main Street; phone 1-574-294-3001.  
  Hours are 10a-4p Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4p Sundays. Closed major holidays. Note that this is 'Chicago time' during the summer months because Indiana does not observe daylight savings time. The rest of the year this is Eastern Standard Time.
  View their web site at NYC Museum.

RV/MH Museum
  This is an activity of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation. An unusual museum, exhibits and displays trace the history of recreational vehicles and manufactured housing going back to the 1920s. On exhibit is a variety of recreational vehicles plus many, many photos. It is really very interesting.
  Following the directions to the North Central Railroad Museum, after you cross the tracks just continue one more block to St. Joseph Street. Turn right and drive to the end of the block to Benham Avenue. Address is 801 Benham Avenue. Telephone (toll-free) 1-800-378-8694 or visit their web site at: RV/MY Museum.

Classic Car Drive-in
   Do you enjoy classic cars? You can enjoy the Classic Car Drive-in every Thursday evening starting July 17th and running through August 14th. Held at the parking lot by the Das Dutchman Essenhaus (an excellent restaurant by the way) admission is FREE!

Elkhart County Visitors Center
   The Elkhart County Visitors Center supplies maps, including information about tours, dealers, repair services and more. Phone 1-800-262-8161 (toll-free) or stop by the Visitor Center and check out the free brochures and maps. They're located in Elkhart at North Pointe Plaza, behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant at I-80 exit 92.