Our family just spent 3 days and 2 nights visiting Shipshewana, Indiana, which is located in the heart of Indiana’s Amish Country. It was an amazing visit, with more to do than you might expect in a small town (seriously, we want to go back to explore more that we missed!).
But what made it the perfect visit was our stay at the Blue Gate Garden Inn.
The Blue Gate Garden Inn is more than just a place to rest—it’s a resort! It’s not only beautiful both inside and outside, but it has amenities that exceeded our expectations. Many hotels have nice extras like a pool and free breakfast, but the Blue Gate Garden Inn has a pool, hot tub, fitness center, arcade, patio, gift shop, ice cream and pizza, and the best, biggest complimentary breakfast buffet we’ve ever had at a hotel. They even have a basketball court and a tetherball court!
(Disclosure: Our family was provided with a complimentary stay to facilitate this review, and this post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)
The Blue Gate Garden Inn in Shipshewana, Indiana
Lobby
When you walk into this grand hotel, you enter a large lobby that feels super homey and relaxing. There are couches, brochures, a gift shop, and a display with a John Deere tractor. You know you’re in Amish and farm country when you come here! The front desk staff are super helpful and welcoming too.
Hotel Rooms
There are 155 hotel rooms here. Many have balconies, others have views of the patio (like ours did). There are various suites as well. We had a room that had a King Bed and a Queen Bed. I really liked this layout as it’s ideal for families, offering a bigger bed for the parents! It even included a kitchenette area.
In the rooms are complimentary water bottles, Amish artwork on the walls, and everything you could need for a nice stay.
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
The Blue Gate Garden Inn has the best free breakfast I’ve ever had at a hotel! It is a buffet with an omelet station, plus waffles, other egg dishes, breakfast casseroles, oatmeal, cereals, fruit, pastries, juice, coffee, and other options. My kids loved the waffle-making stations, as you could make different flavors of waffles – original, strawberry, and chocolate.
My husband and I loved the omelets and casseroles (it was like old-fashioned home cooking!). The pastries are from their own bakery too.
I think the breakfast was everybody’s favorite part…
Pool and Hot Tub
Both nights that we stayed here we enjoyed the indoor pool and hot tub. The pool is large, and the hot tub was very relaxing.
Patio
Right outside the pool area is a big patio with fire pits and pretty lights that go on at night. We had a nice view of it from our room.
Arcade
The arcade was a hit with my kids! They spent a lot of time here both nights. Most games are only $.25, so you can play a lot for cheap! The claw game was tricky to win (I don’t recommend this one), but I loved playing nostalgic games with my kids like Pac-Man and Skee-ball.
Ice Cream and Pizza
Right across from the arcade is the Ice Creamery which has ice cream and pizza, plus places to sit and eat. There’s even a “living room” nearby to sit and watch TV. My kids had some ice cream here which was refreshing after a busy day.
Fitness Center
There is a large fitness center here with lots of machines that is available 24/7. I used it both mornings we stayed here and met a nice lady named Rosie who volunteers at the Blue Gate Theatre next door. She gave me some tips for our visit while I got a good workout.
Other Amenities
There are other amenities like laundry machines, which we did one night, plus a basketball court and a tetherball court out back, which we didn’t have time to use but was so cool to have there.
They also have banquet rooms and special event space for events like weddings and meetings.
And a Theatre!
Right next door to the hotel is the Blue Gate Theatre, where they have famous entertainers, musicals, and other shows. Though we didn’t have time for a show while we were here, we were very impressed with the schedule. Crowder was here performing during our stay, and many more famous people have been here. Check it out!
Explore the Amish Countryside
While you’re here, be sure to explore Shipshewana and the Amish Countryside! The Blue Gate Garden Inn is located right in the middle of Shipshewana so it’s super convenient. Be sure to see the bustling Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market, the family attractions like Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park and Cook’s Bison Ranch, plus the local shops that sell everything from handmade quilts to locally crafted furniture. You can also take a scenic buggy ride, driven by an Amish driver! We did all this and more. Be sure to watch my Reel about our visit.
A Memorable Experience
Whether you’re visiting Shipshewana for a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or a special event, the Blue Gate Garden Inn offers a great experience. The comfort, tradition, and hospitality here makes it stand out in Indiana’s Amish Country. Blue Gate’s peaceful setting, delicious food, and variety of amenities, it was the perfect place for us to relax during our visit to Indiana.
The Blue Gate Garden Inn is located at 800 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565.
Here’s a map:
Book a stay here!
Want more info? Be sure to visit their website here.