NAPPANEE, Ind.--The Mayor of Nappanee, Phil Jenkins, responded on Monday to the recently announced closure of Amish Acres.

The owners of the well-known Amish farm have announced that Amish Acres will close on January 1, 2020 as they plan to retire.

Amish Acres has been in operation for over 50 years.

Mayor Jenkins released the following statement regarding the closure:

The City of Nappanee is saddened to hear the news of the closing of Amish Acres at the end of 2019. For 50 years, Amish Acres has been the primary destination for visitors heading to Nappanee. Through the vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication of Dick Pletcher, Amish Acres has provided the entire region with a rich cultural treasure. Celebrating the Amish and Anabaptist lifestyle through traditional Threshers Dinners at the barn, tours of the historic farm, and plays in the Round Barn Theatre, Nappanee’s history has been preserved and shared with the public.

 For over 50 years, the Arts & Crafts Festival has attracted crafters, artisans, and musicians, to display their wares and share their talents. As one of the largest events of its kind, thousands converged on Amish Acres for the event year after year from around the region, the state, and the nation.

We wish the Pletcher’s a long and well-deserved retirement. We are committed to working with the family to find a suitable buyer of the property.

If Nappanee is known for one thing, it is resiliency. We have been through tough times before and each time we have rallied to come back stronger. We are confident that will be the case in this situation as well. We will work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau to continue to promote tourism and hospitality opportunities in the Nappanee and surrounding areas.