In the Heart of Shipshewana: Morton House

I just love exploring small towns in the Midwest. Full of one-of-a-kind shops and eateries, each small town seems to have its own culture and unique form of hospitality.

One of my favorite things about a weekend getaway to a small town is checking out a new bed and breakfast. On our recent trip to Shipshewana, Indiana, we hit the BnB jackpot with Morton House! (**update: the Inn is under new ownership as of 2020, but this article will still give you a glimpse of how amazing this historic home is!)

My husband, Brent, and I are no strangers to BnBs, but this weekend getaway also included Brent’s daughter and her husband.

We were excited to introduce a younger generation to the wonderful world of Bed and Breakfasts while we enjoyed some quality time together before the impending arrival of their first baby. After their inaugural stay at Morton Street Inn, I think they are hooked!

With plenty of space to spread out, we all had just the right amount of togetherness and privacy.

Past and Present

This darling home was built in 1880 and sits in the heart of Amish Country, yet it has all the modern conveniences of today.

Visitors to Shipshewana interact with the Amish and learn about their culture, yet still get to enjoy luxuries…like electricity and wifi!

While the Morton House (formerly the Morton Street Inn) has been functioning as a BnB for more than 30 years, new owners just took over at the beginning of 2019.

In just a few short months, David Traylor and his wife have made many upgrades. They have transformed the decor in the living and dining rooms into a style that would make Joanna Gaines proud!

The Traylors also own a retail store in Shipshewana, the Ole Tin Rooster, which sells beautiful home decor and other goodies…featuring Joanna Gaines’ signature line, Magnolia Home.

Other recent upgrades include new beds and mattresses and more changes are coming. Whether you have been coming to Morton House for years or are planning your very first stay, you will be delighted with the updated accommodations and warm hospitality!

Unlike many BnBs we have stayed at, the owners of the Morton Street Inn do not live on the property.  We had the utmost of privacy, yet David was readily available to answer any questions we had about the Inn and this rare town we were calling home for the weekend.

Beds

There are just 4 guest rooms at the Inn, making it a truly intimate setting. You can book just one room for a romantic getaway with your significant other or reserve all 4 rooms for a family reunion, girls weekend, or couples retreat.

The Parlor room, on the first floor, and the Gardener room, located on the second floor, both feature comfy queen beds.

Two additional rooms are located on the second level, the Sewing Room and the Guest Room, and provide plenty of space, sleeping 4 in each room. All 4 bedrooms feature private bathrooms and TVs.

We slept soundly both nights during our stay, enjoying the soothing clip-clop sounds of the occasional horse and buggy that passed by and the sweet chirping of birds as the sun rose.

Breakfast

One of the best parts of staying at a BnB is that second B…Breakfast!

David, along with a sweet Amish girl who works at the Inn, treated us to scrambled eggs and sausage from a local farm along with Amish bread and an assortment of local jams and apple butter. It was farm-to-table at its finest!

Somehow David managed to top himself on day two of our stay with bacon and apple cinnamon french toast, made with fresh bread from the Bread Box Bakery & Cafe just next door.

Complete with an assortment of coffees, teas, and hot chocolate from the industrial Keurig and fresh orange juice, this is the perfect fuel to kickstart a day of sightseeing.

Hoosier Hospitality

At Morton House, the hospitality doesn’t stop at comfy beds and a delicious breakfast. Packaged treats from a local candy shop awaited us in our rooms and additional snacks were available in the dining room if we got the late night munchies.

A full-size fridge is also available for guests in the dining room, stocked with pop and water. After buying some local Amish cheese and meat to take home, having access to this fridge was extremely helpful, allowing us to safely store our goodies before it was time to head home.

And as if we weren’t eating enough, there was a tempting tower of scrumptious cookies from the Bread Box Bakery that kept calling my name from the dining room!

In addition to the spacious living room, complete with a large TV and a piano, there is an additional room at the back of the house filled with books and various games. And just out back is a large patio with numerous tables, perfect for gathering with friends or simply enjoying nature and this peaceful community.

Now join me on a tour of the Morton Street Inn to see just how charming this BnB really is!

Location, Location, Location

While it could be tempting to simply lock yourself inside the Morton House for your entire stay, Shipshewana is an amazing town to explore. And this BnB is perfectly located to enjoy it all.

You are literally just steps away from unique shops, a variety of local dining options, and a live theater venue. Park your car at the Morton Street Inn and explore Shipshewana on foot…or really get into the spirit of the Amish, and treat yourself to a buggy ride.

Now that you’ve taken the virtual tour, it’s time to visit Shipshewana and enjoy some Hoosier Hospitality for yourself.

We had such a fabulous time on our weekend getaway (learn more about our adventures in Shipshewana and our trip to a nearby winery!) that we will definitely be returning. And we will most certainly be back to the Morton Street Inn!

To book your stay at the Morton House click here or call 1-800-447-6475. And tell them Traveling Tanya sent you!

Morton House
120 N. Morton Street
Shipshewana, Indiana 46565

Learn more about everything Shipshewana has to offer at visitshipshewana.org.

Do you enjoy staying at Bed and Breakfasts? Comment below and tell me about your favorite BnB…I just may have to check it out!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

I’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to David Traylor with the Morton Street Inn for hosting our stay and to Jordan with the Shipshewana Visitor’s Center for coordinating our trip!  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

P.S. Subscribe to my email list (at the top of the screen) and never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips!

Pin It For Later!