About Nappanee

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Nappanee, Indiana has a strong heritage of hard work, service above self, and future vision that has continued to shape Nappanee. While we may have lost some of the original buildings, we are blessed to have a solid architectural inventory still in use today and a wonderful archive of photos that tell the story of our past. Our downtown has re-purposed many of the existing buildings as we continue to evolve and adapt to changing times. However, if you look closely at the tops of many of the buildings and murals, you will see our strong connection to the past. While the buildings tell an interesting story, it is the people that make our City so special. These families have graciously welcomed and embraced new families along the way to create an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere for all of those that call Nappanee home and those that are visiting or just passing through.

The City of Nappanee spans 4.421 square miles across Locke and Union Township in Elkhart County.

We continue to build strong ties locally and nationally through involvement in organizations such as:

Signature Festivals

The Nappanee Apple Festival is held annually on the third week of September. It consists of 100 craft booths, 50 commercial booths, 20 food vendors, two stages for entertainment, a large parade and an airplane flyover. The festival is home to Indiana’s largest 7-foot baked apple pie and comes out of the oven just in time to kick off the festival! In 2016 and 2013, the Nappanee Apple Festival was chosen as #1 in the State of Indiana in the Top Ten Fall Festival Signature Food Items for our 7-foot apple pie! Over 800 slices of pie are served to many visitors from around the United States who travel to Nappanee to savor their annual piece of pie. Proud of our family-friendly atmosphere and Midwestern hospitality, the festival attracts an average of more than 80,000 people annually and has become one of the largest festivals in the State of Indiana!

Notable People

Vance George – Conductor of the San Franciso Symphony Chorus from 1982-2006
Rob Rensberger – professional basketball player for the Chicago Stags
Merrill Blosser – creator of the comic strip ‘Freckles and His Friends’
Bill Holman – cartoonist who drew the class comic strip, ‘Smokey Stover’
Fred Neher – cartoonist know for his syndicated gag panel, ‘Life’s Like That’
David Crane – creator of Pitfall! and co-founder of Activision

Awards and Accolades

National Registry of Historic Places

Frank and Katherine Coppes home (Victorian Guest House)
Downtown Nappanee Historic District
Arthur Miller House (253 E. Market St.)
Nappanee Eastside Historic District
Nappanee West Park and Pavilion
Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns Farm (Amish Acres)

Local Historic Landmarks

Historic John Hartman House (Nappanee Center)

Indiana Historical Markers

Nappanee Cartoonists
Nappanee Furniture Industry

Sister City: Great Napanee, Ontario

Great Napanee is part of the County of Lennox & Addington in the heart of Eastern Ontario. Conveniently situated along Highway 401, our borders stretch from the shores of the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario north to Roblin, the western gateway to the Land O’ Lakes region. Great Napanee is a vibrant, historic town with a population of 15,892 making it a great place to live, work and play.

Visit greaternapanee.com for more information.

Nappanee