10/27/2026
Did you know the Davis Mercantile used to be a hotel? 🏨
The story goes all the way back to 1891, when Hezekiah Davis built the Old Davis Hotel near the train depot to give travelers passing through Shipshewana a place to stay.
Years later, the Miller family purchased and refurbished the old hotel, reopening six guest rooms, which were the only overnight accommodations in Shipshewana at the time.
On February 28, 2004, a devastating fire destroyed the Old Davis Hotel, the Mercantile, and an entire block.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Support poured in from the community. With help from local craftsmen and the Amish community, the Mercantile was rebuilt as the timber-framed structure it is today.
🖼️ Painting by Marlene Lehman