Supporting tourism today sets the stage for brighter future

Small business is the lifeblood of any community.

The entrepreneurial spirit that Elkhart County residents know so well drives the creation of great ideas. And when those great ideas are nurtured and developed, and given room to grow, it’s a win for everyone who lives and works here.

At the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau, we’ve seen that scenario play out many times.

At an event that the Elkhart County CVB hosted in May 2025 at Wellfield Botanic Garden in Elkhart, we were reminded of that yet again.

We had invited Joel Miller, the campus manager of Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, to speak at a Tourism Matters event. We were there to celebrate the tremendous impact that the tourism and hospitality industry has on life in Elkhart County, to the tune of $820 million-plus in annual economic impact in 2024.

Das Dutchman Essenhaus is one of those businesses that is part of the fabric of our Elkhart County community. But take a step back for a moment. Essenhaus’ story is an inspiration to me and to everyone who believes in tourism and hospitality.

If you don’t know Joel, he is humble and unassuming. However, what he shared at our event was like a thunderclap.

Joel recalled how his parents, Bob and Sue Miller, took over a modest truck stop on U.S. 20 more than 50 years ago. Through hard work, determination and sheer force of will, Joel’s mom and dad built Das Dutchman Essenhaus little by little.

Joel and his siblings were a part of that story, each in their own way contributing to Essenhaus’ growth. Today, Das Dutchman Essenhaus is the foundation of a robust tourism and hospitality economy in Elkhart County, one that is poised for more growth with timely, strategic investments.

In the wake of that event, Joel had this to say, “Essenhaus has been proud to call Middlebury home for more than 50 years. In that time, our business has flourished and grown, providing a lifetime of memories for our Elkhart County residents and jobs for generations. It’s especially gratifying to welcome and develop talented youth who have grown up to be critical members of our team.”

Essenhaus is not alone in being part of the talent attraction and retention landscape here, but they are a reminder of how important supporting entrepreneurship can be.

Today, tourism and hospitality supports more than 7,000 jobs in Elkhart County, and workers in this industry take home $170 million in wages. 

For the Elkhart County CVB, supporting tourism and hospitality businesses goes far beyond marketing to visitors, as important as that is. Our work over the last few years has been built around supporting small business and our cities and towns, to build experiences and create inviting places for residents and visitors to gather.

Elkhart County CVB staff and initiatives have led to exciting developments such as:

• Goshen Theater revitalized to support residents and arts groups;
• an invigorated River District in Elkhart welcoming new residents and businesses every day;
• a completed Pumpkinvine Nature Trail that is magnet for recreation and commerce from Goshen to Middlebury to Shipshewana;
• Nappanee taking charge of its future with an exciting downtown master plan;
• Bristol supporting its beloved community assets such as the Corndog Festival and their parks;
• Middlebury’s ongoing improvements to its public spaces and trail networks, helping deliver even more value to its residents and businesses;
• Millersburg taking important steps to build a town that its residents want.

We envision an Elkhart County in the future that is bursting with richly curated arts and cultural experiences, outdoor recreation that connects communities with each other, and youth and participation sports that will put us on the cutting edge of growth potential.

We invite all of Elkhart County to join us in investing in our future together.