My Farm Stay took me to Indiana, where I visited Mirror Lake Farm a 150 acre farm with dairy cows, and crops. The farm sits on beautiful land, surrounded by the Amish countryside. When you visit you’ll see Amish families in their horse and buggies driving by the property. Kathy and Jed Fought own Mirror Lake Farm located on a small lake outside Rome City and Topeka, Indiana. Here you’ll experience farm life. Guests can watch and participate in the daily milking of the farms 85 cows or take a combine ride through the fields or a gator ride through the 25 acres of trails that have been created by Kathy and Jed. There’s also the option of taking a canoe or kayak out on the river that runs through their property or out on the lake in front of the cabin. All of these activities are included in the cost of your stay and allow you to really get a sense of country living. Hunting and fishing can be added for an additional fee.

Feeding one of the Mirror Lake Farm baby calves.

On my visit the property was serene and beautiful. From the guest cabin visitors have a full lake view as well as view of one pasture. It’s truly relaxing and gorgeous. Kathy is welcoming and down to earth. When I arrived she welcomed me with a warm Chai tea latte freshly topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Kathy’s home is a historic 1830 Greek revival that they have lovingly restored and made welcoming for visitor breakfasts and group activities such as scrap booking or genealogy events.

Mirror Lake Farm Stay

Mirror Lake Cabin Living Room

Mirror Lake Cabin Bedroom

The guest cabin sleeps seven and comes complete with a fireplace, an antique claw foot tub and a small cooking area where guests can use a microwave, coffee pot and toaster oven. The cabin living room has a lake view and two sleeper sofas for additional guests. The bedroom offers a large double bed as well as a single twin. Outside visitors can build a fire in the fire pit or cook on the provided grill. If guests want to unwind in the evening after a day of exploring they have access to the farms hot tub located in the main house.

There were many welcoming and sweet touches throughout the property and house. On Kathy’s table are gratitude stones which have the words Thankful, Grateful and Blessings. She uses these stones at Thanksgiving so that family and friends alike may share memories of gratitude and thanks. Her living room has become a gift shop showcasing primitive crafts, which are items such as old windows which have been repurposed to be beautiful home accessories. She makes handmade Christmas light sets as well as an assortment of other handmade treasures.

Within a short driving distance of the farm are two small towns with Amish restaurants and country cooking as well as an old time soda fountain with real vanilla cokes. Visitors can experience Amish auctions throughout the year in this area. A little further away is the town of Shipshewana which has a world class flea market, an enormouns Amish community and many country craft and gift shops as well as Amish carriage rides.

Mirror Lake Farm offers the following;
Guest Cabin sleeping 7
Primitive Cabin sleeping 4
Weekend Scrapbooking Packages
Weekend Genealogy Packages
Fishing and Hunting for a fee
Pets are welcome

A view of the primitive cabin

The Primitive Cabin
This cabin is in the woods and has an out house and a campfire for cooking. Pots, pans and cook ware essentials are provided as well as wood, a lantern and a propane heater. Bedding should be brought with you. The primitive cabin is not rented during hunting (gun season).
The primitive camp offers the option of a group stays, 12 total. The cabin sleeps four and the remaining guests may tent camp.

A Farm Stay vacation is a delightful way to get away from it all and rediscover the joys of nature, sunsets on the lake and country living.

Mirror Lake Farm
11463 N 150 W
Rome City, Indiana 46784
260-854-4675

Cades Cove is a delightful day trip from Gatlinburg, Tenn. To reach Cades Cove you drive into the Smoky Mountain National Park. From the start you are surrounded by nature and beauty. Cades Cove is a historical area with cabins, churches and a mill that are restored from the 1800’s. Cades Cove is a driving tour of historical cabins which allows visitors to stop at each historic site for a walk, view and photos of the area. While we were there we saw bears on three occassions from our jeep. At one location a baby bear cub was eating at the edge of the road and a ranger was directing traffic around it. The bear cub was just feet from our window which was an unexpected treat adding to the pleasure of Cades Cove. For more amazing photo of the day shots, visit http://www.DeliciousBaby.com

This is one of many gorgeous views I experienced in Smoky Mountain National Park. It is an incredible place to visit and to feel yourself surrounded by natural beauty, wild life and serenity.