Our Stay in South Bend, IN

Indiana

June 2024

Continuing Nostalgia on Our Way to South Bend, IN

With South Bend, Indiana, as today’s final destination, we decided to continue experiencing the charm of Route 66 after leaving Springfield, Illinois. Along the way, we got caught up in the Mother Road’s quirky roadside attractions. And as always, with all those whimsical landmarks, I just had to stop and take pictures!

So, here is an overview of all them all. Our journey began with a classic Historic Route 66 shield, followed by a beautiful stop at a vintage Texaco station that showcased a light-blue 1950s Chevrolet. In Elkhart, the large brick mural reminded us why it’s called “The Mother Road,” and the Dutch-inspired architecture of The Mill in Lincoln added another cute piece of Route 66 art.

We continued past more well-preserved antique garages and found the famous giant Abraham Lincoln sitting on a massive covered wagon. Other whimsical landmarks ranged from a cheerful smiley-face water tower to oversized “Muffler Men” statues, one holding a giant hot dog and another, a gap-toothed character, standing before industrial silos.

When we reached the colorful town sign of McLean, we left the slow-paced nostalgia of the past behind for the fast modern highway. This was a necessary change, as those many whimsical stops had made the drive take much longer than expected.

From Industry to Serenity, the Mishawaka Riverwalk

We started the day with a relaxed walk along the Mishawaka Riverwalk, enjoying the peaceful scenery along the St. Joseph River. However, it is worth noting that the Riverwalk wasn’t always a place for relaxation. Back in the 1800s, this area was a busy industrial hub, with heavy manufacturing factories and mills along the riverbanks.

Over time, the transformation of the area led to a scenic trail that winds for over three miles through Mishawaka’s park, now showcasing fabulous artworks and magnificent bridges. The only reminders of the area’s industrial past are the high-end apartment complexes named “The Mill” and “Ironworks Plaza.”

Walk East Race Waterway

Studebaker, An American Legacy

We also visited the Studebaker Museum. Founded in 1852, the Studebaker brothers built their name on sturdy wagons that helped settle the American West. By the early 1900s, they started building automobiles and became known for craftsmanship and ingenuity. The museum provided a detailed narrative of the company, accompanied by the cars it produced. During the Great Depression, however, Studebaker declared bankruptcy, but then restarted. While they found some later success, they struggled to keep pace with other brands like General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, the latter known as the “Big Three”.

About 30 years later, declining sales, outdated production facilities, and an overall inability to compete became too much to overcome. Studebaker stopped car production in South Bend in 1963. By 1966, the legendary brand sadly closed its remaining factory in Hamilton, Ontario, bringing an end to its operations. Even after the factory doors closed, the Studebaker legacy has been kept alive by members of the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC), the Antique Studebaker Club (ASC), and the Avanti Owners Association International (AOAI). The Studebaker still appears in books, movies, television shows, songs, and even on stamps.

In and around Our Airbnb

We had a marvelous stay at a comfortable Airbnb in a peaceful suburb of South Bend. I felt relaxed walking through the neighborhood, since there was hardly any traffic. On the day of our departure, I went out for one final walk, but a fast-moving storm forced me to cut my route short. I made it back to the house just moments before the rain started pouring..

Our next destination was Naperville, Illinois, the very place where our American adventure first began back in 2007. After all these years, I was looking forward to reconnecting with old friends.