Elkhart

Dunlap, a former farm community between Elkhart and Goshen, is now a thriving neighborhood of more than 6,000 residents. Dunlap's story is that of a triumphant rebuild in the wake of tragedy. On April 11, 1965, one of the largest tornadoes in American history practically wiped it from the map. The devastating storm killed 34 people in Dunlap, which had fewer than 1,200 residents at the time – an unthinkable toll. In the Sunnyside subdivision, practically nothing was left standing. The rebuild began two weeks later -- and hasn’t stopped since. There’s a wide range of housing in Dunlap, which is spread out over nearly 5 square miles. Ranches and bungalows start around $110,000, and bilevels start around $190,000. Both types of homes can range as high as $300,000. Contemporary custom houses built from the 1990s to the present, both ranch and two-story, can range from just under $350,000 to nearly $700,000. Concord Schools are the pride of Dunlap. The district, which has an overall B-rating on Niche, is the 14th-most diverse school district in Indiana. Kindergarten through fourth grade students attend either South Side Elementary (C+) or Ox-Bow Elementary (B-) before heading to Concord Intermediate School (B-) for fifth and sixth grade. Concord Junior High and Concord High School both earn B-grades. Concord High is renowned for its music programs. The marching band is a five-time state champion, and the orchestra and choir are both five-time state finalists. Sports are also a big deal at Concord – former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp is among the athletes who have played for the Minutemen over the years. Dunlap’s location on Lincoln Highway – 5 miles from downtown Elkhart and 5 miles from downtown Goshen – is an obvious factor in its growth. It’s also about 4 miles from the industrial district that has earned Elkhart’s reputation as the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Capital of the World. “Dunlap is right there,” says area resident Mark Krol, who originally moved to the area to work in the RV industry. “It’s very convenient for anybody working in Elkhart or Goshen.” Dunlap is also on the Interurban Trolley Red Line, which runs between Elkhart and Goshen. Dunlap has grocery options to the northwest (Martin’s Super Market) and southeast (Aldi and Meijer), further adding to its convenience. It’s also home to one of Northern Indiana’s three Flavor Freeze locations. The ice cream shop, which has been a local favorite since 1966, has soft-serve, homemade scoops, and a long list of specialty sundaes. The neighborhood’s most well-known staple is Granma’s House of Pancakes, which is as renowned for its fast service as its massive pancakes. Ox-Bow County Park is the most popular in Elkhart County, drawing nearly 250,000 visitors annually. With more than a half-dozen picnic shelters spread across its 200 acres, birthday parties, graduation parties and family reunions are a common summer sight. A launch on the Elkhart River makes it possible to float or kayak to Elkhart or Goshen. And a 34-foot-tall observation tower provides views for miles around the largely flat expanse of Elkhart County. Residents don’t stop using Ox-Bow during the winter months – trails are groomed for cross-country skiing, and its two sled hills are a big draw in an area where such topography isn’t the norm. Ox-Bow Park’s Halloween Campfire has grown from one of Dunlap’s most popular events to one of the most popular in the entire Elkhart area. “We used to attract a couple hundred people,” says Elkhart County Parks Director Ronda DeCair. “Now we get thousands over two to three nights.” It really is a campfire – not a bonfire – but still draws plenty of families dressed in costume for hayrides, pumpkin decorating, night hikes and roasting marshmallows.

Set along the southern banks of the Upper Saint Joseph River, East Jackson's river access and proximity to nearby downtown have long made it one of Elkhart's most coveted neighborhoods. Many area houses were built in the 1920s or earlier, while several upscale homes have been built along the riverfront in the past decade. "Living on the Upper Saint Joe is very desirable," says area resident Mark Krol. “You can get really big, nice houses on the water on that river." And though not every house in the neighborhood is on the river, public access points for boaters and anglers are nearby. “One of the things that appeals to me about this area is the options for water recreation,” says Krol, who has lived and worked around Elkhart for 20 years. “Pontoon boating, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing. Elkhart does a really good job making the waterways accessible for everyone, even if you don’t live along the river.” In many communities, the riverfront would be a precarious place to live, but not in Elkhart. With dams controlling the water flow, the banks of the Upper St. Joe make for the area’s most valued real estate. Most residents along 'The Saint Joe' have docks connecting their backyard to the river. Riverfront homes north of East Jackson Boulevard are an eclectic mix of styles, old and new, and they can range from $255,000-775,000 depending on size and proximity to the river. There’s also a mix of styles south of East Jackson Boulevard, including bungalows, ranches, Cape Cods and American Foursquares. These houses range between $120,000-250,000. Riverview Elementary, located just a block from East Jackson in adjacent Riverview East, serves kindergarten through sixth grade and receives a C-plus rating on Niche. Students move on to C-rated Pierre Moran Middle School before attending the Elkhart High Freshman Division, which is just west of the neighborhood at the former Elkhart Central High campus. Students finish at Elkhart High School, which has a B-minus rating. Elkhart High opened in 2021 as a merger of Elkhart Central and Elkhart Memorial High Schools, which split from the original Elkhart High before coming back together nearly 50 years later. Two parks border the neighborhood: Riverview Park to the east and American Park to the west. Riverview Park, adjacent to Riverview Elementary, has four baseball fields and a skatepark. American Park sits on an Elkhart River peninsula. Kokomo High’s softball and soccer fields are here, as is a portion of the 2-mile-long River Greenway Trail. There are also grills, picnic shelters and ample spots for fishing in the Elkhart River, a Saint Joseph tributary. East Jackson is almost entirely residential but only minutes away from shopping and dining options in downtown Elkhart. There are grocery stores on either side of the Saint Joseph River – Martin's Super Market on the south side and Kroger to the north. Poplar dining options just west of Johnson Street include La Esperanza Mexican Restaurant, Volcano Pizza, and Brass Elk Brewing. Brass Elk, which tips its cap to Elkhart’s history manufacturing brass instruments, is directly accessible from the Elkhart Riverwalk and features a riverside patio. East Jackson Boulevard is Elkhart’s primary thoroughfare on Saint Joseph’s south shore. Jackson intersects with the Johnson Street Bridge, making this one of the most convenient neighborhoods for reaching Elkhart's north side. Few south side neighborhoods are more convenient for reaching Interstate 90, which is 4 miles to the north. Chicago is about two hours west on I-90. This is a car-dependent neighborhood, but public transit is also available with Interurban Trolley Orange Line stops on Superior Street. Elkhart’s biggest events are easy to reach from East Jackson, including the annual Elkhart Jazz Festival, which draws top artists to the downtown Lerner Theatre each June for over three decades. Bruce Hornsby, Keb’ Mo, Gregory Porter and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band are among the recent headliners to play Elkhart’s jazz fest. In early August, downtown streets shut down for the annual Elkhart Grand Prix – think F1 race, but with go-karts. For residents living on the river, getting around on the water for recreation is nearly as important as getting around on land for necessities. On summer weekends, the river is flowing with recreational watersports enthusiasts. “You have all this mileage of river to cruise on,” Krol says. “It's not like you’re doing laps in a bathtub. It's a fun river to boat on.”