Rochester has a laid-back atmosphere on the shores of Lake Manitou
Halfway between Kokomo and South Bend, the small city of Rochester is home to Lake Manitou, an all-sports lake that locals love and tourists have yet to discover. “It’s the small, rural county seat of Fulton County. It’s a farming community, and our biggest asset is our 800-acre lake that’s incorporated into town,” says Susan Morris, a resident of nearly 30 years and co-owner and principal broker of Rochester Realty. Downtown Rochester boasts boutiques, restaurants and small businesses, plus recent improvements like new streetlamps, refurbished facades and the renovation of the historic Times Theater. The venue now hosts concerts, films and community events, making it a popular destination for the city of about 7,000.
Activities on Lake Manitou and the Tippecanoe River
Lake Manitou is a go-to spot for summer recreation. “It’s an all-sports lake, so everything’s allowed on it,” Morris says. “There’s usually a fishing contest going on.” Due to agricultural runoff, the lake occasionally suffers from algae blooms; officials recommend avoiding contact with the water when blooms are severe, which tends to happen most during the summer and early fall. There’s more water-based recreation in the area, too. “The Tippecanoe River goes through Fulton County, and that provides a lot of entertainment because there are a lot of people who rent kayaks and canoes and go on river trips,” Morris says. Back on land, Rochester offers plenty of recreation with five parks, a swimming pool, nature reserves and Round Barn Golf Club, a public 18-hole golf course. The Nickel Plate Trail is another town asset. The 40-mile multiuse path follows an old railroad corridor and runs from Rochester to Kokomo.
Variety of homes in town and around the lake
Rochester has an assortment of home styles and prices, ranging from modest bungalows built in 1900 to new builds in subdivisions to custom-built lakefront estates. “We’re talking between $700,000 and $1 million on the lake, but this year lake houses aren’t selling because the interest rates are high and the economy’s uncertain,” Morris says. The median single-family home sale price is $200,000, which is lower than Warsaw’s median of about $260,000. The median cost of a townhouse is about $230,000, higher than the Warsaw median of roughly $200,000. “We don’t have enough housing,” Morris says. “If you price something appropriately, it’s going to get snapped up in a week.” The city is exploring the possibility of a new housing program to encourage residential development.
Downtown Rochester is a hub of commerce
Residents can run errands, shop and dine without leaving town. The city has more than 30 restaurants in addition to locally owned shops and grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart. There are plenty of options, from diner fare at Streamliner Family Restaurant to classic Mexican dishes at El Cielito Lindo and breakfast at Jarrety’s Place. The historic Fulton County Courthouse anchors downtown Rochester. “The downtown area is in the process of a revitalization,” Morries says. “The Times Theater has been completely renovated and sees musical groups almost every weekend. There are also restaurants on the lake that you can boat to. They have piers, so you don’t have to worry about driving.”
Within 45 minutes of Kokomo, South Bend and Warsaw
“I think Rochester is like the crossroads of north central Indiana,” Morris says. “You can get anywhere from here because U.S. Route 31 runs through town. It’s a great thoroughfare to get to South Bend, Indianapolis and Kokomo. And Michigan is only 50 or 55 minutes from here.” Kokomo and South Bend are about 40 miles away, while Indianapolis is about 100 miles south. The employment hub of Warsaw is about 30 miles away. Medical care is available in town are Woodlawn Hospital. A Parkview Health medical helicopter is stationed at Fulton County Airport, which can cause some noise.
College credit and career pathways at Rochester schools
Rochester Community School Corporation receives a C-plus rating from Niche. The district has about 1,200 students with two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Teens can take dual credit courses through Ivy Tech and Indiana University. The high school also offers more than a dozen career-focused pathways such as digital design, early childhood education, horticulture and precision machining.
The Trail of Courage offers a glimpse into pioneer life
Residents look forward to annual events like the downtown chili cook-off and classic car shows. One of Rochester’s most notable celebrations is the Trail of Courage, a living history festival that transports visitors back to the Indiana frontier. The festival also honors the Native American people who were forcibly removed from the area in the 1830s. “The Trail of Tears passed through here and we have a Native American community that still lives here in town,” Morris says. “The Trail of Courage is a huge event — they have entertainment, people dress up in pioneer clothes, they have lots and lots of food, and they have demonstrations and dances.”
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
