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Visitors bureau highlights 19th annual quilt gardens and new 'Northern Signature Experiences' in Elkhart County
Summary
A visitors bureau representative told the council about the county’s quilt gardens (19th year), volunteer groups maintaining them, and a new reservation‑based 'Northern Signature Experiences' program launching with 11 limited experiences across three counties.
A representative of the county visitors bureau (identified on the record as Jeff) presented a brief tourism update to the council, distributed the latest area guide and promoted the 19th annual quilt gardens that run along Elkhart County’s Heritage Trail.
Jeff said the quilt gardens are designed and maintained by volunteer groups across communities and are supported by bureau marketing and flower provisions; the gardens are expected to be in bloom from Memorial Day through Labor Day. He also introduced a new pilot program called Northern Signature Experiences in Northern Indiana: a set of limited, reservation‑required two‑hour experiences (11 total across three counties, including Elkhart, St. Joseph and LaGrange counties) that the bureau and partners will market to residents and visitors.
Jeff invited council members and the public to a visitor‑center business‑after‑hours event (5–7 p.m.) at the center on the Casopolis corridor and promoted upcoming events including a jazz festival (June 18–20) and a ‘Celebration Under the Stars’ event on Aug. 29; he also noted bureau sponsorship of the Elkhart Rail 175 series and other local cultural programming. When asked by Councilman Henke, Jeff confirmed the innkeepers tax is 5% and said the city does not pay a membership fee to the bureau.
The presentation was informational; councilmembers thanked the presenter and moved on to other agenda items.
