Time, Talent, Money & Love Are Transforming Rural Communities

By: INPUT Fort Wayne

As the county seat of Wabash County, located in northeast Indiana, Wabash is home to a number of notable locations, attractions, and historical events. For example, songs such as “Wabash Cannonball” and “On the Banks of the Wabash”, were inspired by the Wabash River, which flows through the town. In 1880, electric lights were placed atop the Wabash County Courthouse, making Wabash the first electrically lighted town in the United States.

Today, Wabash is home to the Honeywell Center, the Eagles Theatre, and a wide array of restaurants, shops, and other attractions, which draw in a variety of visitors and new residents.

The town is shaped by a number of deeply dedicated residents, who invest their time, talents and money back into the community they call home. But Wabash isn’t the only spot in Wabash County experiencing a revitalization driven by its own residents.

The rural communities of Lagro, LaFontaine (pronounced “La-Fountain”), Roann and Urbana are experiencing a renaissance, thanks to people investing in the long-term future and viability.

Input Fort Wayne explored rural communities of Wabash County to learn more about their developments and the people behind them.

Jen Bailey in Lagro

Jen Bailey and her husband, Ben Bailey, have invested heavily in Lagro and other areas of Wabash County, and they continue to do so. Their journey began in 2002 when they bought five acres and a dilapidated house and barn in Lagro. They restored the house, but at first, they weren’t sure what they wanted to do with the barn.

“We knew that we wanted to restore the barn into a viable business,” she says. “We just really weren’t sure what that looked like.”

They came up with the idea of horse boarding and eventually named it Salamonie Bridle Stalls. At the bottom of the barn are horse stables, which can serve people traveling with their horses who want to ride the Salamonie Lake Bridle Trails.

By that point, only the bottom portion of the barn had been restored. A few years later, Jen and Ben tackled the upstairs, which is now an Airbnb apartment called The Carriage House. Guests have come from as far away as the United Kingdom, and business has been brisk.

“Carriage House has a 93 percent occupancy rate, so there are very few days in the entire year when it’s not being utilized,” says Jen. “That’s a massive number, considering our location.”

The Baileys built on that success by purchasing a church that was no longer used in Wabash and transforming it into the Sanctuary, an Airbnb that can accommodate 16 guests. It has a 76 percent occupancy rate, and if it weren’t for their first Airbnb in Lagro, a much smaller town, the Sanctuary would not exist.

“It snowballed off of the Carriage House,” she explains.

Their newest venture is Geronimo, a shop in Lagro that specializes in Western wear. The Baileys own the last three standing downtown buildings in Lagro, and Geronimo is located inside one of them. Originally, there were four buildings, but the roof of one of the buildings collapsed, leaving what is essentially a courtyard in its wake.

“They are basically three joined commercial buildings, so we have three storefronts, three apartments upstairs, and then we added two more townhouses in the back,” says Jen.

She says she envisions the townhouses being ready for lease in spring 2025. She says that she and her husband are looking at adding a restaurant and bar in the other two commercial buildings, which would put the three commercial building areas at full capacity.

Additionally, the Baileys have bought a handful of other properties in Lagro, two of them single-family homes, both since renovated. Both have been sold.

The way Jen sees it, she and her husband are investing in the future of Lagro, the community they love, and other people are starting to follow suit.

“We definitely see people who wouldn’t normally have invested in Lagro, and now they’re starting to invest in Lagro specifically,” says Jen, who knows that what she and her husband have done and continue to do seems risky to some. “There are a lot of people who don’t like to be the first ones in, and they don’t want to take that massive risk. Honestly, a lot of people just aren’t imaginative enough to see things in a better light. There’s a lot of negativity. ‘Why would you spend this kind of money? In this town? You’re never going to make it back.’ And it isn’t necessarily about us making it back, and that’s what a lot of people don’t understand. Taking a town, especially Lagro, with all of the challenges it has, we know that there may never be a financial payback in that town. We’re not necessarily doing this for us right now—we’re doing it because we know where Lagro is going to end up eventually.”

Tammy Keaffaber in Urbana and Lagro

The Rustic Barn at Hopewell, owned by Deb Conner, is a two-level barn that provides more than 9,000 square feet of event space for weddings and special events. Tammy Keaffaber, Deb’s sister, owns the Antique Boutique at Hopewell, also in Urbana. Tammy and her husband, Randy, along with her sister Deb, own The Hopewell House, a 5,000-square-foot home in Lagro that they have transformed into an Airbnb.

“There’s a lot of Hopewell going on,” says Tammy, laughing.

The Rustic Barn was Tammy’s grandparents’ old dairy barn, and it all started because her oldest son wanted to have his wedding reception there.

“She [Deb Conner] had somebody look and make sure that the floor was structural and all that, and they said we should really do something with this place,” Tammy recalls.

About a half-mile up the road from the Rustic Barn was an old one-room Methodist church that was no longer in use, which is now home to the Antique Boutique. The shop is rarely open for in-person shopping, but it is home to a wide variety of antiques that are sold online.

“It was a good way to use that building and keep it from being demolished,” says Tammy.

The Hopewell House is located in Lagro, about seven miles southeast of Urbana. It was built in 1880, and when Tammy, her husband, and her sister acquired it, it was in bad shape and even had a hole in the roof. They began the long task of restoring and renovating.

“What we did was basically put a new house in an old frame,” Tammy explains.

Now, the four-story building has been restored to its original grandeur, complete with original flooring and trim. It has a complementary relationship with the Rustic Barn, as brides and bridesmaids often spend the night at The Hopewell House before a wedding at the Barn. Tammy says it’s also a good place for family reunions, as it sleeps 14 people.

Tammy says she is excited about what is happening in both Urbana and Lagro. Of the latter, she acknowledges the work of residents like Jen and Ben Bailey, the town’s proximity to the Wabash River Trail, and places like the 950 Speakeasy Bistro, a restaurant and bar that overlooks the Wabash River, and River Hippie, a store that sells clothing and jewelry. She says appreciates how the two communities are connected.

“There are great things happening in both communities,” she explains. “Lagro has the advantage of being located along the Wabash River, with access to the new Wabash River Trail. Urbana has more through traffic, with its downtown being right at State Road 13.”

Small communities located close together often benefit from the growth of one another.

“Lagro and Urbana are only a few miles apart and are definitely interconnected,” says Tammy. “For example, the Hopewell House in Lagro is only about five to seven miles from the Rustic Barn and also Antique Boutique, both of which technically have an Urbana address. Long ago, there were separate schools that eventually merged into the same elementary and high school system, so those families are raising children and working together.”

Maria Smyth in LaFontaine

About three years ago, Maria Smyth and her husband decided to move to LaFontaine from Wabash, so they purchased a house there. For Maria, it was a natural choice to move Eclectic Shoppe, which specializes in vintage and antique treasures, to LaFontaine as well.

“My heart has always been one to invest in the community where I live,” she says. “Not necessarily with money, but with talent, drive, and determination to make a difference.”

Eclectic Shoppe is open on Fridays and Saturdays for customers who want to shop in person. The rest of the time, the business is a hub for selling online, taking calls for home staging and keeping small rooms that they rent at Treasured Finds in Wabash and Jake’s Antiques in Marion stocked.

“We take pride in offering unique, quality items, many of which are responsibly sourced and well-curated,” says Maria. “For example, we recently purchased a batch of heirloom rugs, and each purchase helps fund education initiatives abroad. So we feel good about the impact we’re making.”

Since Maria and her husband moved to LaFontaine, she and other women have created the LaFontaine Community Alliance, which, in her words, is “a group of dedicated volunteers and residents who want to make a difference by enhancing the character of our charming little town.”

Specifically, she says she would like to see flowers, benches, and other “small improvements that make a big difference.”

The LaFontaine Community Alliance has hosted a couple of block parties featuring live music and food trucks. They are also working to become an affiliate of Main Street America.

“I am bound and determined to invest in my community,” Maria says. “Just like when I moved to Wabash and got involved there, I want to do the same in LaFontaine, even if the town only has approximately 800 people.”

During Maria’s time as a Wabash resident, she was instrumental in kickstarting the Wabash Founder’s Day Festival, Small Business Saturday, and the Trick or Treat Extravaganza.

Neil Bever in Roann

 
Neil Bever’s children like ice cream—especially ice cream from In-Laws Catering & Creamery in Roann.

“Any time the weather is nice and we’re going on a walk, the kids ask, ‘Are we going to In-Laws to get ice cream, too?’” he says.

He explains to his children that even though the shop is just down the road, they won’t be stopping every time they pass. But to Bever and his family, the important thing is that it is just down the road.

Bever, who grew up outside of Lagro, has a chiropractic practice in Wabash and is a member of the Roann Town Council. In addition to great ice cream, a lot of good things are happening in Roann, says Bever.

A local nonprofit, Roann’s Community Heritage, recently put in new light poles in Roann. People donated to have their names put on the light poles, and the Town of Roann donated some money to pay for concrete to be used for new sidewalks.

“It’s cool seeing people so excited about that, but it wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for those people that are donating their money to make it happen,” Bever says.

Another imminent improvement is the Roann Park Project, which will result in a park that includes a baseball diamond, basketball and pickleball courts, a walking track, a pavilion, a splash pad, and more.

“We have a lot of investors for that, and it’s coming to life,” says Bever. “We’re excited to see that plan progress.”

Bever knows that events in Roann do not compete with big monthly events like Wabash First Friday in Wabash, nor does he think they should. The annual Roann Covered Bridge Festival is always a big draw, and the tractor pull brings in a large crowd as well.

“We want people to see our little community and see that we have something to offer and that it’s a great place to live and to raise a family,” he says.

Bailey Sewell in Roann

Bailey Sewell has made a significant impact on her local community through Bailey’s Pizza Parlor, a business she took over in 2019 after years of dreaming about owning a restaurant. Inspired by her love for the Food Network, she worked hard to transform the space, upgrading essential equipment like the pizza oven and prep table and even replacing the roof and ceiling.

Located in the small town of Roann, Bailey’s Pizza Parlor has become a local favorite, drawing in customers not only from nearby towns like Roanoke, Kokomo, and Marion but also from those traveling on State Road 16. The restaurant is known for its welcoming atmosphere, pizza, and popular lunch and dinner specials.

Bailey’s menu extends beyond pizza to offer items like nachos, wings, subs, and ice cream sourced from The Igloo in Silver Lake, highlighting her commitment to quality and supporting other local businesses. Positioned next to another local spot, Lynn’s Restaurant, Bailey’s Pizza Parlor has helped establish Roann as a destination for good food and a sense of community.

Wabash is the focus of our Partner City series underwritten by Visit Wabash County. This series captures the story of talent, creativity, investment, innovation, and emerging assets shaping the future of Wabash County, about an hour Southwest of Fort Wayne.