2016 Fort Wayne Group Tour Planning Guide

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Fort Wayne, Indiana

1-800-767-7752 www.VisitFortWayne.com


Fort Wayne, Indiana

Welcome to Fort Wayne, Indiana! We’re thrilled you’re interested in planning a group adventure to Indiana’s second largest city. What makes Fort Wayne a great group tour destination? Our city offers many unique and affordable one, two, or three-day experiential tours, including memorable behind-the-scenes and handson activities to factories, outlet shops, museums, and attractions. Fort Wayne welcomes groups of all sizes with our famous Hoosier Hospitality! Let Visit Fort Wayne help you plan an unforgettable trip to our city. Don’t forget to ask about our amazing group hotel packages! Fort Wayne is a short drive from several major Midwest cities.

Start by calling us today at (260) 424-3700 and finding us online at visitfortwayne.com/tourplanners.


Vera Bradley Annual Sale

One of Fort Wayne’s most popular group events each spring is the Vera Bradley Annual Sale! From April 13-17, 2016, this popular event will welcome more than 60,000 shoppers from all 50 states and 11 countries to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Plan a fun experiential trip around this amazing sale, where your group can find 40-60% off retail prices of Vera Bradley handbags, purses, totes, luggage, stationary and accessories. Bus groups of 20 or more people can reserve a VIP experience, including a separate entrance into the sale, an exclusive check out area, waiting room lounge, and a free gift. Stay tuned to Visit Fort Wayne email updates and contact vboutletsale@verabradley.com with general comments and questions.


Genealogy Center

Located in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library is home to the nation’s largest public genealogy collection! Thousands of seasoned genealogists and leisure travelers visit the Genealogy Center each year to research their family ancestry, and browse through almost 1 million records, printed volumes, military records, census records. The Genealogy Center is fully staffed with trained genealogists who are eager to help your group get started, or dig deeper into your family research. And best of all, their services are free! Let your group leave Fort Wayne with a piece of their family history and memories that they hand down to future generations! Find more information about the Genealogy Center online by visiting genealogycenter.org.


Historic

Allen County Courthouse Learn the past, present and future of the historic Allen County Courthouse in downtown Fort Wayne.

Grabill Amish Community Explore a living Amish community and its shopping district.

The History Center Tour historic exhibits at Fort Wayne’s Old City Hall.

Historic Old Fort Watch re-enactments from the 1700’s to Civil War times.

Historical Boat Rides Cruise the rivers to learn about riverfront development plans.


Girlfriend Getaways

DeBrand Fine Chocolates Take DeBrand’s beautiful factory tour with samples along the way and see their chocolatiers in action!

The Olive Twist Enjoy tastings and shopping at an olive oil and vinegar boutique.

Spas Relax in a group setting for a massage, pedicure and manicure.

Wineries Learn the art of winemaking at Country Heritage & Two EE’s.

Shopping Shop at Jefferson Pointe, Glenbrook Square and Downtown.


Downtown Experience

Historic Embassy Theatre Built in 1928, take a memorable journey through this magical theatre and historic Indiana Hotel!

Botanical Conservatory Surround yourself with fresh gardens and a cascading waterfall.

Hotels Take advantage of special downtown group hotel packages.

Restaurants Enjoy 20+ downtown local hotspots and franchised favorites.

TinCaps Baseball Get group tickets to cheer on the Fort Wayne TinCaps.


Student

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Indiana’s #1 Summer Attraction! See more than 1,000 animals and enjoy lunch in the zoo’s NEW picnic pavilion.

Science Central Explore 125+ exhibits and Science on a Sphere.

Zip Timber Lake Glide along a 8 zip-line canopy tour with 4 sky bridges.

Fort Wayne Outfitters Rent a canoe, kayak or bike around downtown Fort Wayne.

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary Meet over 100 rescued animals in an intimate setting.


Agriculture

Kuehnert Dairy Farm Watch day-to-day operations of a working Hoosier milk farm and attend the annual fall festival.

Cook’s Orchard and Farm

Moose Lake Christian Craft Villiage

Explore a country farm with a fresh market and orchards.

Take in a beautiful lake, Amish Market and overnight cabins.

Johnny Appleseed Festival

Cedar Creek Produce

Enjoy an authentic festival that celebrates Johnny Appleseed.

A locally-owned market with fresh produce and fruit stand.


Factory and Behind the Scenes

Sweetwater Sound Tour a world-class music retailer’s campus with stops to the instrument show room, studio, theater and more!

Peg Perego Attend the national outlet sale and view the assembly line.

Home Reserve Watch ready-to-assemble furniture made before your eyes.

cinda b purses and handbags Shop at the outlet sale with a behind the scenes tour.

Sechler’s Pickles Inc. Tour a family-owned pickle factory and field.


Performing Arts

Broadway at the Embassy Catch national acts and shows at the Historic Embassy Theatre - group ticket discounts are available!

Arts United Center Watch performances from the Fort Wayne Ballet and Civic Theatre.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic Watch Fort Wayne’s professonial orchestra live in concert.

Foellinger Outdoor Concerts Enjoy live outdoor national concerts in Foellinger Theater.

Arena Dinner Theatre Dig into dinner with live comedy theater.


2016 Calendar of Events Listed below are popular group-friendly events in Fort Wayne. For a complete list of events and festivals, go to visitfortwayne.com and search under “Calendar of Events.�

Vera Bradley Annual Sale April 13-17, 2016

cinda b Factory Outlet Sale April 28-30, 2016 (spring) October 4-6, 2016 (fall)

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival August 28-September 5, 2016

Peg Perego Outlet Sale April 14-16, 2016

Sweetwater Sound Gearfest June 17-18, 2016

Johnny Appleseed Festival September 17-18, 2016

*Dates and times are subject to change*


Dining Listed below are popular group-friendly restaurants in Fort Wayne. For a complete list of delicious dining options, go to visitfortwayne.com and search under “Best of Dining.”

BakerStreet 4820 N. Clinton St. (260) 484-3300 bakerstreetfortwayne.com Seating up to 40 people

Eddie Merlot’s 1502 Illinois Rd. (260) 459-2222 eddiemerlots.com Seating up to 60 people

Mad Anthony’s Brewing Company 2002 Broadway Ave. (260) 426-2535 madbrew.com Seating up to 25 people

Biaggi’s Ristorante 4010 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 459-6700 biaggis.com Seating up to 50 people

El Azteca 535 E. State Blvd. (260) 482-2172 elaztecarestaurant.com Seating up to 25 people

Main St. Bistro 200 E. Main St. (260) 420-8633 mainstreetbistrolounge.com Seating up to 30 people

Casa Ristorante (3 locations) 7545 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 399-2455 caserestaurants.net Seating up to 55 people

Fort Wayne Famous Coney Island 131 W. Main St. (260) 424-2997 fortwaynesfamousconeyisland.com Seating up to 25 people

Paula’s on Main 1732 W. Main St. (260) 424-2399 paulasonmain.com Seating up to 40 people

Chop’s Wine Bar 6421 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 436-9115 chopsfortwayne.com Seating up to 50 people

Golden Corral 5335 Distribution Dr. (260) 480-0193 goldencorral.com Seating up to 80 people

Shigs In Pit 2008 Fairfield Ave. (260) 387-5903 shigsinpit.com Seating up to 40 people

Club Soda 235 E. Superior St. (260) 426-3442 clubsodafortwayne.com Seating up to 60 people

Hoppy Gnome 203 E. Berry St. (260) 422-0070 hoppygnome.com Seating up to 40 people

Tolon 614 Harrison St. (260) 399-5128 facebook.com/tolonfw Seating up to 30 people

Cracker Barrel 1609 W. Washington Rd. (260) 489-1855 crackerbarrel.com Seating up to 50 people

JK O’Donnell’s Irish Pub 121 W. Wayne St. (260) 420-5563 jkodonnells.com Seating up to 50 people

Tucanos Brazilian Grill 4130 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 436-4433 tucanos.com Seating up to 60 people

Don Hall’s Factory (4 locations) 5811 Coldwater Rd. (260) 484-8693 donhalls.com Seating up to 50 people

Joseph Decuis 191 Main St. Roanoke, IN (260) 672-1715 josephdecuis.com Seating up to 60 people

Wine Down Tastings and Tapas 301 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 755-1019 winedownfw.com Seating up to 50 people


Attractions African/ African-American Museum 436 E. Douglas Ave. (260) 420-0765 african-americanw.com

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary 1426 W. 300, Albion, IN (260) 636-7383 blackpine.com

Allen County Courthouse 715 S. Calhoun St. (260) 449-4246 allencountycourthouse.org

Cali Spa 1615 W. Dupont Rd. (260) 451-8888 calispa.com

ACPL Genealogy Center 900 Library Plaza (260) 421-1225 acpl.lib.in.us

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Museum 915 S. Clinton St. (260) 424-1485 diocesefwb.org

Amazing Fall Fun 3150 Co. Road 43 (260) 333-2302 amazingfallfun.com

Chief Richardville House 5705 Bluffton Rd. (260) 426- 2882 fwhistorycenter.com

ARCH Downtown Tours 818 Lafayette St. (260) 426-5117 archfw.com

cinda b Handbags & Purses 1530 Progress Rd. (260) 748-8234 cindab.com

Artlink Gallery 300 E. Main St. (260) 427-7195 artlinkfw.com

Cook’s Orchard and Farm 8724 Huguenard Rd. (260) 489-3940 cooksorchard.com

Arts United Center 300 E. Main St. (260) 424-0646 artsunited.com

Country Heritage Winery 185 Country Rd. 69, Laotto, IN (260) 637-2980 countryheritagewinery.com

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum 1600 S. Wayne St., Auburn, IN (260) 925-1444 automobilemuseum.org

Country Kitchen SweetART 4621 Speedway Dr. (260) 482-4835 countrykitchen.com

Baer Field Heritage Air Park 3005 W. Ferguson Rd. (260) 478-3428 baerfieldheritagepark.com

DeBrand Fine Chocolates 10105 Auburn Park Dr. (260) 969-8333 debrand.com


Attractions Eagle Marsh - Little River Wetlands 2403 Fairoak Dr. (260) 478-2515 lrwp.com

Fort Wayne Outfitters/Historical River Tours 1004 Cass St. (260) 420-3962 fwoutfitters.com

Embassy Theatre 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 424-6287 fwembassytheatre.org

Fort Wayne Parks Department 705 E. State Blvd. (260) 427-6000 fortwayneparks.org

Fishburn’s Farm Market 9110 N. 300, Markle, IN (260) 638-4788 fishburnsfarmmarket.com

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society 15808 Edgerton Rd. (260) 493-0765 765.org

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory 1100 S. Calhoun St. (260) 427-6440 botanicalconservatory.org

Fort Wayne Trails 300 E. Main St. (260) 969-0079 fwtrails.com

Foellinger Theatre 3411 Sherman Blvd. (260) 427-6715 fortwayneparks.com

Fox Island County Park 7324 Yohne Rd. (260) 449-3180 allencountyparks.org/parks/fox-island

Fort Wayne Aviation Museum 3801 W. Ferguson Rd. (260) 747-4146 fwairport.com

Grabill Amish Community 13717 First St., Grabill, IN (260) 627-0933 grabill.net

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo 3411 Sherman Blvd. (260) 427-6800 kidszoo.com

Historic Old Fort 1201 Spy Run Ave. (260) 437-2836 oldfortwayne.org

Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum 226 W. Washington Blvd. (260) 426-0051 fortwaynefiremuseum.org

History Center 302 E. Berry St. (260) 426-2882 fwhistorycenter.com

Fort Wayne Museum of Art 311 E. Main St. (260) 422-6467 fwmoa.org

Home Reserve Furniture 3015 Cannongate Dr. (260) 969-6939 homereserve.com


Attractions Karpeles Manuscript Library 3039 Piqua Ave. (260) 456-6929 rain.org/~karpeles

Sechler’s Pickles, Inc. 5686 State Road 1, St. Joe, IN (260) 337-5461 sechlerspickles.com

Kuehnert Dairy Farm 6532 W. Cook Rd. (260) 417-1918 facebook.com/kuehnertdairtfarm.com

Seven Sons Farms 15718 Aboite Rd. (877) 620-1977 sevensons.net

Mad Anthony Brewing Company 2002 Broadway Ave. (260) 426-2537 madbrew.com

SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park 401 Fernhill Ave. (260) 483-5867 skyzone.com/fortwayne

Moose Lake Christian Craft Village 11330 E. 500, Laotto, IN (260) 637-2372 mooselakechristiancraftvillage.com

SportONE/Parkview Fieldhouse 3946 Ice Way Dr. (260) 444-2788 sportonefieldhouse.com

National Military History Center 5634 County Rd., Auburn IN (260) 927-9144 nationalmilitaryhistorycenter.org

SportONE/Parkview Icehouse 3869 Ice Way Dr. (260) 387-6614 icesports.com/fortwayne

Painting Fun Spot 4150 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 616-0350 paintingfunspot.com

Steele Farms 5525 W. 300 N, Decatur, IN (260) 565-3355 visitsteelefarms.com

Peg Perego 3625 Independence Dr. (260) 482-8191 pegperegousa.com

Sweetwater Sound 5501 US 30 (260) 432-8176 sweetwater.com

Salomon Farm Park & Market 817 W. Dupont Rd. (260) 427-6790 fortwayneparks.org

Swinney Homestead 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 424-7212 settlersinc.org

Science Central 1950 N. Clinton St. (260) 424-2400 sciencecentral.com

The Glass Park 4037 S. Wayne Ave. (260) 579-3201 eranparkglass.com


Attractions The Olive Twist 6410 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 436-3866 theolivetwist.com TinCaps Baseball at Parkview Field 1301 Ewing St. (260) 482-6400 tincaps.com Tour Fort Wayne Segways 1104 W. Coliseum Blvd. (260) 433-6155 tourfortwayne.com Two EE’s Winery 6808 US 24, Huntington, IN (260) 672-2000 twoees.com Ultrazone Family Entertainment Center 1104 W. Coliseum Blvd. (260) 471-6719 ultrazone.com University of Saint Francis-Schouweiler Planetarium 2701 Spring St. (260) 399-7700 sf.edy/plantarium Wine & Canvas 6410 W. Jefferson Blvd. (260) 444-9441 wineandcanvas.com WPTA (ABC) Television Station 3401 Butler Rd. (260) 48300584 indiananewscenter.com Zip Timber Lake 1740 E. 675 N. Huntington, IN (260) 672-3251 ziptimberlake.com


Fort Wayne – By The Numbers

1,100,075

Physical articles in the collection at The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy library (add that to the more than 2,500,000 searchable records in their online data files!)

81

Parks 86 and 56 Playgrounds to enjoy in

in our awardwinning trail system.

Fort Wayne

Rent a bike or kayak and explore!

Cups of Draft Beer

served at the Memorial Coliseum annually

th

100

Anniversary of the Lincoln Highway – travel this historic road through Fort Wayne!

60,000

#

#

1 and 2

nd

2 80,465 MILES

Our rankings in the “Indiana Summer Gotta Dos” contest. Take in the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and TinCaps Baseball B to enjoy the #1 and #2 “Indiana Summer S Gotta Dos!”

LARGEST CITY IN INDIANA!

95,309 Rose Carmella chocolates sold at DeBrand Fine Chocolates every year!

7feet

15 MILES

of hot dogs sold at Parkview Field in 2013

Length of Fred the Mastodon’s tusks. Visit him at Science Central!

Shoppers who attend the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale each spring

139,325

33,250 Panes of glass covering the roof of the Botanical Conservatory

Riders who enjoy the Zoo’s most popular ride (the River Ride!) each year

30,000

Lights i that adorn r the Christmas trees during the Embassy Theatre’s annual Festival of Trees. Square feet of custom Terrazzo floors in glistening shades of black, gray, white and green provide ooohs and ahhhs at the Grand Wayne Convention Center


Contact Us

For more information on tours, hotels, attractions, restaurants and group itineraries, find us online at visitfortwayne.com/tourplanners or contact Emily at emily@visitfortwayne.com. We can’t wait to welcome your group to Fort Wayne, Indiana!

Visit Fort Wayne 927 S. Harrison Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 www.visitfortwayne.com (800) 767-7752


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