The Area
Sylvan Lake, nearby attractions, dining, and day trips from Hilltop Haven
Exploring the area? Check out our interactive area map for a visual guide to everything nearby.
Sylvan Lake
One of the premier lakes of northeast Indiana, Sylvan Lake is a great place to vacation. Comprised of five large basins with 16 miles of shoreline and many islands, there's plenty of space to ski, tube, paddle, and explore. During the week the lake tends to stay quieter than some of the other popular lakes in the region.
The lake is excellent for fishing. Walleye, largemouth bass, perch, bluegill, channel catfish, and crappie are commonly caught. A large public boat launch provides easy access for guests bringing their own boats.
Sylvan Lake is teeming with wildlife. Several varieties of ducks and waterfowl, blue herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, swans, and loons are regular sights. Keep an eye out for multiple species of turtles and other water creatures, and if you're lucky, muskrat, mink, and the occasional beaver or bald eagle.
By Boat or Paddle
Camp Big Island (Boy Scout Island). Just a short paddle straight out from our island is Camp Big Island, also known as Boy Scout Island. It sits directly across from Pleasant Point and the Gene Stratton-Porter site and is open to visitors via a public dock. Here you'll find nearly 100 acres of nature, over 60 species of native trees and plants, and a hiking trail just over one mile long that circles the island perimeter. There's a large pavilion for day use and a restored open-air chapel that the Boy Scouts once used. On summer Sundays, a church service is held at the chapel and many attendees arrive by boat. Feel free to take part if you're inclined.
Dock's Landing. A lakeside restaurant accessible by boat in summer. Casual, fun, classic lake atmosphere. Pull up to the dock and enjoy.
Walking Distance
Sower House Shoppe and Tea Room. About a 5-minute walk from the property. A charming local shop and tea room with gourmet coffees, pastries, gifts, and home decor. A lovely stop any time of day.
Lickity Splitz Ice Cream & Coffee. About a 10-minute walk from the property. A family-owned Rome City spot with premium ice cream, specialty coffees, dirty sodas, and mini doughnuts. Drive-thru and walk-up. A great afternoon stop.
Fishing Line Trail. A 12-mile paved biking and walking path connecting Kendallville to Rome City, now ending at Sylvan Cellars. The trail weaves through the beautiful Indiana countryside, wooded for much of the route but opening up to sweeping views of farmfields along the way. You can pick up the trail right at the yellow farmhouse across the field from the property. We provide bikes if you'd like to explore it. For a scenic detour, jump off the path on the north side of the lake just past the dam and follow the tree-lined lakeshore roads to take in the beautiful lake homes along the water.
Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site. Novelist and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter built a cabin on the shores of Sylvan Lake in the early 1900s. Her preserved cabin, museum, and beautifully maintained formal gardens make a wonderful half-day visit. A short hike from the end of Hilltop Drive gets you there in under 10 minutes, and the site is also accessible directly off the Fishing Line Trail.
Short Drive (5 to 15 Minutes)
Sylvan Cellars. A local favorite and the anchor of the area's social scene. Whiskey, wine, craft beer, and handcrafted cocktails in a tasting room with live music on weekends. They run a shuttle bus from the lake so your group doesn't have to drive back. A great event venue for reunions, showers, and weddings. Check their concert calendar before you arrive.
Adam's Lake Pub. A well-regarded local restaurant about 15 minutes from the property. A good dinner option when you want something a step above the lake bar scene.
Coffee & Cream of South Milford. About 14 minutes away and worth every one of them. The best gourmet coffee in the area, in a beautifully restored 1893 building in South Milford. Specialty lattes, pastries, and ice cream. A nonprofit community coffee shop with a great story behind it.
Cook's Bison Ranch. About 16 minutes from the property, one of the closest and most unique stops in the area. A working bison ranch where you can see the herd up close, shop for bison meat and products, and experience a genuine piece of Indiana farm life.
30 to 45 Minutes
Fort Wayne. Indiana's second-largest city with plenty to offer. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is consistently ranked among the best small zoos in the country. The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Botanical Conservatory, craft breweries, and a solid restaurant scene round out a full day. A reliable rainy-day option or evening out.
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. A world-class collection of classic American automobiles housed in a stunning Art Deco building. Worth an afternoon for anyone who appreciates cars or American design history.
Mid-America Windmill Museum (Kendallville). An unexpected and genuinely fascinating collection of historic windmills on 35 acres, right in Kendallville where the Fishing Line Trail begins.
Pokagon State Park (Angola). One of Indiana's finest state parks, on the shores of Lake James. Year-round trails, swimming, and fishing. The refrigerated toboggan run in winter is worth a trip on its own.
Shipshewana. The heart of Indiana's Amish country. The Shipshewana Trading Place Flea Market is the largest in the Midwest, with over 700 vendors spread across 40 acres of open-air aisles. Antiques, crafts, furniture, produce, tools, jewelry, home decor, and just about everything else. Free admission. Runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8AM to 4PM, May through September. Wednesday also brings a live antique and livestock auction that's been running since 1922 and worth seeing even if you're not buying. Quiet Amish roads and farms surround it all. A genuinely different half-day.
The Blue Gate Theatre is one of the best-kept secrets in the Midwest. A full-scale performance venue right in the heart of Amish country, hosting well-known musicians, comedians, and touring acts year-round. The adjacent Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery is a destination in its own right, known for generous Amish-style cooking and legendary pies. Check the schedule before your trip and book early because popular shows sell out well in advance.
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary (Albion). An 18-acre exotic animal sanctuary providing permanent refuge to over 80 displaced animals including tigers, lions, bears, wolves, and more. Guided tours available. Not a zoo but a true sanctuary, and one of the most respected in the country. A great stop for families and animal lovers.
45 Minutes to 1 Hour
Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve (Fremont). Home to approximately 250 bison roaming 400 acres of rolling Indiana prairie. Guided open-air vehicle tours take you into the herd. A gift shop with bison meat, a bed and breakfast, and a café round out the experience. One of the most unique day trips in northeast Indiana. Open Wednesday through Sunday May through October; weekends November through April.
1 to 2 Hours
South Bend and Notre Dame. The University of Notre Dame campus is worth a visit for the architecture, the Basilica, and the football atmosphere in fall. The Studebaker National Museum is nearby.
By Season
Summer. Peak season on the lake. Boating, skiing, tubing, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, the Fishing Line Trail by bike, Sylvan Cellars, Dock's Landing by boat, Camp Big Island by paddle, Pokagon State Park beaches, Cook's Bison Ranch, Wild Winds bison tours.
Fall. The lake quiets after Labor Day. Colors peak in mid to late October. Pokagon State Park is exceptional in fall. Shipshewana market runs into October. A genuinely underrated time to visit.
Winter. The lake is quiet and cold. The hot tub is year-round. Pokagon's toboggan run is the activity highlight. Fort Wayne and Auburn make good winter day trips. Best value on the calendar for guests who want solitude and a slower pace.
Spring. The lake comes alive in April and May. Watercraft return, the island opens up, and the fishing is good. Crowds haven't arrived yet. A good time for guests who want the full lake experience without summer pricing.
Getting Here
Hilltop Haven is at 1255 Hilltop Drive, Rome City, IN 46784.
From Fort Wayne: approximately 45 minutes northwest.
From Indianapolis: approximately 2 hours north.
From South Bend: approximately 1 hour southeast.
From Columbus, Ohio: approximately 3 hours west.
The closest commercial airport is Fort Wayne International (FWA), about 45 minutes away. Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Indianapolis (IND) are the nearest major airports.
View all area attractions on our interactive area map.