The Wakarusa Dime Store ended up on our stop list because I like saying Wakarusa. That’s genuinely how it started.
We were in Elkhart for a few days — parked at a Harvest Host location and working our way through RV factory tours. We live in a converted school bus, which means we look at RVs the way most people look at house listings — with equal parts curiosity, judgment, and the occasional “we could do that better.” What we didn’t plan for was Phil, our Ragdoll cat, going missing somewhere in the middle of all of it. We stayed an extra week waiting, then had to make the hard call to leave ahead of a major snowstorm with the rest of the animals on board. He was found 40 days later, miles from where we’d been parked, and made the 15-hour return trip from Elkhart to Arkansas with Zach and his dad — and absolutely refused to use the travel litter box the entire way. King behavior.
But that’s a story for another day. This one is about Wakarusa. And Zach losing his mind over a window sign about jumbo jelly beans.
Three Indiana RV Factory Tours
We did three RV factory tours while we were in the area — one at Nexus RV in Elkhart, and two at Thor Motor Coach locations in Bristol and Wakarusa. Nexus and Thor are separate companies, which matters because they build differently. Each tour was free. Each one was worth doing. Each one gave us something to argue about on the drive home. Every single one needs to be signed up for in advance, and you should show up early as requested, because while the process is short, the tour starts on time.
Nexus RV — Elkhart
Nexus RV is at 3400 Reedy Drive in Elkhart. Our tour guide was Brock, who was on his first solo tour. We know this because Brock told us. Brock also got stumped on questions more than once, which meant we were equal parts taking the tour and accidentally teaching it. Brock, if you’re reading this — you did fine.
The biggest surprise at Nexus was the steel construction. Most RVs are built on aluminum frames, so walking through a facility where a steel structure is a genuine selling point made both of us stop and pay attention. Zach’s favorite was the Maximus — walk-in bathroom, solid layout, the kind of rig that makes you think “okay, maybe.” The factory floor was busy and a little messy to navigate, but that’s factory life. Also, I was wearing a skirt, which was not my best decision for a factory tour.
Zach’s summary: probably the only RV we’d buy, based on the steel structure alone.
Thor Motor Coach — Bristol
Thor Bristol at 1220 South Maple Street covers more of their van models, and the tour guide had one fact he was very committed to sharing. Multiple times. With enthusiasm. “We put Rubber-Cal flooring in the garage.” The ‘garage’ being approximately a two-foot area. We heard about that flooring. We will not forget that flooring.
Past the flooring speech, Bristol had two things that genuinely impressed Zach — the CNC cabinets and the Truma combi heater/water heater unit. The CNC cabinetry is precision cut, and Zach felt strongly that this should be standard across all RV brands. The Truma combi is a space-saving combination unit that handles both heat and hot water, and it went straight onto our “things we want if we ever leave the bus” list.
The models here were mostly Sprinters and smaller Class B builds — too small for us overall, but the window designs and bathroom/shower layouts were genuinely interesting. Sometimes you tour something not because you want it but because it gives you ideas.
Thor Motor Coach — Wakarusa
The Thor Wakarusa location at 606 Nelsons Parkway builds toy haulers and Class B and C motorhomes, which is exactly what Zach had been wanting to see. That’s the whole reason we drove twenty miles to a town called Wakarusa in November. The tour delivered.
And then I had one more stop in mind.
How the Wakarusa Dime Store Got on the List
While I was researching the Wakarusa Thor location, I fell down a weird town names rabbit hole — don’t ask, it’s just where my brain goes — and stumbled onto the Wakarusa Dime Store. Their claim: jumbo jelly beans.
Jelly beans are Zach’s thing. Like, his THING. So the dime store went on the list immediately. Quietly, though, because what if they were out? I didn’t say a word to Zach about it. No point getting the man’s hopes up over jelly beans that might not exist.
Wakarusa Dime Store: Home of the Jumbo Jelly Bean
We pulled up to the Wakarusa Dime Store at 103 East Waterford Street downtown. Hand-lettered signage, striped awning, jumbo jelly bean signs in the window. Zach still didn’t know why we were stopping.
Then he saw the sign. JUMBO JELLY BEANS SOLD HERE TODAY.
The man who had been mildly tolerating this detour became immediately, genuinely excited. Kid-in-a-candy-store energy in full effect. I watched it happen in real time, and it was worth every mile.
Inside, the Wakarusa Dime Store is exactly what it looks like from the outside — an old-school candy shop. Bulk beans you scoop yourself, taffy, truffles, fudge, and so many candy signs from our youth that I had to check the date.
It smells like childhood and sugar.
And then there are the jelly beans. Jumbo. Actually jumbo. Not “slightly larger than normal” jumbo — we are talking substantial, committed, go-big-or-go-home jelly beans sold by the bag with the Wakarusa Dime Store label right on them. We bought two bags: the mixed variety and the black and red. No regrets.
Visiting Wakarusa, Indiana
- Nexus RV: 3400 Reedy Dr, Elkhart, IN — free tours, call ahead to confirm times
- Thor Motor Coach Wakarusa: 606 Nelsons Parkway, Wakarusa, IN — free tours, Class B and C motorhomes
- Thor Motor Coach Bristol: 1220 South Maple St, Bristol, IN — free tours, van, and smaller Class B models
- Wakarusa Dime Store: 103 E Waterford St, Wakarusa, IN — jumbo jelly beans, bulk candy, truffles, fudge, and much more!
We went to Wakarusa for a factory tour. We left with two bags of jelly beans and a new town on the permanent list.
Looking for more Indiana oddities? Check out our Things to Do in Indiana page, or browse our Roadside Attractions by State guide for more weird little stops worth making.