LIGONIER — Fashion Farm Restaurant, a longtime dining favorite in Ligonier, was destroyed by fire late Monday night.
Ligonier Fire Chief Jeremy Weaver said his department was paged at 11:06 p.m. and firefighters arrived at 11:11 p.m. at the scene on Lincolnway West.
Firefighters encountered a large fire burning in the rear of the restaurant building, near the kitchen area and through the roof.
“It was burning hot,” Weaver said, and noted that smoke was minimal on arrival but increased as firefighters began to try to extinguish the flames.
Sparta Township Fire Department based in Cromwell and the Topeka Fire Department were called for mutual aid full response. Benton Township in Elkhart County was called to supply a tanker truck.
Weaver said Ligonier firefighters set up Tower 17 in the back of the building and Topeka set up its tower truck in the front parking lot. Firefighters used hand lines to fight the fire before the tower trucks were in place, then used the aerial trucks to attack the fire from above.
Weaver said the flames damaged the roof and dining room. He called the fire under control at 12:16 a.m.
In addition to Topeka and Sparta Township, Ligonier Fire was assisted by Parkview EMS, Ligonier Police and Noble County Police. The Albion Fire Department stood by Ligonier’s station during the fire.
No cause had been determined, but Weaver said the Indiana State Fire Marshal arrived Tuesday morning. The investigation into a cause is ongoing.
Patty and Russell Becker and their grandson, Jason Becker, own the Fashion Farm family business, which includes the restaurant, greenhouses, garden center, floral shop and Countryscapes and Gardens Landscaping.
Fashion Farm Restaurant posted this Facebook message Tuesday morning:
“We appreciate each and every one of you who are reaching out to us. Updates will be posted here as new information becomes available. To assist us effectively, please refrain from visiting our location or driving through the parking lot at this time. Your support and prayers are truly valued; we are grateful to be part of such a caring community.”
A Facebook post later Tuesday said the 2025 Pumpkin Fantasyland will still be held in October.
Fashion Farm is famous for its month-long Pumpkin Fantasyland, which features exhibits and characters from books, movies and cartoons created from pumpkins, squash and gourds. An annual display features the faces of all U.S. presidents carved on pumpkins. Hundreds of school children and adults attend the event every year.
The Becker family is known for their community involvement and kindnesses to others. The family has supplied flowering plants each year at Oak Park Cemetery, and worked with the city to install the new granite fountain in Wood Triangle Park. The restaurant has catered meals for the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meetings for years. The Ligonier Lions Club meets at the restaurant.
Ligonier’s Public Safety Director and Police Chief Bryan Shearer is out of town, but said via email that the fire loss is a blow to Ligonier:
“Fire is so devastating and this is a devastating loss to our community,” Shearer wrote. “The Becker family and their staff are true icons of our community. They are all friends and family to all of us! We thank them for over 50 years of service and commitment to northeast Indiana.”
“What a devastating thing for the community,” Ligonier Mayor Earle Franklin said. “They’ve been an icon.
“The fire crews did an outstanding job. A fire wall kept the fire out of the office and saved historic information.”
Franklin was able to visit with Patty and Russ Becker Tuesday morning and said that the couple are still trying to deal with what happened.
“The loss of Fashion Farm is like losing a piece of Ligonier itself,” said Mike Howard, president of the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce. “Our hearts go out to Russ and Patty and the Fashion Farm family. The Becker family is in our thoughts and prayers.”
A news release July 21 announced that the Fashion Farm property at Lincolnway West would be up for sale after October, including the greenhouses, garden center, floral shop and restaurant. This year’s Pumpkin Fantasyland will be the last one.
Countryscapes Landscaping will continue in business at a location on U.S. 6, west of Ligonier.
