If you’re on a road trip and see something that catches your eye. If you’re like me, it’s a big advertisement for something weird or quirky. Sure, it may be a tourist trap but it could be a great place to stretch your legs and see something new.
Over the years, I’ve seen billboards on the side of the highway when I’m heading East for the Albanese Gummy Gear Factory. I mean, who doesn’t like gummy bears? But it never seemed to be on the way, so making a stop at Albanese was always just a bit too far out of the way for us to justify the stop.
Last fall, we were heading East again, but taking a day to slowly find our way to our destination and there it was again. The sign covered with gummy bears begging us to stop. Only a few hours on the road, we made the stop in Indiana and grabbed a bite to eat before we made our way to the land of gummy bears.
Driving up to the building, it’s not as flashy as I expected. The front was just a retail outlet with the factory behind it. A quick inside you can stock up your car with road trip snacks from chocolates, to gummy bears, sour treats and more. But if you have a few more minutes, you can always tour the factory and see just how the gummy bears are made. The self guided tours are quicker than a guided tour but a fun visit for kids of all ages.
It is a bit of a drive off the highway to get to the Albanese Confectionery Factory, but worth a stop to stretch your legs or to get a bit of sugar to keep you going!
Guided Tours
The guided tours are designed for groups of 12 or more, buses, or large families. A tour guide is provided to give an introduction to our company, explain the machinery used to create our gummies, and to share samples of both gummies and chocolates with your group. Typically a guided tour takes 30 minutes for a maximum of 25 people at one time (example: if you schedule with 50 people, 25 will shop while the other 25 are on the tour and then the groups will switch). If your group is larger than 50 people we will have to schedule more than one tour time. Group tours must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance with a Tour Director (call as soon as possible, they tend to book up quick!). Group tours are available Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between the hours of 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM. To schedule, call (855) 272-3227, Ext. 241 or e-mail at retail@albanesecandy.com
Self-Guided Tours
Self-guided tours are ideal towards the individual visitor. The self-guided tour allows you to view the videos at your own pace and then sample a gummi and a chocolate at the conclusion of your tour. Depending on attendance levels, this tour typically take between 5-15 minutes (at your discretion). Self-guided tours are available any time during store business hours with no reservation required. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9-8 and Sunday from 10-6. Request More Info
For more information visit the Albanese Candy Factory website
Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc.
5441 East Lincoln Highway
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
