When you think of packing your bags and heading out of town, where does your imagination take you? Magnificent Mount Rushmore? Historic Civil War re-enactments? Ancient pyramids of Egypt? Every one of these destinations is on the upcoming adventure schedule for Dash Getaways Travel in Plymouth.
Owned and run by longtime businesswoman Lana Ball, the concept behind her business is to offer experiences that transport travelers while also bringing them together through travel to meet and connect with other people.
Ball’s drive for entrepreneurship and running her own business is born out of more than 20 years of working for her own family’s business, Ball Auction & Realty, based in Bourbon and serving communities since 1969. Among other recognitions, patriarch of the family business Daryl Ball received the Half Century Award in 2021, presented by Gov. Eric Holcomb and State Rep. Jack Jordan to honor Ball Auction & Realty for more than 50 years of longevity and contributions to the community.
This impressive work ethic became the foundation of Dash Getaways Travel. Ball had always dreamed of running her own business like her father, so after earning a degree from Purdue University in retail management, she drew on her formal education and years of personal travel experience to launch Dash Getaways Travel Tours & Gift Shoppe.
In her new venture, Ball cultivated her creative side into the Gift Shoppe products such as custom florals and home accents carried on her website, and she combined her deep commitment to being a customer-service-driven business that she learned from her father with her love of exploration and introducing others to new locations and experiences.
Ball believes strongly in the personal growth that travel can develop, and she set out to procure travel packages that go beyond the expected to the truly memorable. Much of her travel tours involve journeying on motorcoach buses to locations throughout the U.S., which serves as a way for people to connect with others. “Whether folks are traveling together or on their own, there is a tendency to form a bond with others. As humans, we are designed to be together.”
Taking the adventure beyond mere mileage to a memory-filled destination is what drives Ball’s inventive approach to her travel packages. In early 2026, Dash Getaways will lead a journey to overnight stays in both Louisville, Kentucky, and the historic Civil War town of Bardstown, Kentucky, with ghost walks in places that have been ranked in the United States and the world as the most haunted.
In Louisville, the stops will include a notorious sanitorium that took in tuberculosis patients. Timing of the tour? Midnight to 6 a.m., of course, when all things haunted seem to come alive. In Bardstown, travelers will visit the fourth-largest Civil War museum and lodge at the historic Talbott Inn, adding their names to the guest book alongside notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Jesse James. A Civil War re-enactment tops off this memorable journey back in time.
Some of Dash Getaways’ travel groups are smaller in number, such as the ghost walk trip to Kentucky and Michigan wine tours of Tabor Hill and Round Barn—to sample wines that have been served at the White House. Longer trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Vermont, Savannah, Pigeon Forge and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota accommodate travelers on comfortable motorcoaches carrying groups of up to 52 people.
Ball acknowledges that not everyone enjoys air travel, so traveling on a motorcoach is an inviting alternative. “We embrace the group of travelers who enjoy this type of trip, with a preplanned itinerary. Many of these travelers don’t use a computer, so this personal approach is key to our success.”
For travel enthusiasts seeking more adventure, Dash Getaways offers a high-intensity trip to the pyramids of Egypt. Having traveled to this part of the world numerous times herself, Ball has developed local connections and been granted special permission for travelers. Discussions will cover topics such as the Valley of the Kings and a second pyramid, Khafre, that has been in the news lately. Ball’s knowledge of the pyramids is impressive, introducing travelers to the fact that the Sphinx was originally only a head, before extraction, and the overall concept of the “grandfather, father and son” being the three major pyramids.
To accentuate the literal depth of the Egypt encounter, consider the following invitation Ball has posted on the Dash Getaways Facebook page:
“Would you crawl nearly 100 feet underground into the heart of the Great Pyramid? If the answer is yes, step one is to descend through a 344-foot tunnel as narrow as a small elevator at a steep angle. Step two involves crawling through a passageway on hands and knees, arriving at a rough, silent chamber carved directly into the bedrock nearly 100 feet below ground. It’s raw, unlit, completely surreal and not part of the standard tourist route. But here’s the best part—you can do it too.”
Exclusive access to this one-of-a-kind journey is part of the “Legends of the Pharaohs: An Immersive Egyptian Odyssey” trip happening January 2026 with Dash Getaways Travel.
Ball does the company’s marketing herself, including videos, and strives to create travel packages that address the interests of travelers. Dash Getaways advertises using Facebook ads, local events such as the Plymouth Blueberry Festival, as well as on restaurant menus, attracting travelers from Shipshewana, Logansport and surrounding communities.
Ball welcomes many diverse client groups, including businesses, churches, schools and international travelers to explore the variety of travel experiences, including single-day to multi-day trips for both public and private, domestic and international groups.
“Working with Amish families has been one of the most rewarding and enriching aspects of my journey. Building lasting relationships within the Amish through travel planning and real estate has afforded me an understanding of their values, preferences and lifestyle, which has allowed me to thoughtfully craft itineraries that align with their unique needs,” confirms Ball.
Ball’s commitment to giving back to her community is a core driving force behind her business practices. She has been appointed by the mayor of Plymouth to serve on the Redevelopment Commission. She also sits on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Purdue Club of Marshall County.
With a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early 2025 to celebrate the opening of Dash Getaways, bookings are filling up fast. In fact, the first trip to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is nearly sold out. Ball conceptualizes about half of the travel itineraries herself and then completes the schedule with opportunities from successful travel package purveyor Diamond Tours in Florida.
Future Dash Getaways tours include Kentucky’s Red River Gorge for cave kayaking and hiking, *Phantom of the Opera* in Chicago, foodie tours, girls getaways and, Ball hopes, dog sledding.
Other plans include exploring collaborations with colleges to offer student internships in research for historic adventures. Ball is eager to attract younger travelers who will embrace travel to build community through adventure.
Ball encourages people of all ages to consider one of the opportunities at Dash Getaways Travel. “Life is a continuous journey of growth, and travel is one of its greatest teachers. The more you explore, the more you learn—not just about the world, but about yourself.”
Dash Getaways Travel is located at 849 Lincolnway E, Plymouth, IN 46563.
For information and details about Dash Getaway packages, visit dashgetawaystravel.com, email Lana Ball at contact@dashgetawaystravel.com or call (574) 800-9202.
