If you drive up 1-77 North toward Cleveland, Ohio, take Exit 73 for Ohio 751 toward Stone Creek/Tuscarawas, veer onto Beuhler Road and Ragersville Road Southwest to Ohio 39 West, you will find yourself amidst the beautiful rolling hills, charming towns, and manicured fields of Ohio’s Amish Country. As you drive along, you will surely pass horse-drawn buggies and people on bicycles, because this area is home to many of Ohio’s Amish and Mennonite families.
According to Susan L. Trollinger, the residents of this area are “descended from Anabaptist immigrants who fled religious persecution in Europe, [and] typically live in rural areas where they seek to live a different sort of life, resisting aspects of contemporary American culture that undermine their commitments to church, family, and community.
“To live at a slower pace, they drive horse-drawn buggies instead of cars. To pursue their calling to follow Jesus rather than chase personal ambitions, they stop school after eighth grade. To avoid the distractions of consumer culture, they prohibit TVs and internet connections in their homes. And to keep themselves humble, they yield to communal rules about dressing plainly, living in modest homes, and keeping their businesses small.
“Seeking to follow Jesus, they embrace nonviolence and find inspiration in the story of a 16th-century Anabaptist, Dirk Willems, who was imprisoned for his faith. He escaped, but because of his commitment to love his enemy, he turned back when he saw that his captor had fallen through the ice. His captor survived to witness Willems being burned at the stake.
“Out of their deep commitment to separation between church and state, the Amish refuse to swear oaths, receive Social Security benefits, or join the military. That’s why you won’t see an American flag in an Amish school or hear Amish students recite the Pledge of Allegiance.”
However, that is not all true of the shops that line the roads of Ohio’s Amish Country. Patriotism and Nationalism are evident on clothing and decor everywhere you turn. Shopping is definitely something you will want to spend time doing when you visit this lovely area.
Ohio’s Amish Country/B. Green
Ohio’s Amish Country is famous for a number of things. Some are food, wine, furniture, antiques, crafts, and farms. There are so many places to visit. Let me just suggest a few:
Country Food, Amish Style
I must just admit that I have never eaten in an Amish restaurant and come out hungry or disappointed. I’m sure there are some that are better than others, and I have not tried them all (there are hundreds of choices), but here are a few favorites:
There are several locations in Amish Country where wine and sometimes craft beers are sold. “Tasting” is often an option for a small charge. There are wines for any palate. You may enjoy visiting these:
Ah, the very reason we make some of our trips to Amish country are for the delicious cheese and meats. Just yesterday, my husband was passing through on his way to Cleveland, and he stopped to get some colby, green onion, and baby Swiss cheeses. The choices seem endless! These same stores also feature homemade candy. Tasting is available.
Some of the strongest and well-made furniture in the country is made by the Amish. These establishments have items on sale for immediate purchase or to custom order. The custom orders are wonderful, but one must be prepared to wait a while for the finished products.
Farming is an Amish way of life. Generous homes line the roads and are hugged in by fields planted with corn, hay, and garden vegetables. Most homes have an out building to house horses that pull the black buggies to and from destinations.
One farm is a little more unique. The Farm at Walnut Creek is a working Amish Farm that is open to the public, and where daily farming chores and activities take place. The website tells that, “Depending on the time of year, you may see plowing, planting, harvesting, thrashing and more. You can tour non-electric farm houses where they may be canning, quilting, or baking. You can also buy produce at the farm stand, and take pictures of all that you see.
“The farm hosts over 500 animals, comprised of species from six of the seven continents. Our menagerie includes exotic animals such as giraffes, camels, zebras, and kangaroos along with more common animals like horses, llamas, buffaloes and deer. Visitors have the opportunity to view and hand-feed the animals from your car or a horse-drawn wagon.”
This is a fun place to visit. The Amish guides are very helpful and knowledgeable. I mean, have you even lived until you have hand-fed a giraffe? Our grandchildren loved it!
Lodging
I have read that over four million tourists visit this area every year. As you might guess, there is a plethora of choices of lodgings, some more rustic than others. One might even opt to stay in an Amish home. Night life is not really a “thing.” This is more of a peace-and-quiet kind of destination. There are a few shows that one might attend, all of which are family friendly!
My choice for lodging in Amish country is unusual and off the beaten path–a castle … yes, castle! Landoll’s Mohican Castle is located very remotely in Loudonville. Trust your GPS, even though it looks like you may be lost. There is a variety of types of accommodations (including suites), walking paths, an indoor pool, and a superb restaurant. It’s another place our grandchildren loved, and so did we! It was like spending time in a fairy tale!
Another Interesting Spot
The last place on my list of “must-visits” is Warther Cutlery. There are two locations. One is in Dover. This Museum honors Ernest “Mooney” Warther (who my grandfather made a trip to meet many years ago) who not only came up with the cutlery designs, but also hand carved to scale many steam engine locomotives. These amazing creations are on display in the museum. His wife’s unbelievable button collection can also be viewed.
Warther’s Cutlery/B. Green
Mooney’s son David is also an accomplished craftsman. His museum and shop are in Sugarcreek, and his collection features historical, made-to-scale ships.
Warther Museum/B. Green
The museums are amazing, but I must also give a shout out for the cutlery. I am a kitchen person, and Warther knives are without peer, the best cutlery I have ever used.
All this, together with crafts, antiques, garden doo-dads, and gift items makes Ohio’s Amish Country the second most visited spot in Ohio (after Cedar Point). There is plenty to do in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country whether you make it a day trip, a few days’ visit, or a quick pass-through.
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