Amish Country

There’s nothing plain about this corner of the Buckeye State

A world unto itself, Ohio’s Amish Country is a rich tapestry of farm fields, where horse-drawn buggies trot through quaint hamlets and villages. There’s no shortage of delightful shops, cafés and bakeries found among dairies, blacksmiths and antique stores. You’ll also find plenty of superlatives. Check out the world’s largest cuckoo clock in Sugarcreek (the “Little Switzerland of Ohio”); one of the nation’s oldest livestock auctions in Kidron; and a store that claims to be the world’s largest retailer of nonelectric appliances — that would be Lehman’s, also in Kidron.

Away from the curious crowds lies an abundance of historic towns, lush parks and wildlife centers that deliver a range of opportunities for leisurely hiking, horse riding and cycling amidst Amish Country’s green and pleasant lands. You’ll also find several sites that tell the story of the Amish’s escape from religious persecution in Europe and eventual settlement in the United States, where they found the freedom to follow their custom of “plain” living.

Downtown Millersburg

With a clutch of museums, historical attractions, eye-catching Victorian architecture and antique emporiums, downtown Millersburg (known affectionately as “Burg”) combines Amish and Mennonite history and traditions with a passion for collectibles. The Holmes County Antique Festival, held every October, blends the love of old objects with festivities. The town boasts a variety of homey restaurants, a robust schedule of hands-on, family-friendly events and, on the second Saturday of the month (during summer), there are free movies on Millersburg’s courthouse lawn.

For a visual overview of the region’s cultural roots, visit the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in town. The centerpiece here is the Behalt, a 10-foot-tall circular mural with a 265-foot circumference. The oil-on-canvas cyclorama details how the Anabaptist movement ran afoul with establish churches in Europe. The stirring mural also shows the migration to North America, where Amish and Mennonite people could live in freedom.

The architectural showstopper in town, the restored Victorian Mansion is a dazzling confection of Queen Anne Victorian style, with 28 rooms showcasing antiques donated from the residents. Walk the original floors and marvel at exquisite woodwork and ornate wall coverings.

Millersburg is a fine launching pad for active excursions throughout Amish Country. Holmes County’s picturesque Rails to Trails path begins at Hipp Station in Millersburg. At the Amish Country Riding Stables, you can take a guided horseback trail ride or horse-drawn carriage ride (in the winter) through idyllic Holmes County.

Woodbury Wildlife Center

Some 5 miles west of Coshocton, the 19,000-acre Woodbury Wildlife Area is Ohio’s largest public hunting and fishing site. With diverse habitats ranging from vast expanses of grasses and legumes to relatively primal woodlands, Woodbury has been designated as a prime “Watchable Wildlife” area, perfect for leisurely hikes, camping, picnicking, fishing and hunting. As you walk the meandering trails, you may catch glimpses of squirrels, wild turkeys, opossums, cottontail rabbits, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, waterfowl, beavers, muskrats, raccoons and skunks. A sanctuary for elusive birds including bobolinks, short-eared owls, rough-legged hawks and numerous songbirds, the site lures ornithologists keen to fill their logs with rare species. Anglers convene at some 42 local ponds, which are liberally stocked with bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish and channel catfish.

Historic Roscoe Village

Dating back to 1830, historic Roscoe Village is one of the region’s most fascinating towns. Sitting along the historic Ohio and Erie Canal, the community once served as a thriving port for barges bringing cargo to market. Today, cobbled streets, Victorian buildings and manicured parks add to the town’s quaint and wholesome allure. The popular Historic Roscoe Village provides rich insight into the region’s history, with costumed interpreters giving demonstrations and informative tours of designated living history buildings.

At the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, an eclectic ensemble of small exhibits spans Native American history and Asian arts. The town’s visitor center is a great place to learn about the area’s development as a port town, with intricate dioramas as well as models of a working lock, aqueduct and grist mill. It’s worth a visit to view the Newark Holy Stones, a collection of artifacts located near ancient Native American burial grounds in 1860. Another favorite pastime for visitors and locals is the 45-minute ride down a restored section of the Ohio and Erie Canal, pulled by sturdy draft horses.

Tourism Ohio

Schrock’s Amish Farm and Village

Located just outside Berlin, in a gentle setting of ponds and wooded areas, Schrock’s Amish Farm and Village is a much-loved family-friendly destination and a fine, hands-on introduction into Amish farm life. Along with traditional shops, including an antique mall, candle factory and quilt bar, visitors can observe the inner workings of an Amish farm; kids can pet and feed the resident animals, milk cows, shoe horses and even participate in field work.

There are self-guided tours of the farm’s restored, highly evocative house, built in 1849, where a bishop, his wife and their 11 children once resided. Seasonal activities include a ride in an authentic Amish buggy and the excellent Olde World Bakery and Bistro, where Amish baked goods come in such decadent iterations as gigantic cinnamon rolls and cookies as well as satisfying sandwiches, salads and wraps.

For More Information

Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau

877-643-8824

www.visitamishcountry.com

Ohio Tourism Division

800-282-5393

www.discoverohio.com