TRIP REPORT
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Just got back from our week-long trip there. Here are some of the things we did and saw. I'm a woodworker and my wife is a quilter and sewer, so we have those interests and therefore the review is subjective.
We stayed at "Amish Country Campsites" in Winesburg. We found it well-maintained, clean and friendly. Most all the other campers were of retirement age and went out each day to see the sites or eat out. There is only a small swingset and sandbox, so it's probably not ideal if you have small children. They also have two large trailers where they get wood cut-offs from a local wood manufacturing facility for free firewood. Each site has electric, water, and gray-water dump, and dump station on the way out. A few sites all-grass for tenting, otherwise gravel pads and paths. Easy to get to on OH route 62.
Overall If Holmes County’s biggest industry is not tourism, it’s a close second behind woodworking and ahead of agriculture, mostly dairy farms. There are a number of cottage industries at many places. At woodworking shops you can find furniture or wooden bric-a-brac. You’ll also find hand-woven baskets, baked goods, cheese, sausage, and bulk foods at about every town and many places in between We stopped at a few so don’t have an exhaustive list. Many of the fellow campers make regular trips there for the shopping. This came through while we were there and the story is familiar
Amish tourism conundrum When driving, be alert for buggies, bicycles, and pedestrians on the roadways.
Charm Keim Lumber ***
A large lumber/hardware store. Biggest interest is the room of “exotic” woods. Prices ranging from $50 for a small piece to $4000 for a large piece ready to sit atop legs for a natural edge table or desk
Charm Miller Fabrics ***
Large supply of quilting fabrics and plain fabric for Amish / Mennonite dressmaking. It's my sister's favorite place (retired home-ec teacher and alteration/customer seamstress).
Charm Bulk foods store ****
Small store with lots of “bulk foods,” meaning it’s broken down into small plastic bags or boxes. Grains, spices, pasta, gelatin, etc. We found these mostly good prices.
Walnut Creek Walnut Creek Cheese ***
About the only thing we found that resembles a supermarket grocery store. A lot of locals seem to shop here. In addition to what you find anywhere else, a large deli and meat counter.
Mt. Hope Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen
We did not get a chance to go there, but several locals raved about the food and especially the semi-annual seafood festival, and warned there is usually a 90 minute wait for a table during the seafood festival.
Walnut Creek Der Dutchman Restaurant ***
About what you’d expect from a large Mennonite / Amish restaurant. Lots of food on the buffet.
Berlin Downtown Berlin *
Tourist trap. Lots of crafty stores and places to eat, lots of traffic. Reminds me of the town scene in Witness movie. Perhaps the most offensive, and for that reason, one we didn’t go to was something like a “Hoop-de-do Amish Revue” in the spirit of Hee-Haw. It seemed to mock the culture, although their literature says it’s “respectful.”
Berlin Zinck’s Fabric Outlet ****
Warehouse building with lots of fabrics. Seemed to be mostly seconds, but very reasonable prices. Quantity discounts on whole bolts, some pieces cut to order, some pieces as-is. Tons of buttons. My wife ended up spending a couple of hundred dollars there.
Dover Warther Museum ****
Museum of master carver E. “Mooney” Warther. Exquisite carvings of steam engines and trains in walnut, ebony and ivory that he carved over his lifetime, first ¾ of 20th century. Guided tour well worth it. Original home and Mrs. Warther’s button collection also on site. Gift shop of mostly kitchen knives made there.
Dalton P. Graham Dunn **
“Inspirational works” All kinds of laser and CNC produced plaques and artwork, mostly Biblical or “Faith Friends Family” type of stuff. Some very large pieces that would be more appropriate for a church narthex. A little of this goes a long way. They also have a small store across the street from Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek German Heritage Museum. **
Limited hours. Small museum of artifacts of the region from settlement by Stotzfus up through WWII.
Kidron Lehman Hardware *
When I was there years ago, it was an overcrowded hardware store that catered to “off grid” and Amish. While it still has non-electric appliances such as (really expensive) stoves and lamps, it’s mostly tourist now. Resembles a cross between a hardware store and a Cracker Barrel with old stuff hanging from the walls and ceiling. To see where the Amish really shop, go to a much smaller branch in New Hope. A cross between a Do-It-Best hardware store with a wing toward off the grid ware.
Charm Guggisberg Cheese ***
Home of Baby Swiss cheese. While they say you can see “cheese being made,” it’s just a window into their cheese room. At the time we were there, one guy cleaning up. It’s just really a cheese store with their own and outside cheeses. For a variety, you can get "ends" in a bag that are the last couple of inches or less of cheese bricks as they are being sliced off. Hit-or-miss on the cheese ends.
Millersburg Hershberger Farm **
Collection of a few little shops, veggies, cheese, plants, popcorn. Pony and carriage rides. Petting zoo, puppies for sale.
Millersburg Downtown Millersburg ***
Not so touristy. An historical (late 19th century) downtown area with a few shops. Lots of nice Victorian homes. Beautiful courthouse that is worth a walk around inside. They don’t make them like that any more.
Orrville Smucker’s Store and Cafe*
Home of Smuckers, makers of jams, jellies, Jif, Crisco, and Folgers. Other than maybe more choices in flavors and some products for the Hispanic market, nothing you could not find in a well-stocked grocery store.
Wooster Everything Rubbermaid ***
Name says it all. Factory store featuring kitchenware, storage totes, commercial (restaurant) products, yard sheds and some Irwin tools. Fourth floor has clearance items. Some boutiques and restaurants within walking distance.
Berlin Holmes County Flea Market *
Bunch of kitsch that you can find at any flea market. A few places with Amish baked goods.
Coshocton Old Roscoe Village ****
One of the highlights of the trip. Guided tour through a number of the historical buildings from the days when this was a bustling town on the Ohio-Erie canal, first half of 19th century. Includes a stop at blacksmith, doctor’s office & home, weaver, school, and print shop. Of special interest is Dennis Knight, the resident leather worker. Not so special if you don't take the tour.
Trail Troyer’s Trail Bologna **
Smoked bologna factory with a small “general store” next door that sells it (also available elsewhere). I liked it; wife did not.
Berlin Wendell August Forge * Lots of stamped and hammered smallware such as coasters and plates. What I saw was mostly aluminum.
