Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About AMISH ACRES
Written: Sep 18 '05 (Updated Sep 24 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of variety, great food, reasonable prices, convenient packages
Cons: Can be crowded
The Bottom Line: What a relaxing weekend!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Amish Acres |
My husband and I just returned from a wonderful weekend trip to Amish Acres in Nappanee, Indiana. This was a great choice of destination as I am returning refreshed, well-fed, and ready to dive back into law school life. If you are wondering what the heck Amish Acres is or what the appeal of such a place could possibly be, read on for details about our trip.
General Information
Amish Acres is listed on the National Register of Historic places and devoted to educating the “English” (non-Amish) about the ways of life of the Amish in northern Indiana. It is a combination museum, farm, and convention site. One might describe it as an “Amish Theme Park” of sorts. There are a wide variety of options for a visit to Amish Acres. You can visit for the day or overnight. Many companies host large events on the grounds and some people choose the site for wedding receptions or family reunions.
We wanted to stay the night so we opted for the “Country Package”. This included three meals, all the farm attractions, and a stay at the Nappanee Inn for about $70 per person. It also includes coupons toward shows and souvenirs. There are also packages just for the day which offer meals and attractions for a bargain rate. For a higher price you can book a theater package which includes one or more shows at the round barn theater. Most of the attractions at Amish Acres are open from 10-5 so plan accordingly. After you book your package you will be given a handy brochure to carry with you which includes attractions and times. As you experience each attraction or meal a staff member will mark it off in your brochure which makes things very easy and convenient. It was great to pay one price and not have to carry cash around. Without a package the house and farm tours cost about $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children.
Things to Do
We visited Amish Acres during Fall Harvest days in September, 2005. Right from the moment we walked onto the grounds it was like being transformed into a different world, one which is much more relaxing. We could smell smoke from a constantly burning bonfire which was surrounded by a couple of arts and craft tents and a small circle of buildings. Do take a few moments during your visit to sit and enjoy your surroundings and walk around the small manmade lake. Once you purchase a package you can take as long as you would like to enjoy the attractions at Amish Acres, even after you check out of your hotel. We divided ours up and visited half on Saturday when we arrived and saved some for Sunday. The following are the offerings which were included in our Country Package.
Documentary Films - If you know little about Amish history and culture, these films are a great place to start and are shown in the attractive Locke Township Meeting House. We viewed “Genesis” and “Exodus” and found them to be short, sweet, and informative as well as fairly objective. The films focus on the beginnings of the Amish way of life and the ways in which culture has changed with new technology. Each was fifteen minutes long. If you have children “Bonnets and Britches” might be a better choice of film as it explains Amish life from a child’s point of view. The films show daily from 9:30 to 4:30 and an announcement is made in the Greeting Barn about ten minutes before show time.
Farm Wagon Ride Tour - Visitors get to pile aboard a farm wagon and sit on hay bales for a ride around the grounds. During our visit the wagon made two stops. The first was at an adorable one room German school house. The ‘school marm’ invited us to come inside and sit at desks complete with chalk and slates to write on. We learned a lot of interesting facts about the school and Amish education. Amish children are only educated up to the eighth grade and teachers have that same level of education.
After we reboarded the wagon, we were taken to the second stop which was the pumpkin patch. Every guest was allowed to select a pumpkin from the patch and roast marshmallows over the fire. The wagon left for a while and then came back to pick us up and drop off a new load of guests about ten minutes later. We got two great pumpkins but my only complaint is that the wagon was very crowded on the way back and some people were unwilling to have their children sit on their laps even though I had to sit on my husband’s! The wagon tour begins about every half hour and there is comfortable covered station to wait for the next wagon. Tours are available daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
House & Farm Tour - We waited to do this tour until our second day and we were glad we did because we ended up arriving right at 10:00 a.m. and receiving a private tour from a very knowledgeable young tour guide. This meant we were able to ask as many questions as we wished and move at our own pace. The tour took us all throughout the Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns farm. We walked past the garden, livestock barn, and outhouse and toured the main farmhouse. In the main house we were able to go upstairs and through all the rooms and then sit in the living room set up for a church service to hear a brief talk. I learned many interesting facts and discovered I would not do well as an Amish women because I cannot cook and would not like to pin all my clothing with straight pins. We also saw many authentic household antiques such as an incubator and butter churn. Outside I couldn’t resist petting the horse and snapping some great photos although I later saw a sign warning that he bites. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and departs every time the dinner bell rings, or about every half hour.
Time to Eat!
Amish Acres is a destination where food and eating is a major part of the experience. Since breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all included in our package we tried to get our money’s worth. The following are the dining options available on the grounds of Amish Acres.
Continental Breakfast - Both the official hotels (The Inn at Amish Acres and the Nappanee Inn) serve a very nice continental breakfast in an old fashioned dining room. We ate in the Milk Parlor at the Nappanee Inn and enjoyed the usual variety of dry cereals, oatmeal, bagels, apples, and juice. Additionally, fresh baked muffins are delivered to both hotels every day. I tried both blueberry and corn muffins and they were fabulous.
Barn Loft Grill - This cute little loft serves fast food lunch, Amish style. It has vaulted ceilings and a great view of the surrounding farm. The menu includes pork tenderloin, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken strips, and barbecue. Our package included a basket with a drink so I had pork tenderloin and my husband chose chicken strips and both our meals came with huge, juicy, onion rings and a soda. Prices are reasonable even if you don’t have a package with baskets ranging from $4-$6. The service is very friendly and the food comes out quickly. The grill is open from 11-2 each day but is not open on Sundays.
Thresher’s Dinner - This particular meal is somewhat famous as it has been awarded the highest Mobil Travel Guide score in Indiana. The meal is served from 11:00 – 7:00 on weekdays and 11:00 – 6:00 on Sundays. This classic menu doesn’t change much and is served family style. It includes fresh bread and apple butter, mashed potatoes, green beans, beef and noodles, stuffing, and coleslaw plus a choice of two meats per table. We selected the roast beef and chicken, but other options include turkey or ham. What is amazing is not only the quantity of the food but the fabulous quality. The roast beef was expertly seasoned and the mashed potatoes were amazing.
You can ask for more food as many times as you like but we didn’t even make it to seconds because it is critical to save room for the dessert that comes with your meal. I had cherry pie and my husband had peanut butter pie, but other options include dumplings, turnovers, puddings, shoe fly pie, and chocolate cream pie. If the meal is not part of a package the price is around $16 per person but coupons are frequently available. I’m still rubbing my tummy with delight over how tasty this meal was and the service was delightfully friendly.
Shop Til You Drop!
Amish Acres provides some fun and unique shopping opportunities. We were lucky enough to actually get some of our Christmas shopping done this weekend, including a gift for that impossible to buy for father-in-law. There are frequently craft booths and tents set up around the farm in addition to the following permanent stores.
The Stone House Christmas Shop - This was my personal favorite as it got me in the Christmas spirit despite the fact that it is only September! The Christmas Shop had a lot of unique and high quality Christmas merchandise including ornaments, decorations, and flavored cocoas and coffees.
The Greeting Barn - If you want a souvenir that screams “Amish Acres,” this is the place to go. There is quite a variety available at this gift shop. Simple souvenirs for children are available for a few dollars as well as elaborate quilts for $800. There are also traditional Amish faceless dolls and smaller wall quilts and placemats. The store has two levels of crafts and souvenirs and I lost my husband in here several times.
Soda Shop and Fudgery - As I’m sure you guessed, I couldn’t escape this shop without a quarter pound of chocolate peanut butter fudge because clearly we weren’t eating enough at the meals discussed above. We devoured it all on Saturday afternoon and give it high marks. The soda shop is very quaint and many families were enjoying ice cream cones in a variety of flavors.
The Brick Forge Garden Shop - A lot of unique garden items are sold here including engraved stones to put in rocks or bark chips. There are also stone statues and flags to decorate your garden. The building is adorable from the outside and it gives shoppers the feeling that they just wandered into someone’s garden shed which was inadvertently left open.
The Bakery - Certainly not limited to baked goods, the selection here includes jelly, pastas, butter, popped corn, and candy. Of course, the baked goods are impressive and you can take home pies, breads, and cinnamon rolls. We picked up some raspberry preserves and apple butter as well as some licorice to remember our trip by. There is a pretty large selection of books dealing with Amish culture available in the bakery as well. The shop is located at the entrance to the Thresher’s Dinner restaurant and is a great place to kill some time while you wait for your name to be called.
W.H. Best Meat & Cheese Shop - This didn’t hold a lot of appeal for me but if meat and cheese are your thing you will find plenty of them here. It’s tough to take perishables home if you are driving a distance, so plan ahead and bring a cooler if you want to transport some fresh cheese home. There is also a limited selection of candy and souvenirs.
If You Want to See a Play
We did not see a play on this visit but I have been lucky enough to see one at the Round Barn Theatre before and it is a beautiful venue. Plain and Fancy is a play about Amish life which I saw when I was much, much younger and while I don’t remember much about it, I know that I enjoyed it. Other plays for the next year include Beauty and the Beast, Bye, Bye, Birdie, Forever Plaid, and Fiddler on the Roof. The plays cost about $30 for adults and a bargain $6 for children and there are often 2:00 matinees and 8:00 evening shows. Information about the 2006 season can be found at http://www.amishacres.com/aa_musical_theatre/2006_season/2006_season.htm#fiddler.
Where to Stay
Of course there are other hotels and bed and breakfasts in downtown Nappanee and the surrounding area but if you are spending time at Amish Acres you can’t beat staying one of the on-site hotels for sheer value and convenience. It was great to be able to pay one price for our package and not have to think about where to eat or what to do.
The Nappanee Inn has a barn-like appearance but the interior is quite modern. There is a small pool and the bedrooms have beautiful Amish quilt bedspreads and photographs of farm life on the walls. It is about a thirty second drive form the parking lot of Amish Acres. We really enjoyed our stay.
For a slightly higher price the Inn at Amish Acres is even closer to the main entrance and a little bit more upscale. There are suites and whirlpool rooms available and this hotel has a slightly more historic feel. Either of these two hotels would be a good choice.
Overall…
Amish Acres is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy great food and friendly people. There are about twenty Amish employees and even those who are not Amish are clearly dedicated to educating visitors about a fascinating culture. This is a good choice for a family getaway or a romantic weekend escape. It is also an educational experience which exposed us to the interesting and historic culture of the Amish. My advice is to linger a while and soak up the ambiance of farm life. We really enjoyed our all inclusive package and hope to make another visit back to Amish Acres in the near future.
*Need a place to stay? Check out my review of The Inn at Amish ACres
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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