It’s an easy and scenic motorcycle ride through the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country.
Wayne County along with Holmes, Medina, and Tuscarawas counties together make up the largest Amish community in the world. Motorcyclists often share the back roads with Amish horses and buggies. Many of the Amish families in Wayne County stay true to their agricultural roots. Many also work with businesses that attract visitors worldwide. The Amish are especially well known for their wood furniture and baked goods. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a genuine homemade Amish deep dish pie made fresh with no preservatives.
The Amish enjoy the simple life and avoid many modern conveniences. Minimalist lifestyles are vogue among America’s younger generations (albeit they’re well-wrapped in the latest technologies) today so they could actually learn a lot about living off the grid by visiting with folks in this Amish Mecca. The original Amish immigrants came to the U.S. from Switzerland in the 1690s. They were led by a religious man named Jakob Ammann. His followers became known as “Amish.” They settled in Pennsylvania to escape persecution. In the 1800s, much more Amish immigrated a bit westward to Ohio. This influx included the Swiss-German Mennonites. The Amish and Mennonites are both Anabaptist sects that formed as part of the Protestant Reformation but separate from it. Although they share many of the same beliefs and culture, Mennonites have adopted more technology into their daily lives so if you see an “Amish” person using a cell phone or driving an automobile, they are likely Mennonites.
There are about a half dozen stops across Wayne County that get just as much attention as the novelty of seeing a full-blown Amish community at every turn.
In Kidron, Ohio, your ride will take you to an Amish store that was begun in 1955 by Jay Lehman. Lehman’s Hardware Store grew from its modest beginning serving Amish family needs to a major destination and superstore serving a bustling Amish community. It is also called upon by Hollywood today to come up with pieces to use for period films. The vast product line has plenty of old-fashioned treats in addition to fascinating non-electric goods. A helpful staff is always eager to demonstrate these peculiar and effective tools if you can’t figure them out. This walkthrough history is like meandering a living museum.
Next door there is a regularly scheduled old-time auction house that draws mostly Amish men bidding on livestock and the like. It’s quite an experience to sit in and watch. Lehman’s also offers a café making it a great stop to stretch your legs.
Then you may continue to other signature stops in the county. If you want to see a show, consider America’s Premiere Lyric Theater Festival, The Ohio Light Opera. Swing by The J.M. Smucker Company Store and Café to taste the products of this company’s icon brands. Over at P. Graham Dunn, become mesmerized by the lasers cutting inspirational messages into the wood products which are sold on-site. Top the leisure ride through Wayne County’s leg of this motorcycle tour with a picnic on a blanket amidst the beautiful vistas at Secrest Arboretum. Then explore their diverse landscape, theme gardens, and plant collections.
To plan your ride this spring, summer, or fall, contact the Wayne County Visitors Bureau at www.wccvb.com or call 800-362-6474 to request a free motorcycle touring brochure with a complete guide, including maps.
