5 Amish Country Getaway Stays

The Inn at Honey Run | Millersburg

The lodging options at The Inn at Honey Run are so ingrained with the surrounding trees and countryside that walking the grounds of this Holmes County resort provides a sense of discovery by itself.  

“We’re an adults-only resort and retreat,” says Jason Nies, owner of The Inn at Honey Run. “If you’re looking for that serenity, if you’re looking to be able to hear the birds and listen to the creek and the wind howl through the trees, that’s what you’re getting here.”

Guests can choose from 39 rooms, including ones at the main inn as well as nearby cottages. Those seeking an exclusive getaway flock to the Honeycomb rooms located in the hill above the inn. Each of the 12 rooms is built into the hillside and has a gas-burning fireplace and a private outdoor patio that overlooks a patch of indigenous wildflowers.

“It’s just amazing that it’s built underground, but you never feel like you’re underground,” Nies says. “Each room has a glass wall facing eastward.” 

Guests don’t have to leave the inn’s property to find activities, be it viewing sculptures created by local artists at the new Holmes County Open Air Art Museum or dining on duck ravioli or a grilled pork chop at the property’s on-site restaurant, Tarragon. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding woodland, and the restaurant offers both a day lounge and outdoor deck that is open during warm months. 

Those looking for some Amish authenticity can even enjoy a buggy ride booked by the inn. “They can experience a traditional, Amish, metal-wheeled buggy and have a true Amish person answer questions and talk about their faith and religion,” Nies says. Peak season $199–$519, off-peak season $139–$500; 6920 County Rd. 203, Millersburg 44654, 330/674-0011, innathoneyrun.com

Try This: To learn about Amish culture, visit the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center and view “Behalt” — a 10-by-265-foot mural-in-the-round that traces the history of the Anabaptist movement from the early 1500s to today. “ ‘Behalt’ is the most comprehensive understanding of the origins of the Amish,” Nies says. 5798 County Rd. 77, Millersburg 44610, 330/893-3192, behalt.com

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Pine Cove Lodging | Berlin

What opened as a two-room bed-and-breakfast in 1994 has since grown into a modern-yet-rustic retreat that includes four suites, a log cabin and three treehouses where guests can sleep 22 feet in the air surrounded by white pine and cherry trees.

“I always thought, You can stay in a hotel anywhere. I wanted to create something [that offers] an experience,” says Jared Coblentz, owner of Pine Cove Lodging. He added all three treehouses since 2010. “You are kind of up there by yourself back in the trees, which creates that privacy people are looking for.”

Each of Pine Cove Lodging’s treehouses offers a Jacuzzi, a full kitchen and living room and a king-size bed with an Amish-made pillow-top mattress. A deck allows guests to enjoy the natural sights and sounds of the wooded property.

The location is just a short drive from the heart of Berlin, a hub of activity in Holmes County’s Amish country. Visitors can take in works by original playwrights at the Amish Country Theater, browse the 67,000-square-foot Holmes County Flea Market or pick up some cheese to take home at Heini’s Cheese Chalet.

“People can experience food that’s made locally and recipes that you don’t find outside of the area,” Coblentz says. “The people that come back to the area are people that appreciate the slower-paced way of life.” Treehouses and cabin peak season $169–$225, off-peak season $125–$199 (no treehouses), lodge suites $79–$169 year-round; 5492 County Rd. 201, Millersburg 44654, 330/893-1001, amishcountrylodging.com

Try This: The Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant, located less than 2 miles from Pine Cove Lodging, serves up home-style cooking in a building that started as a grocery store in the 1930s. “It was the original restaurant here in Berlin,” Coblentz says. “They still make things from scratch and use original recipes.” 4819 E. Main St., Berlin 44610, 330/893-3287, boydandwurthmann.com

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Goodwin House Bed & Breakfast | Burton

This sturdy brick home was recognized as a local landmark over a century ago and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Built in 1828, it originally belonged to Dr. Erastus Goodwin, a Geauga County physician who served patients across a 25-mile radius by traveling on horseback.

“It’s such a great and untouched example of early Western Reserve architecture,” says owner Robyn Morris, who purchased the home in 2005 and opened it as a bed-and-breakfast four months later. “It also has some Federal [style] elements such as the fan [design] over the door and on top of the gable.”

Two guest rooms on the second floor each feature a private bathroom and an all-season fireplace. Guests are treated to breakfast options ranging from farm-fresh eggs to French toast.

But the home’s biggest allure is its design. The thick, brick exterior and original American chestnut wood flooring give the feel of what it would have been like to live here during the 19th century, and the home’s layout is the same as it was 200 years ago. The residence also features pieces of authentic antique furniture dating back to the 1820s, including one of the room’s bed frames and a rocking chair.  

“I bought [the house] because I love its interesting architecture,” Morris says. “To actually be in and stay in a house that is this old and well put together and significant … is a really special and memorable experience.” $110 weeknights, $150 weekend nights year-round; 14485 N. Cheshire St., Burton 44021, 440/834-5050, goodwinhousebb.com

Try This: Warren’s Spirited Kitchen opened last year and has become popular for its fresh, locally focused menu. Try the beef tartar, topped with horseradish, smoked cheddar, pepper relish, red onion, garlic aioli, poached egg yolk and frites. “It’s not reheated, deep-fried or thawed,” says Morris. “They make things from scratch.” 14614 E. Park St., Burton 44021, 440/273-8100, warrensspiritedkitchen.com

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Carlisle Inn | Walnut Creek

This four-story inn invites visitors with beautiful flower beds and private balconies and porches for most rooms. Guests staying on the north side can take in views of the valley and Amish farmland, while those on the south side can sit outside and listen to the horses and buggies pass by.

Walnut Creek’s Carlisle Inn is home to 52 rooms decorated with Amish-inspired quilts on the walls and beds, and handcrafted oak and cherry furniture. “Every room is decorated differently,” says Vicki Vannatta, the inn’s corporate marketing manager.

Even the smallest details were the work of Amish craftsmen and carpenters, including the hardwood dentil molding and hand-turned finials on the furniture. A spiral staircase with wooden railings connects each floor and has become the location’s trademark. Local Amish craftsmen also made the woodwork seen throughout the hallways and the doors for each room.

The Dutchman Hospitality Group has owned the inn for more than 20 years and has two others inns across Holmes and Tuscarawas counties. The business, which was founded by a local Mennonite family, also owns the Der Dutchman restaurant located next to the Carlisle Inn, as well as Amish-inspired eateries in Sugarcreek, Berlin, Plain City and Bellville.

“We try to provide an atmosphere for people to come when they really want to get away from their normal routine, and they feel like they can’t do one more day in their real life,” Vannatta says. Peak season $139–$159, off-peak season $95–$135; 4949 Walnut St., Walnut Creek 44687, 855/400-2275, dhgroup.com

Try This: Visit the Farm at Walnut Creek — a large working Amish farm two miles away from the Carlisle Inn where visitors can see more than 500 animals during warmer months, including exotic species such as giraffes and kangaroos. “That’s really a wonderful experience for all ages,” Vannatta says. “You can ride the [horse-drawn] wagons or drive your own car through and feed the animals.” 4147 County Rd. 114, Sugarcreek 44681, 330/893-4200, thefarmatwalnutcreek.com

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Sojourner’s Lodge & Log Cabin Suites | Dundee

Spread out across 20 acres, Sojourner’s Lodge & Log Cabin Suites offers six rooms in two different buildings. A log-and-stone structure is home to two suites and a stone fire pit, while the two-story lodge houses four suites near the property’s 3-acre lake.

Co-owner Duane Miller, who grew up on a dairy farm across the street, purchased the land when it went on sale in 1996. He and his wife, Gwen Miller, opened their cabin suites in 2006, and for the past decade have benefited from their location just 15 minutes away from Berlin and Walnut Creek. Each suite is crafted in a log-cabin style and filled with decor that reflects the rural setting.

“We wanted to decorate all of our suites to celebrate Ohio or to bring out Ohio wildlife and beauty,” says Gwen.

In the gift shop, guests can buy maple syrup made with sap from the property’s 300 tapped trees or purchase Duane’s Amish cookbook, which is filled with family recipes. Those who want to dine out on Amish food can make a short drive to the Amish Door Restaurant in Wilmot or Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen in Millersburg.

The Millers say their guests are often curious about the Amish lifestyle. Both old and new order Amish families live near their property, offering guests at Sojourner’s a window into the various types of farming methods employed in this part of Ohio.

“You’ll see Amish people out plowing the fields with tractors, or you’ll see Amish people out plowing the fields with horses,” Gwen says. “You’ll see a wide variety of different types of Amish people … I think a lot of people appreciate that.” Peak season $130–$175, off-peak season $115–$150; 2156 Durstine Rd., Dundee 44624, 330/359-5320, sojournerslodgeohio.com

Try This: Pay a visit to Lehman’s, the largest nonelectric hardware store in the world. Family-run since 1955, it stocks a wide selection, including wooden toys for kids and old-school accessories and appliances for every room in the house. “It’s such a cool store,” says Gwen. “It’s a store for your entire home and all types of people.” 4779 Kidron Rd., Dalton 44618, 800/438-5346, lehmans.com