There are numerous myths, misconceptions and misconceptions about the Amish that can lead to uncomfortable situations for guests in one of Ohio’s most visited tourist destinations.
According to figures released by the State of Ohio, tourism generates approximately $313 million in annual economic impact for Holmes County.
Tiffany Gerber, executive director of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau, said a study conducted by Ohio State University’s School of Applied Methodology Research (OSU-AMRE) estimated that tourism brings about $500 million a year to Holmes County’s economy, a figure she believes is a bit low.
“Tourism has an annual economic impact of $300 million to $500 million in the region,” Garber said.
Some visitors think of Amish Country as a place with costumed characters, not realizing that it’s actually a way of life.
Several respected members of the Holmes County Plains community shared their thoughts on tourists visiting Amish Country and common courtesy.
Gerber said common courtesy goes a long way when dealing with anyone and is always a good rule of thumb.
“The chamber’s main focus right now is road safety first and foremost,” Gerber said. “Share the road, watch out for strollers, don’t pass on hills, ride e-bikes at 35 miles per hour. These are the kinds of things that we actually put in the Holmes County Visitor’s Guide.”
“We don’t talk about the actual etiquette of interactions,” she said. “Some people who come into our office don’t know anything about the Amish. We encourage them to say hello. We emphasize not to ask to take a photo. It’s basic common courtesy.”
To help visitors learn more about the Amish and their culture, Gerber said he gives them brochures and directs them to Behart, an Amish-Mennonite cultural heritage center on County Road 77 in Berlin.
A Culture of Peaceful Faith
Behart is a 10-foot by 265-foot round window mural that took Heinz Gaugell 14 years to paint. Completed in 1990, it has served as a visual history of Anabaptists. Tours of Behart explain why and how Amish and Mennonite people live the way they do.
Karita Keim, a tour guide at the Heritage Center, said the most common courtesy tourists should remember when visiting Amish Country is that taking photos of the Amish is not allowed.
“We find that the people who come to our facility as tourists are very nice,” Keim said. “Most visitors know it’s rude to take pictures of Amish people. They’re people just like you and me. They’re not part of the exhibit.”
Wayne Wengard, president of the Amish Executive Committee, said the Amish are no different from anyone else when it comes to smiling and making small talk. You should treat the Amish like anyone else. If you see an Amish person at the grocery store, Wengard suggests saying hello, starting a conversation and starting to build a relationship.
“If you treat others the way you want to be treated, things will work out,” he said.
Start a conversation, but do it respectfully.
Wengard said things have changed a lot in the past 20 years, and he noted that the Amish community has become fairly accustomed to tourists visiting Holmes County and the surrounding area on a regular basis.
“Most Amish people are welcoming to tourists,” Wengard says, “and I don’t hear many bad experiences between the Amish and tourists. Some tourists are hesitant to talk to the Amish because they don’t know how they’ll react. There are still some tourists who think it’s just a show or that it’s just for tourists, but they’re not many.”
Wengard noted that visitors shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions of Amish people, but they should do so respectfully.
“We are human beings and we respond the same way most other Americans do: if we are treated with respect, we will return respect,” he said. “We are busy and we have jobs, so if we don’t stop and pay attention, it doesn’t mean we’re being rude; we simply have a job to do. If you have the opportunity, most of us won’t be offended if you stop and talk, visit or even ask a question, as long as it’s done respectfully.”
“The golden rules of respect and treating others the way you want to be treated, and simple things like smiling, communicate in any language,” Wengard says. “Everyone gets the message. If you’re friendly, most people will respond in a friendly way, and they’ll know where to take the conversation. Personally, I’m not offended by being asked personal questions, although some people might be.”
Transportation: The Unique Conditions of Amish Country
Holmes County roads are unique with all the different vehicles and traffic on the roads – big trailers, trucks, tractors, cars, horse-drawn carriages, e-bikes, motorized bicycles, kids walking to school, farm equipment, etc. Add in the hills and winding roads and you have an adventure driving.
“With all that traffic, every day that passes without a true tragedy happening is a miracle,” Wengard said.
He reiterated Garber’s statement that road safety is a top priority, adding that visitors should avoid getting too close behind horse-drawn carriages at stop signs because the horses can back up.
“Horses have a mind of their own,” he says. “They’re not like cars. You might want to keep your distance. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a bad experience on the road. Most people, including tourists, are polite, and we really appreciate that.”
According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Unit, there were 137 ATV-related accidents in Wayne County and 75 in Holmes County from Jan. 1, 2019, through the end of June 2024. Statewide, there were 714 such accidents.
During that same time period, Wayne County had 85 bicycle-related accidents and Holmes County had 82. Data collected on accidents involving electric bikes and mopeds was 15, with Wayne County recording seven and Holmes County recording eight. Statewide, 855 accidents were reported.
Managers who are comfortable asking questions
Leroy Yoder, owner of Highland Bikes in Berlin, said he has had very few issues with tourists.
The biggest incident he remembers was when a potential supplier looked shocked when Yoder asked them to fax something over.
“He couldn’t believe that fax machines still worked in this day and age,” Yoder said with a smile.
Yoder said he gets a lot of questions from visitors, but nothing too personal or intrusive.
“If everyone was a little more polite, the world would be a better place,” he said.
Harry Miller of Pine Lane Produce echoed Yoder’s sentiments, noting that there are bad apples on every tree.
“We get a few questions, mostly about our religion,” Miller says, “and we’re careful about what we say to them, but as a rule, most people are very polite. I often tell people that although all we hear about is bad, there’s also a lot of good out there.”
On road safety, Yoder said he was approached several years ago by a woman who suggested starting a program to teach tourists how to drive among the influx of ATVs and motorcycles.
“Why not educate the locals first,” he says. “They need to be reminded about the laws of the road, but cyclists have a lot to learn too. I think it all comes down to common courtesy.”
