Last Updated on: 24th July 2024, 02:19 pm
Amish Country Illinois is more than meets the eye! Amish Country Illinois includes four separate towns, each with outdoor and indoor attractions like stores, restaurants, and things to do. You can interact with thousands of Amish people and tourists from all over the world at quaint and fun points of interest. Hundreds of thousands of out-of-town visitors come to Amish Country every year.
But before you visit Illinois Amish Country, you need to learn about this incredible area. Here’s your guide to Amish Country Illinois.
Table of Contents
Arcola IL
Arcola is the entrance to Illinois Amish Country. It’s the closest Amish Illinois community to Decatur, and it’s located along Interstate 57 and State Route 45. It is 42.6 miles from Decatur to Arcola, and it takes roughly one hour to get to Arcola from Decatur IL.
History
Arcola IL was founded in 1855, and Amish people began arriving in 1865. Three Amish families set up farms along the Kaskaskia River. During the late 1800s, more Amish families began arriving, and the community expanded to include large farms in Arcola and Arthur IL.
The Arcola IL Amish and Arthur IL Amish communities today total roughly 4,500 people. The Amish towns in Illinois are organized into 27 church districts. You can drive to most of these districts within a few minutes of the town center in Arcola. The town center contains a few Amish attractions, but most Amish things to do are outside the town center.
Besides its Amish community, Arcola is known as the “Broom Corn Capitol of the World.” You can visit the Broomcorn Festival on Labor Day and watch various broom activities, including performances from the Lawn Rangers. Raggedy Ann creator Johnny Gruelle was born in Arcola, and you can find various attractions related to Raggedy Ann around town. You can also visit Aikman Wildlife Adventure, the only drive-thru zoo in Illinois.
Things to Do
You can find various Amish stores and restaurants in downtown Arcola. Kauffman Amish Furniture Outlet is one of the largest suppliers of Amish furniture. You can buy hand-crafted Amish furniture, including chairs, tables, drawers, and swings, with over 170 different wood and stain combinations. Yoder’s Homestead Shop is a custom Amish furniture store that sells oak, walnut, and cherry furniture as well as locally made jams and jellies.
The Country Salvage Store is an Amish-run grocery and general store. You can purchase produce, meat, and baked goods from Amish farms. Most items are at low prices, making the store the best location in Arcola for an affordable meal.
Are you interested in moving to Arcola Illinois? Contact Federal Companies and start a stress-free moving process today!
Arthur
Arthur is the hub of Amish Country Illinois, with more attractions and Amish residents than any other Amish Illinois community. You will spend most of your time in and around Arthur while visiting Illinois Amish Country.
History
Amish settlers arrived in Arthur in 1865, 12 years before Arthur was formally incorporated as a town. The community expanded rapidly, thanks in part to the Union Pacific Railroad, which was built in town in the 1870s.
Arthur began as a railroad depot, but it slowly transformed into an agricultural and tourist hub during the 1900s. The community is well known as the heart of Illinois Amish Country, catering mainly to out-of-town visitors.
Things to Do in Illinois Amish Country Arthur
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center maintains two historic homes in Arthur related to the Amish people. The 1856 Moses Yoder House is the oldest Amish house in Illinois. The 1882 Daniel Schrock House contains several exhibits on Amish life and original Amish artifacts from over 150 years ago. You can go on guided or self-guided tours of both homes and attend special events like quilting demonstrations. The Illinois Amish Heritage Center will expand in future years to include additional buildings and an on-site museum.
The 200 Acres is an Amish-run farm that contains several popular attractions. The Great Pumpkin Patch is a 63-acre pumpkin patch with 300 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes. The Great Pumpkin Patch is open during September and October, and you can purchase many pumpkins there. You can also visit The Homestead Bakery, which offers Amish baked goods for sale. The bakery is best known for its iced pumpkin cookies, but you can also buy angel food cakes and sweet breads.
Green Meadow Farm is a 4th-generation Amish farm open to tours and special events. You can ride in horse-drawn buggies, purchase fresh cheese from an on-site store, and eat home-cooked meals from Amish chefs.
Yoder’s Kitchen is the top Amish restaurant in Arthur Illinois. Yoders is open for breakfast and lunch, and you can try out numerous dishes at Yoder’s Kitchen’s all-you-can-eat buffet.
A few companies in the Arthur area can arrange tours for you to visit working Amish farms and purchase Amish furniture in Arthur IL. Some tours also include meals inside Amish homes or in locally-run restaurants. Tour companies like ACM Tours have their offices in downtown Arthur, and you can set up tours before your visit.
Are you ready to start enjoying Amish Country Illinois? Call 800-747-4100 and start your move to Central Illinois today!
Sullivan IL
Sullivan forms the western edge of Illinois Amish Country. Sullivan has fewer Amish people and Amish-related attractions than the other three communities in Amish East Central Illinois. However, it contains the best outdoor attractions in Amish Country Illinois, popular amongst Amish and non-Amish people alike.
Sullivan is best known for Lake Shelbyville, an 11,000-acre lake with over 200 miles of shoreline. It’s a top spot in Illinois for fishing, with catfish, bass, and walleye swimming in the water. You can go camping on five federal campgrounds and visit four kid-friendly public beaches. Lake Shelbyville is a popular family-friendly summer destination amongst people living in Chicago.
The Camp Camfield Biking Trails form a 2.2-mile loop near Lake Shelbyville. The trails offer hiking and dog walking opportunities and offer scenic views of the lake and surrounding woods. They are also a beautiful setting for birding and photography.
If the weather’s bad, you can visit a few Amish stores in Sullivan. Yoder’s Custom Woodworking offers custom-made cabinets, chairs, tables, clocks, and other items.
Tuscola
Tuscola is the largest city in Amish Country, with a population of 4,636. The city lies on the northern edge of Amish Country Illinois, and it is only 22.9 miles from Champaign IL. Many people living in cities near Chicago stop first in Tuscola, as it’s located along Interstate 57.
Tuscola contains quaint shops and restaurants popular amongst locals and visitors on the weekend. The Vault Art Gallery is an artist-owned cooperative housed in a historic bank. Your whole family can look at art from 50 local artists, including Amish painters and sculptors.
Das Holz Haus is a world-famous Amish woodworking studio. You can watch woodworkers make custom furniture and cabinets, and you can buy their furniture at an on-site store.
Are you ready to enjoy top attractions in Illinois? Schedule an appointment with Federal Companies and start your relocation to Illinois now!
How to Visit Amish Country Illinois
If you’re most interested in Amish-related attractions, you should stay in Arthur. The town contains a few bed and breakfasts where you can stay for a weekend or a week. Tourist season in Amish Country Illinois is in September and October, and you need to make reservations at least a few months in advance. If you’re going outside of tourist season, you should still make reservations a month in advance, as the bed and breakfasts are small.
If you’re most interested in outdoor activities like boating, you can stay in Sullivan. Sullivan contains a few small motels. If these motels are booked up, you can stay in Mattoon, which is 17 miles outside of Sullivan.
You can spend a week or longer in Amish Country, depending on your itinerary. If you only have a day or two in Amish Country, you should pick one community and explore it. Select things to do within walking distance so you avoid wasting time going from one location to another.
Hours of operation, admission fees, and rules for visiting depend on which attraction you visit. Most Amish stores and Amish restaurants are closed on Sundays, so you may want to visit outdoor attractions then. Visit the websites for the attractions you plan on visiting and book any tickets at least one week in advance.
Most Amish stores offer furniture, food, and other items at low prices, but prices vary depending on what you’re buying and where you’re visiting. You can expect your Amish Country Illinois visit to be relatively affordable.
There is no formal Amish Country Illinois events calendar. You need to visit each attraction’s website to know what events are taking place in the communities.
Insider Tips for Visiting Amish Country Illinois
The streets in each of the four communities are well-paved and walkable. However, the countryside contains uneven and unpaved roads that can be hard to drive. Make sure your car has fully-inflated tires. Amish people ride buggies on these roads, and you should be prepared to give them plenty of space.
Most Amish people do not like having photographs taken of them. You can take photos of buggies, Amish-made furniture, and buildings. However, you should avoid photographing any Amish person unless you get permission.
Be respectful of Amish culture while visiting Amish country in Illinois. Do not point, stare, or gawk at an Amish person. Do not feed or pet any horses, including ones on buggies or tied to fences. Amish people tend to be very private, so don’t approach an Amish working or traveling unless they talk to you. If you need to talk to a group of Amish people, approach a man, if possible, as that is considered polite. If you want to talk to someone about Amish culture, visit a store or restaurant and talk to the owners.
Many Amish people run home-based businesses located away from the community centers. You can visit these businesses whenever they’re open and purchase produce, meat, and handmade goods at affordable prices. Many of these businesses do not have websites or are on maps, but you can find them by walking or driving down backroads.
Map of Amish Communities in Illinois
You can use this map to find the Amish communities and attractions in Amish Country Illinois.
Amish Country Illinois is an exciting place to visit! You can visit working Amish farms, stores, and restaurants with a quaint and welcoming atmosphere. You can also spend hours exploring scenic lakes, parks, and walking trails perfect for photographs and family visits.
If you want to move to Arthur Illinois or another community in Amish Country, you can hire experienced professionals today. Federal Companies has the most trusted Central Illinois movers. Call 800-747-4100 for a free estimate today.
