Amish Country Tours | Lanesboro

Amish Country Tours – In Detail

Amish Country Tours near Lanesboro, Minnesota, offer one of the most immersive and culturally respectful ways to experience the traditional lifestyle of Minnesota’s largest Amish community. These tours provide a rare glimpse into a deeply religious and self-sustained community, centered in the rural farmlands of Fillmore County, particularly around Harmony, Canton, and Preston, with Lanesboro as a popular launch point.

Overview of the Experience

Amish Country Tours are primarily run by Bluffscape Amish Tours, which operates guided van tours through scenic countryside dotted with Amish homesteads, shops, and farms. The tours are designed to be educational, respectful, and personal-offering both structured insight and authentic encounters without encroaching on privacy or beliefs.

Tours typically begin in downtown Lanesboro at the historic Stone Mill Hotel & Suites, where participants board a comfortable van or small bus. From there, the group embarks on a 25- to 30-mile roundtrip through rural backroads, making 5–6 stops at Amish-owned businesses. These stops rotate but may include bakeries, quilt shops, woodworking sheds, basket weavers, general stores, or harness makers.

What You’ll See and Learn

Handcrafted Goods

Visitors can browse and purchase a variety of handmade items, often crafted without electricity or power tools. Common offerings include:

Amish quilts – Hand-stitched, traditional patterns

Baskets – Durable, beautifully woven, often in natural dyes

Wood furniture and toys – Crafted using hand tools and gas-powered saws

Jams, honey, and baked goods – Including the signature cashew crunch candy

Leatherwork – Belts, wallets, and horse tack

Narration and Cultural Context

A key part of the experience is the ongoing narration provided by the guide. Topics usually include:

Amish history – From 16th-century European origins to migration to the Midwest

Religious beliefs – Anabaptist roots, Ordnung (rules), and the separation from modern society

Family structure and schooling – One-room schoolhouses, eighth-grade education, gender roles

Farming practices – Horse-drawn equipment, rotational grazing, and sustainability

Technology limitations – Use of kerosene lamps, non-electric washing machines, and buggies

Community values – Humility, non-conformity, and strong family bonds

Guests are reminded that photography of Amish individuals is discouraged or forbidden, in keeping with religious beliefs that prohibit graven images.

Self-Guided Options

For travelers who prefer more freedom, a Self-Guided Amish Backroads Tour is also available. This experience involves driving through the same areas using a printed map or an audio CD/downloaded narration. This method gives visitors the flexibility to stop where they wish, explore off-the-path locations, and spend time shopping or relaxing without a schedule.

Markers such as hand-painted wooden signs or roadside stands indicate open Amish shops. These self-guided routes also include cultural points like the Lenora Church, built in 1856 and still maintained without electricity.

The Amish in Fillmore County

The Amish settlement near Lanesboro is predominantly of the Swartzentruber affiliation, one of the most conservative groups. These families live without indoor plumbing or electricity, travel exclusively by horse and buggy, and speak Pennsylvania Dutch as their primary language (English is spoken when needed for business).

There are roughly 1,000 Amish residents across several church districts, many of whom have been in the region since the 1970s. Their simple, agrarian lifestyle remains largely unchanged in the face of modern development, making them both unique and integral to the cultural fabric of southeast Minnesota.

Tour Logistics and Tips

Tour Schedule: Monday to Saturday, usually 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM.

Duration: 3 hours on average.

Departure Point: Stone Mill Hotel & Suites in Lanesboro.

Pricing:

Adults: ~$30

Teens: ~$20

Children (6–12): ~$10

Under 5: Free

Cash preferred (some charge extra for credit/debit)

Group Rates: Available for 8+ people or hotel guests.

Booking is advised, especially during peak seasons (May–October), fall colors in September, and during Lanesboro’s busy summer weekends.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Bring cash (many Amish businesses don’t take cards)

Dress comfortably for farm environments

Be respectful and quiet on properties

Listen attentively to the guide’s cues

Enjoy seasonal treats like rhubarb jam or fresh-baked bread

Don’t:

Take photos of Amish people

Ask intrusive personal questions

Expect Wi-Fi or phone signal on backroads

Visit Amish businesses on Sundays (they’re closed)

Why It’s Worth Visiting

Amish Country Tours offer a rare combination of scenic beauty, cultural education, and handcrafted shopping. You leave not just with unique items, but with a deeper appreciation for a community that has consciously chosen to live apart from modern life, yet in harmony with nature and faith.

For those interested in sustainable living, slow travel, or rural Americana, this tour offers both heart and authenticity without feeling overly commercialized-making it one of southeastern Minnesota’s most unique and memorable experiences.