Information
Landmark: Amish Farm and HouseCity: Lancaster
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Amish Farm and House, Lancaster, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Amish Farm and House stands out as a top destination, offering a vivid look at the Amish way of life-their time-honored traditions, core values, and everyday rhythms, from hand-quilted blankets to horse-drawn buggies.Founded in 1955 as the nation’s first Amish-themed tourist spot, it still offers visitors an authentic, hands-on look at Amish life-right down to the smell of fresh bread baking in a wood-fired oven.At the heart of the attraction stands a lovingly preserved Amish farmhouse, built in 1805, its weathered wood still warm in the afternoon sun.An Amish family once called this house home, and it’s been kept in pristine shape, right down to the handmade woodwork, to preserve the feel of traditional Amish life.Step inside the farmhouse and you’ll catch a rare glimpse of Amish life as it’s been for centuries-wooden chairs worn smooth by years of use, a layout that’s plain but built to work, every detail shaped by modesty and purpose.Just outside Lancaster, this 15-acre working farm sits in the heart of the Amish countryside, where rolling fields stretch toward the horizon, cows graze lazily, and the landscape feels untouched by time.On the Farmhouse Tour, you’ll spend about half an hour walking through the creaky-floored historic home as a friendly guide shares vivid stories about Amish beliefs, customs, and the rhythms of daily life.Inside, the kitchen brims with hand-crafted tools and time‑honored techniques-fresh bread rising in a wood‑fired oven-reflecting the Amish way of preparing food without a trace of modern machinery.In the living areas, you’ll find Amish clothing, hand-stitched quilts, and simple household tools-each showing their skill and a quiet refusal of excess.Each room holds handmade furniture, a sturdy wooden chest, and a few carefully chosen pieces that echo the Amish devotion to simple living and self-reliance.On the tour, you’ll learn about Amish religious beliefs, how their communities are organized, and the way they educate their children, along with why they choose plain clothing, live without electricity, and travel in the steady clip-clop of horse-drawn buggies.Countryside Bus Tours offers a 90‑minute ride through Lancaster’s Amish farmlands, with a guide sharing stories as you pass whitewashed barns and rolling fields.The tour passes Amish farms, workshops, and one-room schools you can see from the road, giving visitors a clear glimpse of the fields, hand-built barns, and the rural traditions still alive today.Stops at Amish Businesses: The tour swings by Amish-owned markets and cozy craft shops, where you can browse hand-stitched quilts, bite into warm cinnamon bread, and pick up fresh produce straight from the farmers-though they’re closed on Sundays and religious holidays.The Premium Package pairs a guided bus tour with a visit to the farmhouse and lets you wander the farm grounds at your own pace-think gravel paths crunching underfoot-delivering a full day of hands‑on exploration.At the Farm and Grounds Animal Encounters, you can wander into the petting area where goats nudge your hands, pigs snuffle in the straw, and chickens scratch at the dirt-just like on a traditional Amish farm.Visitors can pet a goat, offer it a handful of hay, and enjoy a more immersive, hands-on experience.Amish Schoolhouse: On site, you’ll find a one-room schoolhouse replica, much like the real ones where Amish children learn up to eighth grade, focusing on hands-on skills and the values that knit their community together.A charming covered bridge on the property lends a genuine country feel, and visitors often pause to snap photos beside its weathered wooden beams.Amish Scooters: Rent one and glide along like local kids do, riding the sturdy, foot-powered scooters they use before moving on to horse-drawn buggies.Every so often, Amish artisans roll out their quilts, shape smooth wood by hand, or weave sturdy baskets, letting visitors watch traditions that have been handed down for generations.At the BBQ Barn, open Thursday through Saturday, you can dig into Amish-style favorites-smoked chicken barbecue, tender ribs, hearty sandwiches, and warm, salty soft pretzels.Here, guests can tuck into hearty Pennsylvania Dutch classics, then linger outside where the scent of fresh hay drifts across the farm.Picnic areas dot the farm, with tables and benches tucked under shady trees-perfect spots for families or friends to sit, share a meal, and unwind.From May through August, join Sheep Shearing Days for live shearing demonstrations, a chance to meet soft, curious lambs, and hayrides that roll past fields dotted with wildflowers.Sunset Dinner Tour: Enjoy Amish farm-fresh dishes as the sky glows orange, with stories shared and music played live beside your table.Sweetie Pie Tour: a Valentine’s Day celebration filled with themed activities, from heart-shaped crafts to music that warms the room.The Amish Farm and House runs custom programs for school groups and big tour parties, each crafted to help visitors truly understand-and appreciate-the rhythms of Amish life, from quiet barn mornings to hand-stitched quilts.You’ll find us at 2395 Covered Bridge Drive, Lancaster, PA 17602-just a short, easy drive from the heart of downtown Lancaster.We’re open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the door swinging wide at ten sharp.The farm shuts its gates on Sundays.The bus tour runs every day at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., with the first trip leaving just as the morning sun warms the pavement.It’s best to book ahead, especially when the streets buzz with peak-season crowds.You’ll find free parking on-site, with spots large enough for buses and RVs.Both the farm and the old white farmhouse are wheelchair accessible, and extra accommodations can be arranged if you ask ahead.At The Amish Farm and House, you’ll get an authentic, respectful glimpse into Amish life-rich with history, culture, and moments where you can roll up your sleeves, like feeding a gentle brown horse in the barn.Families, history lovers, culture seekers, and the simply curious will all find this distinctive community worth the trip-whether it’s for its warm streets or the stories etched into its old brick walls.Touring the old farmhouse, riding through quiet green hills, meeting curious goats, and tasting warm, crusty bread all come together to make the day unforgettable.The attraction blends hands-on fun with rich, thoughtful lessons, so visitors walk out with a clear grasp of Amish heritage and values-like the quiet rhythm of a hand-loom weaving in a warm, lantern-lit room.
