Holmes County has been getting a lot of new features lately. First, a portion of the Mohican River that runs through the county was designated an Ohio Scenic River. Then, the commissioners announced that they were adding a covered bridge to the landscape. Now, the Amish Country Scenic Byway has been added to the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die, USA and Canada.
"I'm sure it's our cultural uniqueness that put us on that 'place to see' list, because we don't have these majestic mountains or some majestic river or something like that," said OSU Extension Director Sharon Strouse. "We have something else, and that's this natural scenery that we've created, the agricultural landscape."
According to the Web site, the Amish Country Byway is divided into two different trips: a two day trip into Western Holmes County, and a three day trip into the Eastern part of the county. The first stop on the western trip itinerary is at the Holmes County Trail. Next, you Stop at the Briar Hill Stone Quarry in Glenmont. Then you wind your way down to the Killbuck Valley Museum, the Croco House in Holmesville, the Killbuck Marsh out by Shreve, and you end at Whispering Hills Campground for the night. The next morning you head out to the Joseph L. DeYarmon House in Lakeville, and then the Loudonville Canoe Livery, where you spend the rest of the day on a relaxing canoe ride.
On the eastern trip, you begin at the Millersburg Visitor's Information Center. Next, you hit up the Victorian House Museum, the West Holmes High School History Museum, and the Guggisberg Cheese Factory. After Guggisberg Cheese, wind your way down to Baltic where you can finish the day at Baltic Mills.
When you hit the road the next day, your first stop will be at the German Culture Museum in Walnut Creek. Afterwards, you are directed to Yoder's Amish Home, and then on to Rolling Ridge Ranch. Maybe you will be hungry after looking at animals on the ranch, so the next stop is at Heini's Cheese House and Country Mall. Next, it's on to the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center at Behalt outside of Berlin. When finished at Behalt, head on down to Schrock's Amish Farm and Home in Berlin to end your day.
The next day, head up to Fredericksburg, to the beginning of the Holmes County Trail. After the trail, head back to Mount Hope to the Farmer's Produce Auction. After you have walked through and bought locally grown produce, head to the Alpine Alpa Restaurant, and then end at Wilmot.
The Web site not only has a suggested itinerary to follow, but also directions from one place to another, the mileage and time it takes to get from place to place, and an overview of each place. It also gives the reader an estimate as to how much time should be allowed for each place.
"There certainly is a nice representation of byways, of destinations, that made it on the list, and we just happened to beat out every other Ohio destination. We're the only Ohio Byway. If you do a little investigation, you can see that we're in way good company, because the National Road didn't make it, the Ohio River Scenic Byway didn't make it, and the Lake Erie Circle Tour didn't make it," stated Strouse.
For more information on the Amish Country Byway, go to www.byways.org.
