“An In-door Experience of Amish Life, Traditional Amish Food & Amish Country Shops”

Tuscola, Illinois

AMISHLAND

Illinois’ Amish Country:  Situated in Central Illinois, Douglas County is home to Illinois’ oldest and largest community of Amish families.  Established in 1865, this early settlement has, today, grown to over 4,000 members.

In keeping with the traditional tenants of their faith, the Amish still work the rich farmland of our area with six and eight hitch horse teams.  Black buggies, the avoidance of electricity and telephones in the home, and their plain and distinctive clothing are part of the Amish tenant to “be not conformed to this world”.

In addition to agriculture, the Illinois Amish community is known for the production of fine, hand-crafted, oak furniture and cabinetry; jams and jellies, homemade noodles; and old-world candles.  A genuine Amish-made quilt is a beautiful and treasured possession.

Examples of these Amish country products are available inside Amishland’s ‘big red barn’!

Amishland Shops & Buffet:  Amishland is a modern, ‘big red barn’ building, with over 72,000 sq.ft. of enclosed space.  Inside is a ‘village’ of interesting shops, connected by red-brick pathways, full of Amish-made goods as well as other locally produced crafts and collectibles from across the country and around the world.  Spend the day exploring…and because it’s all under one roof, Amishland is open year-round!

Country Restaurant:  To start your visit to Amishland, head for our 400-seat buffet restaurant, featuring the finest in Amish-inspired foods, made with real, farm-fresh ingredients.  Lunch and Dinner are served daily, beginning at 11am.  It’s ‘all-you-can-eat”, so bring a big appetite.

Amishland Bakery:  If you visit us in the morning, the first experience you’ll have will be the aroma of warm, Amish-style breads in the Amishland ovens.  Each day our bakers produce pies with real egg meringue stacked a ‘mile-high’!  Enjoy a warm, chewy cinnamon roll on the bakery porch, or take a bag of cookies to enjoy on your way home.  All of our bakery items are ‘scratch-baked’ using only farm-fresh eggs, butter, flour and sugar.  It’s just like grandma used to bake…or wish she had!

Amishland Cheese & Meats:  For generations, the Amish have produced some of the richest, aged cheeses, using traditional processes without preservatives or flavorings.  A wide selection of Amish cheeses are available in our cheese shop, with free samplings offered everyday. 

Even though our area farms are known for growing the best corn and soybeans in the world, many Amish farms raise animals yielding the choicest beef and pork, processed and aged right here in Douglas County.  Locally produced sausages and bacon are available in our Cheese & Meat Shop. 

 Amish Country Heirlooms:  A visit to Amishland isn’t only about food.  The Amish Country Heirlooms shop features over 12,000 sq.ft. of the finest handcrafted Amish-made oak and hardwood furniture.  Desks, chairs, tables, complete bedroom sets…all truly ‘heirloom’ quality pieces that will be enjoyed and treasured by generations to come.   Speaking of tradition, a handmade Amish quilt makes a beautiful cover or decorative accent piece that can be the focal point of any room.  A nice selection of these prized quilts are available from Amishland Country Heirlooms.

All furniture can be purchased from stock, or custom-ordered with the exact, hand-rubbed stain and finish of your choosing.  Shipping to your home or office is also available.

If you are planning new home construction, or remodeling project…a custom designed kitchen or bath with genuine ‘Amish-crafted’ cabinets will add enjoyment and value to your home for years to come.  Our Amishland furniture store can help you select the specific woods and finishes for your project.

Art Glass Creations:  Visit Karen Good at her studio inside Amishland’s Art Glass Creations shop, where she produces custom-designed stained and art glass panels for doors, windows and cabinets.  Place your custom order, or select something beautiful from her in-store display. 

If you’re in our area for a few days, you may wish to sign-up for her small classes in stained glass and painting.  You’ll have a great time…learn a new hobby…and are guaranteed to take home your first canvas or glass piece!

Prairie Peddler:  A quaint shop with distinctive items for you or a friend.  You’ll find a large selection of Vera Bradley purses and travel bags.  Plus, seasonal decorative items for your home or gifts. 

Country Heritage Gallery:   No artist captures country America like Thomas Kinkade.  Our Gallery has on display over 90 canvas and paper prints from this “Painter of Light” artist.  Plus, the Gallery features works from Terry Redlin, America’s foremost contemporary painter of nature and wildlife. 

You can also enjoy the huge selection of music boxes, plates and nightlights, plus a Sarah’s Angels Collection.  On the porch, the Gallery features a Home & Garden display of outdoor chimes, benches and light-catching pieces.

Briar Patch:  A kaleidoscope of crafts and collectibles from area producers

and from around the world.  Amish jams and jellies…popcorn…locally made fudge and chocolates.  You’ll discover something different at every turn, inside the Briar Patch!