Hello Everyone,
You expect to find Amish buggies traveling the countryside, laundry flapping on clothes lines outside of large, white, frame, two story houses; and horse drawn plows in the fields. You do not expect to find an Amish farm populated by exotic animals from five continents nor a theater whose show resembles one out of Pigeon Forge. Yet that’s what you’ll find at Walnut Creek, Ohio’s The Farm at Walnut Creek and the Amish Country Theater.
AMISH COUNTRY THEATER
The two hour variety show at the Amish Country Theater is more like those found at country theaters in Branson or Gatlinburg. It combines bluegrass music, an incredible ventriloquist, slapstick comedy with a respectful Amish twist, and lots of audience interaction. The show we saw, Show Me the Funny, was excellent. TripAdvisor gave them an award of Excellence for Amish Country Theater’s regular shows which started in 2011. Their Christmas show was voted a Top 100 Event in America by the American Bus Association™.
The theater, seating 325, has state of the art lighting, video, and sound along with very comfortable theater seats. Shows take place in what is supposed to represent an Amish barn while their gift shop is in a hen house.
Our favorite act was Ken Groves, who has been delivering comedy and ventriloquism to audiences since 1985. He has performed on Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines and at several casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. He has appeared with numerous well-known celebrities. Among these have been Debbie Reynolds, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, the Statler Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the Oak Ridge Boys.
His dummies cover a range of characters. We saw a tennis ball with a face and 93-year-old Howard. Each has its own personality. You almost feel as if they’re alive as Groves banters with them. During the night we were at the theater, he had the audience laughing nonstop with puns and clean jokes.
Their bluegrass show band, Saltcreek Bluegrass, does three part harmonies. It’s composed of bass, guitar, and mandolin/banjo players. Depending upon the show, they perform such tunes as “Rocky Top” and “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” Their performances alternate with the other acts.
The Beachy Boys’ act was that of an uncle/nephew team who served up humor through Amish themed songs and stories. Lynyrd performed the role of a spotlight-seeking country bumpkin. You never knew what he would do next.
We found the concession stand quite comprehensive. It sold popcorn, all beef hot dogs, homemade ice cream, caramel corn, and homemade soft pretzels. For those who were thirsty, iced tea, coffee, and root beer floats were available.
THE SHOW WE SAW
The program started with Ken Groves acting as MC. He asked what states people were from and if anyone had any birthdays or anniversaries. This was followed by Saltcreek Bluegrass playing “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms.”
After playing a game to see which side of the room could yell louder, an introductory video was played. It shows Lynyrd eating in Walnut Creek and riding a tractor through town. The cops went after him, arrested him, and put him in handcuffs. Lynyrd ran away in handcuffs. When the video ended, he literally ran into the theater with them on.
The band played “Trail of the Old Lonesome Pine” followed by Ken Groves appearing with the tennis ball. The ball reflected on how rough its life had been - everything from getting hit on a tennis court to getting smacked when attached to a line in a garage and a car would pull in.
The Beachy Boys, Jonas and Jonas, then performed. The younger Jonas pretended to be a rock star while the older Jonas told his nephew to cool it as they did a parody about Amish farming. Lynyrd then played the piano while the younger Jonas did a parody to the tune “Let it be.”
When the band returned, Lynyrd pretended he was playing two trumpets simultaneously. He put the musical instruments at the same time in his mouth, nose, and ears. The band played two more bluegrass tunes.
Improvisation followed with both Jonases and Lynyrd making up a skit based on three lines on a piece of paper that each had received. The band followed this act as well.
Ken Groves then performed with his dummy, Grandpa, age 93. It was another funny performance by this very skilled ventriloquist. At the end of his act, people were invited to visit the concession stand while a 15 minute intermission took place.
The band started the second half with two more bluegrass tunes. One was “Do What You Do Do Well.” Lynyrd said that people who come to the theater gain insight to the Amish culture. He did a comedic bit about an Amish wedding. “At the Amish bachelor party,” Lynyrd said, “They had a stripper. The men watched for two hours a guy who was taking paint off of a chair.”
The Beachy Boys pretended they were playing bagpipes. Following the band’s two bluegrass tunes, they did an Amish parody. Dressed as the Blues Brothers, they performed “I’m a Farm Man.”
Ken Groves brought two audience members on stage, had them put masks on, and pretended they were dummies. The audience roared with laughter throughout. The band played “I Saw the Light” and “May the Circle be Unbroken” which led to the final act. It was Lynyrd using three audience members to tell a skit. They were a hero, villain, and princess. Each had to repeat a single line and do an action as the story was told.
People left the theater in a great mood. It’s hard to believe this quality of entertainment exists in Amish country, but it does.
FOR 2018
Two new shows are planned for 2018 when they will move to a new theater in Berlin, Ohio. Bet the Farm will start with a musical number followed by bluegrass music, a misguided debate, story time, deep thoughts with Granny Fannie, and a surprise from Lynyrd. It will continue with new parodies from the Beachy Boys and Fannie (who appeared in the show we didn’t attend), audience interaction, and appearances by Ken Groves.
Swine & Dandy combines Ken Groves, bluegrass, Lynyrd’s interruptions, and new parodies by the Beachy Boys.
The theater is currently in the process of building Encore Hotel and Suites, an event center, and a theater in Berlin. They will be offering special priced packages if you combine the hotel with the show. It will be located next to “Tis the Season” Christmas shop and have 600 seats between the main and balcony levels. The theater is expected to be open when they start their new season in May. Their new address will be 4365 State Route 39 in Berlin, Ohio.
The 2018 shows have reasonable ticket prices. The cost for adults is $24.95, ages three to 11 $9.95, and ages two and under, free. Shows usually take place on Tuesdays and always on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Some days have matinees at 2:00 p.m. The evening show is always at 7:00 p.m. If you purchase the ticket package for both shows, you save $10 a person on the adult tickets. Call them at (888) 988-7469 for schedule times and ticket availability.
THE FARM AT WALNUT CREEK
Driving around Amish country, you would expect to find cows, horses, goats, and pigs, but to see giraffes, eland antelopes, kangaroos, and zebras, really? Come on ! If you explore The Farm at Walnut Creek, you’ll discover more than 500 animals from five different continents as you drive through the property or take a wagon ride. You can also take self guided tours of the main and Dawdy houses, view milking at the dairy barn, and watch a blacksmith at work. It’s an operational farm and a place where you’ll want to spend an entire day.
The Farm at Walnut Creek is owned by Henry Hampton, who isn’t Amish. He started at the age of twelve to raise exotic animals and has been doing it for more than 35 years. He has owned and operated Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, North Carolina since 1993. It’s home to over 600 animals from six continents. The animals can be seen from one’s own car or on a 3-1/2 mile, wagon drawn, safari ride.
At The Farm at Walnut Creek, which started in 2006, half of the 120 acres is devoted to exotic animals roaming free. The rest is the setting of an Amish operated farm and farmland. While much of the land is dedicated to raising produce, they also grow barley, wheat and hay.
CHOICES TO SEE THE ANIMALS
You can drive the gravel route at 5 mph in your own car. Before you head out, buy at least one bucket of food for $3 apiece to feed to the animals. Rules are to stay inside your car at all times, feed only the food provided by the farm, and drive only on the gravel road. You may travel through the park as many times as you like on the day you visit the Farm.
An option is to take a 2-1/2 mile wagon trip around the property to see these fascinating animals. Horse drawn wagon rides load at the horse barn located west of the parking lot. Driven by the Amish, the amount of narration depends on the driver. Feel free to ask any and all questions you may have. The ride lasts close to an hour. Cost, in addition to farm admission, for the ride is adults $5, children ages 3-12 and seniors $3, and free for ages two and under.
Each person taking the wagon ride receives a free bucket of food which has been placed on board the wagon before each trip starts. I did find out during our adventure that sometimes greedy people think it is O.K. to grab and empty out your bucket as well as theirs so I strongly recommend you holding on to your pail during your ride.
Feed only from the sides of the wagon as the back does not have a rail. Four-legged animals should be fed by holding your hand flat while two-legged feathered animals with beaks, such as ostriches, should be fed directly out of the bucket. Do not feed zebras, long-horned cattle such as Watusis and Texas Longhorns, or bison. Do not pet the zebras either.
To take photographs from your car, pull over to the side which will allow other cars to drive around you. Be sure to take your camera on your wagon ride for all kinds of great animal shots. Photos should only be taken of animals, buildings, and the surrounding landscape as many Amish do not want their photographs taken due to religious reasons.
During the winter, the farm takes visitors, along with one free feed bucket per person, on sleigh rides. They meet at the main house and drive through part of the rolling hills. Many animals such as llamas, American bison, yak, deer, and elk are outside waiting to be fed. As the ride continues, you’ll stop at the horse barn to visit giraffes, zebras, Watusis, Brahma cattle, and cockatoos who spend their winters in a heated barn. On your return, you stop in the main house for hot cocoa, coffee, or tea, and homemade cookies. Holding these rides depends on the weather and snow accumulation. It is available by reservation only. If interested, call (330) 893-4200.
ANIMALS YOU WILL SEE
Visitors have an opportunity to see many of the more than 50 different species on the ride, at the petting zoo, and in the aviary. Among the commonly known mammals the farm has are horses, mules, deer, various types of cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. However, it is also home to elk, llamas, camels, kangaroos, zebras, giraffes, and porcupines. Some of the more unusual hoofed animals are Nilgai and Pygmy Zebu from India. Visitors also spot many varieties of birds. Most of these birds and mammals are from continents outside of North America.
The first we spotted were Emus, which beside the ostrich, is the largest bird in the world. Then Eland antelope, which come from eastern and southern Africa, approached our wagon. Lots of Fallow deer, found in Australia and New Zealand, and numerous llamas followed behind and on the sides of the wagon as they eagerly begged for handouts. Herds of Grevy zebras and Rocky Mountain elks also approached us. Two sets of three Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs showed up as did Rheas, large flightless birds, and Swamp Water buffalo from Asia and the Philippines.
As the wagon traveled along, more llamas, Fallow deer, and Japanese Sitka deer wanted their share of the food. Behind a fence, we viewed four adult giraffes and one baby. The youngsters on our wagon were thrilled when the giraffes stuck out their long pink and black tongues to take feed from the people on the wagon. Other babies on our route were that of a water buffalo, pot-bellied pig, and llama.
The wagon stopped in another area. It was populated by Scottish Highland Cattle and Watusis who live in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Watusis are known for their exceptionally large horns with a wide spread and the largest circumference found in any cattle breed.
We saw American bison and Brahma cattle which come from India. Aoudad sheep from Egypt and Royal yaks from Tibet kept their distance. Dromedary camels from the Middle East and Red kangaroos from Australia were among the other species on the property.
At the petting zoo, visitors find Ring-tail lemurs, sheep, goats, African Spur Thigh tortoises, miniature donkeys, and African Crested porcupines. The farm has more than 25 species of birds with many residing in the aviary. You’ll find species of ducks, geese, swans, quail, pheasants such as Temmincks Tragopans, cockatoos, and more. They also have guinea fowl, peacocks, a scarlet macaw, and a blue and golden macaw on the property. Some of these birds are from the United States but many are from such places as China, Sri Lanka, Australia, South America, and Africa.
TWO HOMES TO EXPLORE
Two homes are on the property to wander through. Sometimes Amish women are there quilting, baking, or cooking. Unfortunately, we didn’t see anyone at either house. Each had dining, bedroom, kitchen, and living areas. We saw Amish clothing hanging in both homes.
The larger house on the property is called the Main House. Since, like most Amish homes, it lacks electricity and air conditioning, it’s essential to use the basement kitchen from spring until early fall. Throughout the year, since that basement is cooler, it’s used for storing jars of canned goods, produce from the garden and orchards, and home raised meats.
During the rest of the year, baking, cooking, and serving meals take place on the second floor. When we were at this residence, a sign invited visitors to help themselves to freshly baked cookies.
It’s during the winter that a lot of sewing is done. The Amish are known for making their own dresses as well as men’s shirts and pants. Two popular activities for the women are piecing together quilts and making comforters.
The job of doing the laundry falls to Amish housewives. They have a scheduled day, usually Monday, for performing this task. They use a wringer type of washer located in the basement which is powered by a gas engine.
Spinners are used at some Amish homes to spin water out of clothes to make the drying process go faster. During sunny days, clothes are dried on the outside clothes line. However, during the winter and on rainy days, the Amish use the basement’s clothes line.
Natural gas is the main source of power for heating, cooking, refrigeration, and lights. Some homes, such as this Main House, use solar power which charges the batteries. Solar is also used for some heat and for battery lights.
The type of flooring used in an Amish home varies depending upon how liberal or conservative the sect is to which the family belongs.. These two homes used inlaid wood flooring that comes in strips. Another typical floor covering for the Amish is linoleum. It’s inexpensive and durable and can come in a “plain” design. It’s also easy to install and clean. The Amish use it in the bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. Some of the more conservative Amish sects have wood floors. Using area rugs is common.
The second home to explore is the Dawdy (Grandpa) house located on the side of the Main House. It is similar but smaller. Should grandparents of an Amish family need special care, they live in this house on the property. Their child, who runs the Main House tends to their needs.
OTHER BUILDINGS TO VISIT
Since The Farm at Walnut Creek is a working farm, besides the Dawdy and Main houses, various barns, the blacksmith shop, and milk house can be explored. Tours of this portion of the property are self guided. If you visit, pick up their Farm Guidebook. It not only points out what you’ll see but provides excellent information on each of the animal species.
Start at the blacksmith shop with its forge. You’ll see different types of hammers, hardys, and punches. These days the blacksmith acts as a farrier and is responsible for shoeing horses.
The horse barn is where you load and unload for the wagon ride. It’s also where the Percheron horses, who pull the wagon, are fed every morning and harnessed. They keep the various buggies and Standardbred horses at the Dawdy (grandparents barn.) Standardbreds, mostly retired harness racetrack horses, are used for pulling the buggies and surreys on the road.
The breed descended from Messenger, an English thoroughbred, but developed in the United States. The USA Trotting Authority required that only those horses who could pace or trot a mile in a “standard” time of 2-1/2 minutes or less were eligible for registration. Those bred to that standard became known as Standardbreds.
Regular top buggies have side curtains that can open and close according to the weather. Surreys have two seats providing more room for family outings. Safety items include an orange SMV (slow moving vehicle) emblem on the back and battery powered lights. Most, but not all, buggies have these safety features.
At the equipment shed, plows and other equipment used in the field are stored here. You’ll also see those used for produce washing, grading, and packing. The structure houses a corncrib where ear corn is stored for feeding cattle, hogs, and chickens during the winter.
At the dairy barm, you can watch them milk their Jersey cows at 3:00 p.m. The cows come from the loafing shed into the milking stable every morning and evening. Jersey cows and heifers are kept in the cattle shed during the winter months.
It’s at the milk house where the bulk tank which holds the milk is located. Adjacent to this structure is the diesel engine providing the power for the milker units and milk cooling system.
Typical of Amish farms, you’ll find a chicken house. The 30 or more Barred Rock Chickens at this farm provide ample eggs for the family. Older chickens are processed by canning or freezing for future use.
FESTIVALS ON THE FARM
The farm holds four festivals a year. Wagon rides are available at all events. On the first Saturday after Easter, they hold their Easter Adventure. Easter eggs in six different colors are dropped from a helicopter. The prizes you get, when you turn them in, depend on the eggs’ colors. Families can spend time in a giant corn box or enter a picture in a coloring contest. It’s a perfect time to take photos of your children with rabbits and their babies.
New in 2017 was a Memorial Day festival titled “Experience the Farm’s Spring Cycle Activities” that demonstrate planting to harvesting and the milking of cows takes place.
Their Fall Festival at the Farm takes place mainly in one field during three weeks in October (Saturday and Monday.) It’s their largest and most popular event. Activities include pumpkin slingshooting into a pond, apple butter stirring, a scavenger hunt, and a straw castle to climb. Children can play all day in a giant corn box. All ages can watch Percheron draft horses as they press sorghum cane stalks to make molasses. Spinning, weaving, broom making, and sheep shearing take place as do demonstrations of horseshoeing and blacksmithing. Food isn’t forgotten with barbecue chicken, noodles, beans, vanilla ice cream, apple and pumpkin pies, kettle corn, and more.
During the first Saturday in December, the Farm holds their Journey to Bethlehem. It includes a live nativity scene at the horse barn, food to feed the animals, kettle corn to eat, and marshmallow roasting. You can ride the wagon or follow the lighted path to visit the three Wise Men who are camped out. Then take the wagon back to the houses for homemade cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, and hot chocolate.
There is no charge to attend Journey to Bethlehem. However, admission for the other special events is adults $11.75 with $5 more for the wagon ride; seniors and children ages 3-12 $8.75 with $3 more for the wagon ride. These include a bucket of feed for the animals.
DETAILS:
The Farm at Walnut Creek is located at 4147 CR 114 between Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek. Their telephone number is (330) 893-4200. Tours run Monday through Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. with wagon rides running between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. They run at least every hour. It is wise to wear walking shoes and plan a half day visit here with more time if you attend one of their festivals.
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You expect to find Amish buggies traveling the countryside, laundry flapping on clothes lines outside of large, white, frame, two story houses; and horse drawn plows in the fields. You do not expect to find an Amish farm populated by exotic animals from five continents nor a theater whose show resembles one out of Pigeon Forge. Yet that’s what you’ll find at Walnut Creek, Ohio’s The Farm at Walnut Creek and the Amish Country Theater.
AMISH COUNTRY THEATER
The two hour variety show at the Amish Country Theater is more like those found at country theaters in Branson or Gatlinburg. It combines bluegrass music, an incredible ventriloquist, slapstick comedy with a respectful Amish twist, and lots of audience interaction. The show we saw, Show Me the Funny, was excellent. TripAdvisor gave them an award of Excellence for Amish Country Theater’s regular shows which started in 2011. Their Christmas show was voted a Top 100 Event in America by the American Bus Association™.
The theater, seating 325, has state of the art lighting, video, and sound along with very comfortable theater seats. Shows take place in what is supposed to represent an Amish barn while their gift shop is in a hen house.
Our favorite act was Ken Groves, who has been delivering comedy and ventriloquism to audiences since 1985. He has performed on Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines and at several casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. He has appeared with numerous well-known celebrities. Among these have been Debbie Reynolds, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, the Statler Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the Oak Ridge Boys.
His dummies cover a range of characters. We saw a tennis ball with a face and 93-year-old Howard. Each has its own personality. You almost feel as if they’re alive as Groves banters with them. During the night we were at the theater, he had the audience laughing nonstop with puns and clean jokes.
Their bluegrass show band, Saltcreek Bluegrass, does three part harmonies. It’s composed of bass, guitar, and mandolin/banjo players. Depending upon the show, they perform such tunes as “Rocky Top” and “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” Their performances alternate with the other acts.
The Beachy Boys’ act was that of an uncle/nephew team who served up humor through Amish themed songs and stories. Lynyrd performed the role of a spotlight-seeking country bumpkin. You never knew what he would do next.
We found the concession stand quite comprehensive. It sold popcorn, all beef hot dogs, homemade ice cream, caramel corn, and homemade soft pretzels. For those who were thirsty, iced tea, coffee, and root beer floats were available.
THE SHOW WE SAW
The program started with Ken Groves acting as MC. He asked what states people were from and if anyone had any birthdays or anniversaries. This was followed by Saltcreek Bluegrass playing “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms.”
After playing a game to see which side of the room could yell louder, an introductory video was played. It shows Lynyrd eating in Walnut Creek and riding a tractor through town. The cops went after him, arrested him, and put him in handcuffs. Lynyrd ran away in handcuffs. When the video ended, he literally ran into the theater with them on.
The band played “Trail of the Old Lonesome Pine” followed by Ken Groves appearing with the tennis ball. The ball reflected on how rough its life had been - everything from getting hit on a tennis court to getting smacked when attached to a line in a garage and a car would pull in.
The Beachy Boys, Jonas and Jonas, then performed. The younger Jonas pretended to be a rock star while the older Jonas told his nephew to cool it as they did a parody about Amish farming. Lynyrd then played the piano while the younger Jonas did a parody to the tune “Let it be.”
When the band returned, Lynyrd pretended he was playing two trumpets simultaneously. He put the musical instruments at the same time in his mouth, nose, and ears. The band played two more bluegrass tunes.
Improvisation followed with both Jonases and Lynyrd making up a skit based on three lines on a piece of paper that each had received. The band followed this act as well.
Ken Groves then performed with his dummy, Grandpa, age 93. It was another funny performance by this very skilled ventriloquist. At the end of his act, people were invited to visit the concession stand while a 15 minute intermission took place.
The band started the second half with two more bluegrass tunes. One was “Do What You Do Do Well.” Lynyrd said that people who come to the theater gain insight to the Amish culture. He did a comedic bit about an Amish wedding. “At the Amish bachelor party,” Lynyrd said, “They had a stripper. The men watched for two hours a guy who was taking paint off of a chair.”
The Beachy Boys pretended they were playing bagpipes. Following the band’s two bluegrass tunes, they did an Amish parody. Dressed as the Blues Brothers, they performed “I’m a Farm Man.”
Ken Groves brought two audience members on stage, had them put masks on, and pretended they were dummies. The audience roared with laughter throughout. The band played “I Saw the Light” and “May the Circle be Unbroken” which led to the final act. It was Lynyrd using three audience members to tell a skit. They were a hero, villain, and princess. Each had to repeat a single line and do an action as the story was told.
People left the theater in a great mood. It’s hard to believe this quality of entertainment exists in Amish country, but it does.
FOR 2018
Two new shows are planned for 2018 when they will move to a new theater in Berlin, Ohio. Bet the Farm will start with a musical number followed by bluegrass music, a misguided debate, story time, deep thoughts with Granny Fannie, and a surprise from Lynyrd. It will continue with new parodies from the Beachy Boys and Fannie (who appeared in the show we didn’t attend), audience interaction, and appearances by Ken Groves.
Swine & Dandy combines Ken Groves, bluegrass, Lynyrd’s interruptions, and new parodies by the Beachy Boys.
The theater is currently in the process of building Encore Hotel and Suites, an event center, and a theater in Berlin. They will be offering special priced packages if you combine the hotel with the show. It will be located next to “Tis the Season” Christmas shop and have 600 seats between the main and balcony levels. The theater is expected to be open when they start their new season in May. Their new address will be 4365 State Route 39 in Berlin, Ohio.
The 2018 shows have reasonable ticket prices. The cost for adults is $24.95, ages three to 11 $9.95, and ages two and under, free. Shows usually take place on Tuesdays and always on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Some days have matinees at 2:00 p.m. The evening show is always at 7:00 p.m. If you purchase the ticket package for both shows, you save $10 a person on the adult tickets. Call them at (888) 988-7469 for schedule times and ticket availability.
THE FARM AT WALNUT CREEK
Driving around Amish country, you would expect to find cows, horses, goats, and pigs, but to see giraffes, eland antelopes, kangaroos, and zebras, really? Come on ! If you explore The Farm at Walnut Creek, you’ll discover more than 500 animals from five different continents as you drive through the property or take a wagon ride. You can also take self guided tours of the main and Dawdy houses, view milking at the dairy barn, and watch a blacksmith at work. It’s an operational farm and a place where you’ll want to spend an entire day.
The Farm at Walnut Creek is owned by Henry Hampton, who isn’t Amish. He started at the age of twelve to raise exotic animals and has been doing it for more than 35 years. He has owned and operated Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, North Carolina since 1993. It’s home to over 600 animals from six continents. The animals can be seen from one’s own car or on a 3-1/2 mile, wagon drawn, safari ride.
At The Farm at Walnut Creek, which started in 2006, half of the 120 acres is devoted to exotic animals roaming free. The rest is the setting of an Amish operated farm and farmland. While much of the land is dedicated to raising produce, they also grow barley, wheat and hay.
CHOICES TO SEE THE ANIMALS
You can drive the gravel route at 5 mph in your own car. Before you head out, buy at least one bucket of food for $3 apiece to feed to the animals. Rules are to stay inside your car at all times, feed only the food provided by the farm, and drive only on the gravel road. You may travel through the park as many times as you like on the day you visit the Farm.
An option is to take a 2-1/2 mile wagon trip around the property to see these fascinating animals. Horse drawn wagon rides load at the horse barn located west of the parking lot. Driven by the Amish, the amount of narration depends on the driver. Feel free to ask any and all questions you may have. The ride lasts close to an hour. Cost, in addition to farm admission, for the ride is adults $5, children ages 3-12 and seniors $3, and free for ages two and under.
Each person taking the wagon ride receives a free bucket of food which has been placed on board the wagon before each trip starts. I did find out during our adventure that sometimes greedy people think it is O.K. to grab and empty out your bucket as well as theirs so I strongly recommend you holding on to your pail during your ride.
Feed only from the sides of the wagon as the back does not have a rail. Four-legged animals should be fed by holding your hand flat while two-legged feathered animals with beaks, such as ostriches, should be fed directly out of the bucket. Do not feed zebras, long-horned cattle such as Watusis and Texas Longhorns, or bison. Do not pet the zebras either.
To take photographs from your car, pull over to the side which will allow other cars to drive around you. Be sure to take your camera on your wagon ride for all kinds of great animal shots. Photos should only be taken of animals, buildings, and the surrounding landscape as many Amish do not want their photographs taken due to religious reasons.
During the winter, the farm takes visitors, along with one free feed bucket per person, on sleigh rides. They meet at the main house and drive through part of the rolling hills. Many animals such as llamas, American bison, yak, deer, and elk are outside waiting to be fed. As the ride continues, you’ll stop at the horse barn to visit giraffes, zebras, Watusis, Brahma cattle, and cockatoos who spend their winters in a heated barn. On your return, you stop in the main house for hot cocoa, coffee, or tea, and homemade cookies. Holding these rides depends on the weather and snow accumulation. It is available by reservation only. If interested, call (330) 893-4200.
ANIMALS YOU WILL SEE
Visitors have an opportunity to see many of the more than 50 different species on the ride, at the petting zoo, and in the aviary. Among the commonly known mammals the farm has are horses, mules, deer, various types of cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. However, it is also home to elk, llamas, camels, kangaroos, zebras, giraffes, and porcupines. Some of the more unusual hoofed animals are Nilgai and Pygmy Zebu from India. Visitors also spot many varieties of birds. Most of these birds and mammals are from continents outside of North America.
The first we spotted were Emus, which beside the ostrich, is the largest bird in the world. Then Eland antelope, which come from eastern and southern Africa, approached our wagon. Lots of Fallow deer, found in Australia and New Zealand, and numerous llamas followed behind and on the sides of the wagon as they eagerly begged for handouts. Herds of Grevy zebras and Rocky Mountain elks also approached us. Two sets of three Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs showed up as did Rheas, large flightless birds, and Swamp Water buffalo from Asia and the Philippines.
As the wagon traveled along, more llamas, Fallow deer, and Japanese Sitka deer wanted their share of the food. Behind a fence, we viewed four adult giraffes and one baby. The youngsters on our wagon were thrilled when the giraffes stuck out their long pink and black tongues to take feed from the people on the wagon. Other babies on our route were that of a water buffalo, pot-bellied pig, and llama.
The wagon stopped in another area. It was populated by Scottish Highland Cattle and Watusis who live in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Watusis are known for their exceptionally large horns with a wide spread and the largest circumference found in any cattle breed.
We saw American bison and Brahma cattle which come from India. Aoudad sheep from Egypt and Royal yaks from Tibet kept their distance. Dromedary camels from the Middle East and Red kangaroos from Australia were among the other species on the property.
At the petting zoo, visitors find Ring-tail lemurs, sheep, goats, African Spur Thigh tortoises, miniature donkeys, and African Crested porcupines. The farm has more than 25 species of birds with many residing in the aviary. You’ll find species of ducks, geese, swans, quail, pheasants such as Temmincks Tragopans, cockatoos, and more. They also have guinea fowl, peacocks, a scarlet macaw, and a blue and golden macaw on the property. Some of these birds are from the United States but many are from such places as China, Sri Lanka, Australia, South America, and Africa.
TWO HOMES TO EXPLORE
Two homes are on the property to wander through. Sometimes Amish women are there quilting, baking, or cooking. Unfortunately, we didn’t see anyone at either house. Each had dining, bedroom, kitchen, and living areas. We saw Amish clothing hanging in both homes.
The larger house on the property is called the Main House. Since, like most Amish homes, it lacks electricity and air conditioning, it’s essential to use the basement kitchen from spring until early fall. Throughout the year, since that basement is cooler, it’s used for storing jars of canned goods, produce from the garden and orchards, and home raised meats.
During the rest of the year, baking, cooking, and serving meals take place on the second floor. When we were at this residence, a sign invited visitors to help themselves to freshly baked cookies.
It’s during the winter that a lot of sewing is done. The Amish are known for making their own dresses as well as men’s shirts and pants. Two popular activities for the women are piecing together quilts and making comforters.
The job of doing the laundry falls to Amish housewives. They have a scheduled day, usually Monday, for performing this task. They use a wringer type of washer located in the basement which is powered by a gas engine.
Spinners are used at some Amish homes to spin water out of clothes to make the drying process go faster. During sunny days, clothes are dried on the outside clothes line. However, during the winter and on rainy days, the Amish use the basement’s clothes line.
Natural gas is the main source of power for heating, cooking, refrigeration, and lights. Some homes, such as this Main House, use solar power which charges the batteries. Solar is also used for some heat and for battery lights.
The type of flooring used in an Amish home varies depending upon how liberal or conservative the sect is to which the family belongs.. These two homes used inlaid wood flooring that comes in strips. Another typical floor covering for the Amish is linoleum. It’s inexpensive and durable and can come in a “plain” design. It’s also easy to install and clean. The Amish use it in the bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. Some of the more conservative Amish sects have wood floors. Using area rugs is common.
The second home to explore is the Dawdy (Grandpa) house located on the side of the Main House. It is similar but smaller. Should grandparents of an Amish family need special care, they live in this house on the property. Their child, who runs the Main House tends to their needs.
OTHER BUILDINGS TO VISIT
Since The Farm at Walnut Creek is a working farm, besides the Dawdy and Main houses, various barns, the blacksmith shop, and milk house can be explored. Tours of this portion of the property are self guided. If you visit, pick up their Farm Guidebook. It not only points out what you’ll see but provides excellent information on each of the animal species.
Start at the blacksmith shop with its forge. You’ll see different types of hammers, hardys, and punches. These days the blacksmith acts as a farrier and is responsible for shoeing horses.
The horse barn is where you load and unload for the wagon ride. It’s also where the Percheron horses, who pull the wagon, are fed every morning and harnessed. They keep the various buggies and Standardbred horses at the Dawdy (grandparents barn.) Standardbreds, mostly retired harness racetrack horses, are used for pulling the buggies and surreys on the road.
The breed descended from Messenger, an English thoroughbred, but developed in the United States. The USA Trotting Authority required that only those horses who could pace or trot a mile in a “standard” time of 2-1/2 minutes or less were eligible for registration. Those bred to that standard became known as Standardbreds.
Regular top buggies have side curtains that can open and close according to the weather. Surreys have two seats providing more room for family outings. Safety items include an orange SMV (slow moving vehicle) emblem on the back and battery powered lights. Most, but not all, buggies have these safety features.
At the equipment shed, plows and other equipment used in the field are stored here. You’ll also see those used for produce washing, grading, and packing. The structure houses a corncrib where ear corn is stored for feeding cattle, hogs, and chickens during the winter.
At the dairy barm, you can watch them milk their Jersey cows at 3:00 p.m. The cows come from the loafing shed into the milking stable every morning and evening. Jersey cows and heifers are kept in the cattle shed during the winter months.
It’s at the milk house where the bulk tank which holds the milk is located. Adjacent to this structure is the diesel engine providing the power for the milker units and milk cooling system.
Typical of Amish farms, you’ll find a chicken house. The 30 or more Barred Rock Chickens at this farm provide ample eggs for the family. Older chickens are processed by canning or freezing for future use.
FESTIVALS ON THE FARM
The farm holds four festivals a year. Wagon rides are available at all events. On the first Saturday after Easter, they hold their Easter Adventure. Easter eggs in six different colors are dropped from a helicopter. The prizes you get, when you turn them in, depend on the eggs’ colors. Families can spend time in a giant corn box or enter a picture in a coloring contest. It’s a perfect time to take photos of your children with rabbits and their babies.
New in 2017 was a Memorial Day festival titled “Experience the Farm’s Spring Cycle Activities” that demonstrate planting to harvesting and the milking of cows takes place.
Their Fall Festival at the Farm takes place mainly in one field during three weeks in October (Saturday and Monday.) It’s their largest and most popular event. Activities include pumpkin slingshooting into a pond, apple butter stirring, a scavenger hunt, and a straw castle to climb. Children can play all day in a giant corn box. All ages can watch Percheron draft horses as they press sorghum cane stalks to make molasses. Spinning, weaving, broom making, and sheep shearing take place as do demonstrations of horseshoeing and blacksmithing. Food isn’t forgotten with barbecue chicken, noodles, beans, vanilla ice cream, apple and pumpkin pies, kettle corn, and more.
During the first Saturday in December, the Farm holds their Journey to Bethlehem. It includes a live nativity scene at the horse barn, food to feed the animals, kettle corn to eat, and marshmallow roasting. You can ride the wagon or follow the lighted path to visit the three Wise Men who are camped out. Then take the wagon back to the houses for homemade cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, and hot chocolate.
There is no charge to attend Journey to Bethlehem. However, admission for the other special events is adults $11.75 with $5 more for the wagon ride; seniors and children ages 3-12 $8.75 with $3 more for the wagon ride. These include a bucket of feed for the animals.
DETAILS:
The Farm at Walnut Creek is located at 4147 CR 114 between Sugarcreek and Walnut Creek. Their telephone number is (330) 893-4200. Tours run Monday through Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. with wagon rides running between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. They run at least every hour. It is wise to wear walking shoes and plan a half day visit here with more time if you attend one of their festivals.
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Ken Groves with the Tennis Ball
Saltcreek Bluegrass Band
Beachy Boys
Lynyrd Playing Two Trumpets
Ken Groves with Grandpa
Lynyrd Telling One of His Stories
Ken Groves Making Dummies Out of Members of the Audience
Feeding the Llama
Another Interested Llama with Fallow Deer in the Background
One of the Many Deer on Property
Some Grevy Zebras and Fallow Deer
An Eland
One Hungry Grevy Zebra
A Llama That's Tagging Along
Giraffe Wanting His Share
Scottish Highland Bull
Watusis and a Brahma (with Hump) also American Bison in Background
A Brahma
Aoudads from the Middle East
Dawdy House (left) Main House (Right)
Main House
Kitchen of Main House
Bedroom of Main House
Amish Clothing Hanging in Main House
Dairy Barn
Amish Buggies at Horse Barn - Blacksmith Shop Behind Buggies