The Volunteer State has a fascinating assortment of Amish, Mennonite, and other Plain communities. I'm not sure why the state is a magnet for the "hybrid" communities, Plain communities that are a mixture of Amish and Mennonite and even Hutterite theologies, but they are pretty plentiful in Tennessee. I think Tennessee has a rural reputation of a place you can go and just pretty much be left alone, which makes it a popular destination for Plain people. So, where are the Amish in Tennessee?
But here are some of the more notable Amish settlements in Tennessee:
Ethridge: this is by far the largest Old Order Amish church settlement in Tennessee, with over 2500 Amish spread out over 14 church districts. The Amish here belong to the ultra-conservative Swartzentruber Amish sect. They have strict objections to photography. One Amish woman wouldn't even let me photograph her tomatoes, she simply wasn't comfortable with the camera on her premises.
The Ethridge community does have many Amish home-based businesses and those are absolutely worth the trip to come and explore. Hours can be haphazard, so just be prepared. Sorghum molasses is a speciality in this area.
Because the Amish here are so super conservative, on leaving your camera in the car, visit Amish businesses with cash (no plastic accepted, for sure) and be respectful of their reticence to deal with outsiders.
Whitesville, Tennessee: This is a Plain Mennonite (Beachy Amish) community. I visited it a number of years ago when I was in Memphis. This settlement is relatively small and pretty progressive, but they still hold on to many Amish and Mennonite culinary traditions.
Above, Lydia Helmuth makes homemade fried pies in Whitesville.
Here's a bit more about Whitesville that I previously wrote about: The Whitesville community is not very large and you could drive by on 64 and never see any evidence it is there. Approximately twenty−five families live in Whiteville's Mennonite settlement.
Lobelsville: This is a fascinating community. Some refer to it as a "para-Amish" community. The people here generally dress in traditional Amish clothing and horse and buggy is the accepted mode of transport, but there are several "designated drivers" in the church who can drive and take people to jobs, into town for errands, etc. This group is sometimes known as the "Lobelsville Amish" and there are Amish families in Virginia and Ohio who have chosen to affiliate with this church. Often families will split off from their home church to affiliate and fellowship with Lobelsville Amish and that can cause some division in families.
Bulls Gap, Tennessee: This is a popular tourist stop not far off I-81. I had the chance to stop by several years ago and if you are in the area you won't be disappointed. This is a classic Mennonite bulk food store, that is run by a husband and wife who have roots in the Amish community so they bring a certain authenticity to everything.
Greeneville, Tennessee: I have been to many Mennonite owned bulk food stores over the years and they all seem to follow a similar format. So much so that many of them blend in with a certain sameness, but Troyer's Mountain View Market is a stand-out for their selection of bulk foods and fresh bakery items. I love this place. If you are in the Greeneville-Jonesborough area, it is definitely worth a visit!
Morrison, Tennessee: There is a small Swartzentruber Amish community here and also a Mennonite settlement. Some Mennonites run the popular Four Corners Bulk Food & Deli.
Muddy Pond, Tennessee: Like Lobelsville, this is a community that some Amish, some ex-Amish, some Beachy Amish and some Mennonites all forming a Plain mish-mash. But the settlement has a unique quirky character and is definitely worth a visit for its homemade sorghum molasses, baked goods, leather shops, and more.
Delano, Tennessee: This is home to a small Old Order Mennonite church. A popular stop is the A Tripadvisor reviewer said: We stopped at the Delano Community Farm Market while traveling through the area. Although it was already November, they still had fresh peppers, greens, potatoes, and even a few tomatoes. Along with fresh produce, they had preserves and baked goods. The Sorghum Molasses cookies were awesome! In keeping with the Mennonite belief of avoiding technology, the cash register is a manual adding machine. Out the back of the market building, we saw the "Mennonite Uber", a horse and carriage. When I asked, the market man preferred that we not take photos of the market, but the image of a different way of life is impressed on my memory. If you visit, they ask that you wear respectful clothes (i.e. no tank tops)
And while there are no Amish settlements near the popular tourist spots of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, there are Amish-themed attractions and plenty of Plain visitors to that area.
All of these settlements have their own culinary traditions, check out some recipes here.
Are there any other Plain/Amish/Mennonite communities in Tennessee that should be added to our list? If so, email the editor at [email protected] and we'll add to the list!
Leave a Reply