Milroy doesn't get the tourist buses that roll through Shipshewana or the glossy brochures that Lancaster County produces by the truckload. And that's exactly what makes it worth visiting. I know the first time I went I was kind of skeptical, but it definitely merits a stop, especially if you are driving by on I-74 between Indianapolis and Cincinnati anyway. I doubt I'd make any vacation plans around Milroy, but it's a nice place to visit for a taste of Amish culture.
This small crossroads town in southeast Indiana sits about 45 minutes northwest of Cincinnati. While the far larger settlements in northern Indiana get most of the attention, Milroy has a quiet, genuine character that's harder to find as Amish tourism has grown. Milroy, though, is one square on an Indiana Amish cultural quilt that is amazingly nuanced. Few states have as much "Amish variety" as Indiana, especially for the state's relatively small size.
What makes Milroy interesting is it's "Swiss-ness", it's not a wholly Swiss Amish community in the way Berne, Indiana is, but nor is it a traditional Amish community, it is kind of a hybrid.
Three Amish church districts spread across the warren of rural roads that spider out from Milroy in all directions. The land is pancake flat, so the horses have an easy time of it here pulling the buggies.
What to Do in Milroy, Indiana Amish Country
Attend the Auction
If you can time your visit right, the Milroy Amish school auction is one of the great undiscovered Amish events in Indiana. Twice each year, large auctions are held to benefit the Amish schools and draw bidders from beyond Milroy and beyond Indiana's borders.
Troyer's Country Store
No visit to Milroy is complete without stopping at Troyer's. Located three miles south of Milroy on State Road 3, Troyer's has been a community anchor since 1996. The store stocks staples for the Amish community and amazing baked goods and bulk foods for everyone else.
Troyer's Country Store 10599 S State Road 3, Milroy, IN 46156 (765) 629-2604 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–4pm. Closed Sundays.
Wagler Amish Furniture
For solid wood furniture built by local Amish craftsmen, Wagler is worth a stop. They serve the Greensburg, Batesville, Shelbyville, Richmond, Rushville, and Indianapolis areas and carry handmade pieces that will outlast anything from a big box store.
Wagler Amish Furniture 8500 S State Road 3, Milroy, IN 46156 (765) 629-2079 Mon–Sat 9am–5pm. Closed Sundays.
Drive the Back Roads
The real Milroy experience happens on the rural routes that radiate out from town. You'll find farm stands, greenhouses in season, small home-based businesses marked by hand-painted signs, and the unhurried pace of a community that isn't performing for tourists. Roll the windows down and take your time. I love to drive around and look for handwritten signs advertising fresh eggs for sale or homemade noodles. These unscripted stops are what give a visit to Milroy magic.
Getting to Milroy, Indiana
Milroy sits at the crossroads of State Road 244 and State Road 3 in Rush County, southeastern Indiana. It's roughly 45 minutes northwest of Cincinnati, about an hour southeast of Indianapolis, and 30 minutes from Rushville. There's no reason most people would pass through Milroy accidentally — you go there on purpose, which is part of what keeps it unspoiled.
A Few Tips Before You Go
Amish businesses in Milroy are closed on Sundays — plan accordingly. Most don't accept credit cards, so bring cash. The auction dates change year to year; check locally before planning a trip around them. And if you get behind a gray-topped buggy on a country road, you're exactly where you should be — slow down and enjoy it.
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