GEOG301 Report SCREEN

AMISH TOURISM IN LANCASTER COUNTY
Suggestions for Sustaining Culture and Proﬁt

Suggestions for Sustaining Culture and Profit
AMISH TOURISM IN LANCASTER COUNTY
Assessment team: Doran Tucker, Judy Smith, Zixuan Huang, Dara Lewis, Hongli Wang, Andrew Brown
Prepared by:
Prepared for:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
TOURISM & THE AMISH
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSION
4
10
16
26
32
Contents

AMISH TOURISM IN LANCASTER COUNTY | Prepared by Geotech, LLC | 5
Executive Summary
Since the 1950s the Amish have been a major tourist attraction, bringing in tens
of billions of dollars across the country. Nowhere is the importance of Amish
tourism more apparent than in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania – the iconic
home of the ‘Plain People’. GeoTech was commissioned in January 2016 by the
Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development and the Lancaster County
Tourism Board to research if Amish centered tourism in Lancaster had any
impacts on Amish communities.
8.2m
Tourist visits
in 2014
$1.95b
Amish-related
tourism income
in 2014
24k
Jobs generated
from tourism
in Lancaster

6 | Executive Summary
Our research has indicated that the Amish do not feel objectified by tourism. Indeed, their most sig-
nificant reaction to the tourists that come from across the country and the world to see them is a slight
bewilderment and curiosity as to why the ‘English’ (as the Amish call non-Amish groups) find the
Amish so fascinating.
What does have a significant impact on the Amish is the increase in land prices that is associated with
the tourism. Because of these higher land prices, the Amish in highly touristed areas must cope with
the increased cost of living and in many cases this leads to an increasing number of Amish working in
non-agricultural vocations like construction, welding, retail, cleaning, and Amish tourist industries
such as quilt-making and building wooden furniture. The problem with this diversification of the
Amish economy relates to the religion of the Amish, which holds that farming is the godliest profes-
sion and that it is ideal for the Amish to work the land.
An essential aspect of the project has been looking for the balance point where
the Amish community remains healthy, which we suggest requires that the
Amish themselves are satisfied with life in Lancaster while also allowing for
the continued economic benefits of Amish centered tourism. The metric that
we have used to demonstrate the health of the Amish communities in Lan-
caster is their population. We have drawn this data from two sources: the
estimates of the total Amish population of Lancaster from the Young Center
for Amish Studies, we have also used Amish school enrollment data from the
Pennsylvania Department of Education.
34k
Amish living in
Lancaster County
41%
Lancaster farmland
owned by Amish

The best way to ensure the continued prosperity of
Amish centered tourism is to keep the price of farmland
low so that the Amish do not face as much financial
pressure to abandon farming as a livelihood.
With this perspective in mind we suggest that
the best way to ensure the continued prosper-
ity of Amish centered tourism is to keep the price
of farmland low so that the Amish do not face as
much financial pressure to abandon farming as a
livelihood.
PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION
Our suggestion for achieving this goal is by sup-
porting the Lancaster County Comprehensive plan
that has been in place since 2006. One of the key
elements of Lancaster’s plan is an effort to manage
sprawling development, especially in cases where it
influences the rural landscape of the county. There
are several elements to the plan however; namely,
it supports easements that have thus far proved
successful in significantly reducing the price of
farmland in Lancaster.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING
Our additional recommendation is that as the cur-
rent Lancaster county comprehensive plan is only
set to guide the county until 2030, another report
should be commissioned as the next plan begins
to be organized. This next report should look at
whether our suggested policies have been proven to
be successful in both maintaining Amish centered
tourism and the health of the Amish community
in Lancaster. If these goals have been achieved we
suggest continuing the policies through the period
of the next comprehensive plan. If there has been
a significant decline in the Amish population or
revenue from Amish tourism the future report
will be able to make recommendations for poli-
cies that will reflect the situation in Lancaster and
new information about what relations might exist
between the Amish and tourism.

10 | Background
Background
In the eastern United States, it is common to see the Amish going about their
daily lives in drab clothing and utilizing horse and buggies as their primary
means of transportation. They frequent farmers’ markets where they sell their
goods created without machines or modern technology.
The Amish often can be the reason for traffic jams on country roads as their
buggies are usually at a maximum of two horsepower. Some may admire or
envy their simplistic life. Others marvel at their choice to avoid certain com-
monplace technologies. Regardless of the reason though, the Amish are a
distinct point of interest for many. This is especially true in Pennsylvania and
more precisely, Lancaster County.

Lancaster County is at the center of Amish
culture and not just because it is one of the
most populated Amish counties in the coun-
try. Lancaster County was the first permanent
settlement for many Amish when they arrived in
the United States from Europe. They seek to lead
their lives in a simple way and stray away from
mainstream society in the United States. The
Amish are a community isolated from the fast
paced life many Americans lead today and they
seek to keep it that way.
Today, the Amish reside in over thirty US states
with the vast majority in Illinois, Ohio and
Pennsylvania. They reside in rural areas where
they can thrive on fertile farmland. As shown
on the map, Lancaster is the most populated
Amish county in Pennsylvania with the highest
amount of Amish Ministers. The combination of
a rural area and excellent soil beckon the Amish
to this area. While Amish populations fluctuate
naturally, Lancaster County has remained the
same size while the Amish continue to migrate
west and south.
Many people are aware of whom the Amish are
and what they look like, but they are not aware of
their history, religion or way of life. The Amish
are a unique group of people who have a deep
culture and a long history. They adhere to their
way of life that has transcended time and crossed
thousands of miles to where they are today.
HISTORY OF THE AMISH
The Amish are a branch of Christians dating back
to the sixteenth century Protestant Reforma-
tion in Europe. They descend from Anabaptists,
which means one who has been baptized twice.
The first baptism occurs as an infant in Catho-
lic or Protestant churches and then again as an
adult. The Anabaptists believed baptism should
signify a voluntary adult decision to follow Jesus
rather than infant baptism like in the Catho-
lic and Protestant churches. The Anabaptists
highlighted literal interpretations of the bible
and followed scriptures word for word. They were
also one of the first religious groups to promote
a separation of church and state. This did not sit
well with Catholic and Protestant leaders and
over the next hundred years after the sixteenth
century, many Anabaptists were persecuted.
Over this period, around 2,500 Anabaptists were
executed due to their beliefs. This led to the Ana-
baptists being dispersed across Europe in small
secretive groups for fear of persecution.
The Anabaptists separation continued until 1693
when many came together under the guidance
of Jakob Ammann, who noticed the Anabaptist

12 | Background
movement was failing. He sought to revital-
ize it by leading of a new group called the Swiss
Anabaptists that later came to be known as the
Amish. Ammann set strict guidelines to follow
that included plain dress and to never trim the
beards of men. He also advocated for shunning
excommunicated members. Shunning is the
act of completely ignoring someone who goes
against the beliefs of the community that is still
followed by the Amish today. The use of shun-
ning drove a divide between his followers and
other Anabaptists. The Swiss Anabaptists con-
tinued to follow Ammann’s guidelines and even-
tually, in the eighteenth century, after adopting
the Amish as their name, migrated to the United
States and settled in twenty states and Ontario,
Canada. The vast majority settled in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania.
WAY OF LIFE
The Amish seek to lead their daily lives as Jesus
Christ would. They do this by loving their en-
emies, forgiving insults and giving mutual aid
when others are in need. Their primary teachings
are those presented in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righ-
teousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The last two lines are especially true for the
Amish as their faith is shaped by a martyr tradi-
tion. Many of their Amish forbears died for their
faith in the sixteenth century by refusing to
change their way of life. In addition to this, the
Amish faith is shaped by the hymns of the Aus-
bun, which are still sung by Amish congregations
today. Many of the hymns from the Ausbun were
written by victims of the Anabaptist persecution.
Amish society can be summed up in the Ger-
man word Gelassenheit (Gay-la-sen-hite) which
translates roughly to, “yielding oneself to a
higher authority.” Gelassenheit embodies Amish
beliefs where they believe everything they have
is due to God’s will. The Amish believe in “Us”
before “Me.” This includes loathing pride and
anything where an individual is seeking at-
tention. The Amish stress humility and this is
achieved by banning makeup, fancy clothes,
jewelry or anything that will make someone
standout. Along with humility comes obedience.
The Amish are expected to yield to the authority
figure higher than them. Common authority fig-
ures are teachers over students, husbands over
wives, leaders over their members and bishops
over their young ministers.
Community is also at the center of Amish soci-
ety. Community is above individual rights and
choices. “Communal wisdom, accumulated over
the decades, is valued more than the opinion of
one person,” as described by the Young Center
of Amish studies at Elizabethtown College. With
this comes a refutation of anything that goes
against their traditional beliefs such as scientific
finds that contradict their beliefs or way of life.
The Amish believe separation from the outside
world strengthens their community. Through
isolation, they can focus more on the teachings of
God without modern technology and the influ-
ence of others distracting them from their faith.
CULTURE & EDUCATION
The Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch, derived
from German along with English. Pennsylvania
Dutch is primarily used for sermons. The Amish
typically forbid owning automobiles, tapping
electricity from public utility lines, using self-

propelled farm equipment, owning a television,
radio, cell phone, or computer, attending high
school or college, and joining the military. There
can be exceptions when need dictates, such as
battery operated lights on buggies to promote
safety. The education of the Amish usually
consists of a one-room schoolhouse with educa-
tion ending at grade eight. They deem education
after that unnecessary for their farming life-
style. The teachers of these schools are usu-
ally Amish women who have not attended high
school themselves and have no formal training
in teaching besides those before them. Their
school day starts with a daily prayer but religion
is not usually taught in school, instead focusing
mainly on reading, writing, math, history and
some geography. Sex education and science are
not typically taught. Schooling for the Amish is
important for the students to develop friend-
ships, pass on Amish values and to preserve
Amish culture through the generations.
The livelihoods of many Amish rely on farming
but that number is slowly dwindling. They live
on family farms and tend the land they or the
community owns. Farming still has a revered
place with the Amish, but many are switching
to higher paying jobs. Their use of farming as a
livelihood helps the Amish maintain their rural
lifestyle while also doing “God’s work.” They
believe God created soil and farming brings them
closer to their faith through hard work, frugality,
responsibility, simplicity and cooperation.

16 | Tourism & The Amish
Tourism & The Amish
Since the 1950s, Amish communities have been attracting tourists, many of
whom travel long distances just to observe the Amish culture. As one of the larg-
est and oldest Amish settlements, Lancaster County has become a major hub of
Amish tourism. Aside from just observing the culture of the Amish and buying
homemade products and produce from roadside stands and farmers markets,
tourists are served by many small shops selling quilts, furniture and woodcrafts,
baked goods, and various other Amish-related trinkets.

LOOKING AT LANCASTER
Tourism in Lancaster County is growing, and much of that is due to Amish-
related tourism. Many Amish-centered tourist attractions have emerged,
featuring ways for tourists to experience the Amish lifestyle and learn about
their culture. Not all of the attractions are run by the Amish. Although many
Amish people run small shops and produce stands, many businesses run by
non-Amish proprietors in the region capitalize on tourists’ attraction to the
Amish lifestyle and culture, using their culture as a brand name to attract
customers.
The growth of Amish-centered tourism has also led to the development of
other attractions. Shopping malls, various retail stores, and even an amuse-
ment park have emerged in Lancaster County over the past few decades,
likely drawn to the area by the tourist traffic attracted to the area by the
Amish. A 2014 study by Joseph Harasta of Kutztown University noted that,
“counties neighboring Lancaster, such as Chester County, are similar to Lan-
caster, with the exception of an Amish population...[but] the tourist centric
development of Chester County is nowhere near the level of Lancaster
County. Therefore, it appears that the tourism industry explosion is related
to Lancaster’s ability to attract visitors to [the Amish]” (pg. 26-27).
TOURISM IN FINANCIAL TERMS
The Amish are the primary reason tourists visit Lancaster County. The
tourism industry brings billions of dollars to the Lancaster County economy
with millions of people visiting each year. According to a report by Tourism
Economics, visitor spending in Lancaster County during 2014 was $1.95 bil-
lion, while total business sales equaled $2.6 billion. The estimated number
of visitors during the same period was 8.2 million.
Tourism in Lancaster County helps support over 24,000 jobs in the county,
accounting for approximately $780 million worth of wages. Close to two-
thirds of the jobs supported by tourism were jobs directly created by the
tourism industry, such as jobs in restaurants,
hotels, and attractions, while the remain-
der were created through indirect ser-
vices that support the tourist busi-
nesses. With tourism ever growing
in importance, it is important
to determine how the tourism
industry is affecting the Amish
communities in Lancaster.
$780m
Wages supported
by Lancaster
tourism
The tourism industry brings billions of dollars to the Lancaster County economy
with millions of people visiting each year.

IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON THE AMISH
As the foundation of tourism in Lancaster, the
Amish communities and culture in the region
must be preserved in order for tourism to be
maintained at its current levels. Our research has
found that in general, the Amish are not both-
ered by tourists. Most, especially the younger
generations, have grown up with tourism and see
it simply as a part of life. The tourists are gener-
ally friendly and not intrusive. It has even been
suggested that tourism may help strengthen
Amish communities by presenting a clear delin-
eation between the Amish and the outside world
and deepening their sense of cultural identity.
Some of the effects of tourism, however, can be
detrimental to Amish communities and culture.
Specifically, rising land prices make it diffi-
cult for the Amish to subsist through farming,
which is their preferred occupation. Numerous
studies indicate that the Amish prefer to work
small, family farms for a living. They believe
that farming brings them closer to God and that
fathers should be near home during the day so
they can lead their families. They also feel that
the increasing dependence on non-farming
occupations may weaken their communities. So,
although tourism itself is not much of a problem
for the Amish, the rising land prices caused by
tourism that prevent them from farming is prob-
lematic to their culture and way of life.
A study in an Amish community in Ohio by Kreps,
et al, found that land prices increased closer to
tourist areas, with land 1 mile from town costing
twice as much as land 5 miles from town. These
higher prices were caused by a combination of
nearby tourist businesses, competition with de-
velopers, and heavy demand for farmland from
within Amish communities.
COMPETITION FOR LAND RESOURCES
The reasons behind the increase of land prices
are heavily intertwined. As tourism increases in
a region, other businesses are attracted to the
region by the stream of tourists and increasing
economic opportunities. In the aforementioned
study by Joseph Harasta, it was found that many
bigger stores and malls have been pushing out
smaller businesses and taking up land that used
to be Amish farms. As noted in the study, “the
commercialization of the Amish lifestyle has
grown tremendously in recent decades, so much
so that it actually threatens the viability of the
very tourism industry it created. More and more
development using the Amish image to sell itself
means less and less Amish lifestyle for tourists
to observe. As an example, stores catering to the
tourists now sit on land that was once an Amish
farm. A strange dialectic exists in Lancaster
County: tourists come to the area to see the
Amish, but the Amish are being forced off their
land by developers catering to tourists” (pg 29).
Developers can offer higher prices for land than
the Amish can, and whether the land is to be
developed for businesses or homes, it drives the
Amish away from their cultural roots as small
family farmers. As tourism in Lancaster increas-
es and the area becomes more developed, the
Amish no longer have a rural region where they
can maintain the foundations of their culture.
The commercialization of the Amish lifestyle has grown tremendously
in recent decades, so much so that it actually threatens the viability of the
very tourism industry it created.

Competition for farmland also exists within
the Amish communities. Because farming is
such a foundational component of their culture,
farmland around Amish communities is in high
demand. The high demand for farmland from
within Amish communities raises the land prices
in the area. These three factors: increasing tour-
ist businesses, competition from developers, and
high demand within Amish communities, all
culminate to impede the ability of many Amish
to farm by raising land prices high enough that it
is difficult for them to afford.
The Harasta study quoted an Amish man as say-
ing, “‘if we could be on the farm, we probably
would, but that’s not possible anymore; it’s too
expensive’” (pg 30). Instead, many Amish work
in industries such as construction, factories, re-
tail, and small businesses catering to tourists and
the local community. In some areas, the majority
of Amish men do not work on a farm, but instead
work in non-agricultural occupations.
This shift away from agriculture is dangerous to
the Amish communities and could easily lead to
the degradation of their culture and simple life-
style that bring is vast amounts of tourism. As of
now, the Amish population in Lancaster County
is remaining steady, but if the area becomes too
developed and increasingly less rural, it could
eventually drive the Amish away despite their
deep roots in the area.
On a national level the Amish continue to form
new settlements. Their communities continue
to expand and thrive. This successful growth
is mirrored within the Amish communities of
Lancaster county. The Lancaster county Amish
communities have maintained an ever growing
population and are now at an estimated 34,000
with 204 districts.
This reflects research conducted by the Rural
Sociological Society, which shows that the Amish
prefer to expand in rural landscapes while stay-
ing within a travel day from sister settlements.
They prefer to stay in areas with links to histori-
cal Amish communities as this closeness is a
reminder of their rich history, and are attracted
to inexpensive farmland.
“If we could be on the farm, we probably would,
but that’s not possible anymore; it’s too expensive.”

In addition to leveraging the population
data compiled by Elizabethtown College’s
Young Center for Amish Studies, Geotech has
conducted a bespoke analysis examining
Amish school enrollment data, sourced from
the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The data shows that in the period from
2006 to 2015, Amish school enrollment
has remained relatively constant with a
slight increase. This finding partnered with
the earlier Elizabethtown statistics are
indicative of a stable Amish population in
Lancaster county.
AMISH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
IN LANCASTER COUNTY
2006–07 2011–12
Enrollment
Totals 0-9 10-20 21-28 29-37 38-51

0
500
1000
1500
2000 1620 1653 1606 1582 1648 1589 1661 1579 1617
58 60 59 61 61 61 64 62 61
2014–15
Total Number of Amish Students Number of Amish Schools
TOTAL NUMBER OF AMISH STUDENTS
AND SCHOOLS IN LANCASTER COUNTY

26 | Recommendations
Recommendations
Based on the preceding analysis, Geotech has developed recommendations
that will enable the Amish to continue relying on agriculture. Protecting the
viability of Amish farming and their chosen agricultural lifestyle is an
effective way to combat negative impacts associated with Amish tourism in
Lancaster County.
Key to our recommendation is making sure that farmland prices do not rise
to unaffordable levels. The Amish will have greater latitude to purchase land
if the price of land is kept low. If land is available at a more affordable rate it
will be economically feasible for the Amish to continue farming. Thus, fewer
Amish will feel pressure to seek employment that takes them away from their
preferred vocation. This in turn supports continued Amish-centered tourism
and its financial benefits for the Lancaster region.

#1
#2
#3
Continue provisions set out in
Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan
Maintain or expand Pennsylvania’s Agricultural
Conservation Easement Purchase Program
Commission review by 2025 to assess effectiveness of current
recommendations and provide smooth end-of-plan transition

28 | Recommendations
LANCASTER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Our recommendation is to support the Lancaster
County Comprehensive Plan, which outlines
policies that have effectively achieved the afore-
mentioned goals. Essential to this plan is the
Rural Strategy section, the associated Agricul-
tural Easement Purchase program (part of the
Farmland Preservation Program or FPP), and
the Lancaster Farmland Trust (a local program
purchasing easements). Jointly, these policies
contribute to controlling land prices, across Lan-
caster County. A distinct note worth mentioning
is that these policies require little to no effort to
implement as they are already in place.
EASEMENTS
In order to safeguard Pennsylvania’s agricultural
resources, the FPP, (part of the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture), aims to maintain
future food supply, and contribute to a healthier
economy (PA Department of Agriculture). The
program pays private initiatives to preserve
Amish farms. Amish beliefs forbid them from
accepting money directly from the government,
the money must be passed through private
organizations or trusts. The FPP also includes the
Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Ease-
ment Purchase Program, which was developed
in 1988, allowing state, county and local govern-
ments to purchase conservation easements from
owners of quality farmland. The land purchased
by the program is still owned by the original
‘farmers’. These owners can sell or bequeath the
property, but developments, other than agricul-
tural, are not allowed, effectively mitigating the
loss of prime farmland to nonagricultural uses.
The program has four criteria for selecting
farmland. The first is the quality of farmland.
The purchased farmland is required to be at least
50 acres, or 35 acres if the county program elects
(PA Department of Agriculture). Smaller parcels
could also be preserved if they are close to exist-
ing preserved farmland or growing a crop unique
to the region. The requirement also mentions
that at least half of the tract must be harvested
cropland, pasture or grazing land, and contains
50 percent land capability classes I-IV. The
second of the criteria is stewardship. Farms are
inspected about once every two years to ensure
that the farm owner is in compliance with the
terms of the deed of easement. These require-
ments include the achievement of soil erosion,
sedimentation control, and water conservation.
The third criterion is the likelihood of conserva-
tion. As mentioned on the program’s website,
the farmland is scored and ranked for possible
uses other than agriculture based upon a variety
of factors, such as the proximity to water and
sewer lines, the extent and type of non-farm
development nearby, the amount and type of ag-
ricultural uses in the vicinity, and the amount of
other preserved farmland in close proximity. The
higher the ranking, the greater the likelihood of
conservation. The last criterion is the value of the
land. The county board would select qualified real
estate appraisers to determine the market value
and agricultural value of the land. The difference
between them is the maximum value of the per-
petual conservation easement. The county board
has the choice to offer a purchase price less than
the appraised value of the easement (PA Depart-
ment of Agriculture).
The Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan’s policies have proven to be effective,
and require little to no effort to implement as they are already in place.

99k
Lancaster farmland
acreage owned
by Amish
383k
Total acres of
farmland in
Lancaster
77k
Acres preserved
as of 2015
Lancaster County boasts 383,000 total acres of farmland, which amounts to 63 percent of the overall county land area.
Of this total farmland, 77,148 acres have been preserved as of 2015 (Agricultural Preserve Board). The Amish
community owns 99,238 acres, representing a significant 41.5 percent of the total farmland in Lancaster County.
Based on the success of the Rural Strategy and the Farmland
Preservation Program, Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of
farms and acreage permanently preserved for agricultural production.

Since the first easement was purchased in 1989,
the program has created several positive impacts.
According to the PA Department of Agriculture
more than 500,000 acres have been perma-
nently protected across the state, and Pennsyl-
vania leads the nation in farmland preservation.
Another benefit is in keeping farm prices lower
than the market price. Due to the control of the
easements by the government, the land can-
not be sold for purposes other than agriculture.
This directly decreases the land price, and Amish
people are able to retain the land for farming.
ZONING DESIGNATIONS
The Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan cre-
ates several different agricultural land designa-
tions for zoning. One of these is the ‘Agricultural
with Natural’ – a designation used in areas which
are largely agricultural, but have a significant
proportion of sensitive resources, such as steep
slopes and stream corridors. Farmers in these
designated areas need to focus on managing
both agricultural and environmentally sensitive
resources at the same time. Through this policy,
the program continues to support the agricul-
tural industry and maintain agricultural produc-
tion. It also cooperates with land conservation
organizations at the same time to preserve natu-
ral resource lands and systems. This designation
should balance the natural areas and agricultural
lands to the best advantage. Changing rural,
residential, and other zoning to agricultural or
conservation zoning to maintain compatibility
with agricultural or natural resource uses is also
essential to this type of designation.
Another designation is ‘Natural Resource Areas’.
This designation applies to areas of the county
with a preponderance of significant natural
resources, like valuable natural habitat areas.
Instead of focusing on maintaining agricultural
products, this designation aims to preserve natu-
ral resource lands and systems. It makes poli-
cies that will benefit the natural resources in the
area, and associate with local land preservation
organizations to preserve these resources and
accommodate compatible rural uses, including
outdoor recreation and resource-based economic
uses such as forestry, wildlife preserves, and
non-intensive agriculture.
In addition to rural preservation, the plan also
includes designated rural centers, which are
specified locations allocated for development
of villages and other semi-urban area. This
designation is specifically intended to mitigate
scattered sprawl that influences land prices and
detracts from the overall clarity of the urban
rural divide in Lancaster.
LONGER TERM PERSPECTIVE
Above are our short term methods. The Com-
prehensive Plan guides growth through 2030. So
our long term suggestion is that by 2025, another
research study should be commissioned to evalu-
ate the outcomes of our suggested program. If
the outcomes are successful in sustaining Amish
culture and tourism, current policies should be
prolonged to 2050 or even longer. If the out-
comes are not as desirable as we predict, then the
new research report will consider new strategies
to apply as we move forward. Between now and
2025, our clients should consider allowing more
local organizations and private institutes to par-
ticipate in the program.
By 2025, another research study should be commissioned to evaluate our
suggested program’s success in sustaining Amish culture and tourism

32 | Conclusion
Conclusion
The Amish are a distinct element of Lancaster’s cultural and historic fabric. They
also account for a significant amount of revenue for communities, local and state
government. As a cultural entity, the Amish have a long history with unique
religious and cultural traditions. Central to many of these Amish traditions is an
emphasis on community – for example, they don’t own cars because they feel
that cars would facilitate individuals leaving the community (Young Center).
Agriculture, another important aspect of Amish culture, traditionally has been the
dominant occupation of the Amish; however, in recent decades this has changed
as increasingly the Amish take to other fields, like construction and retail. This
trend is certainly not completely negative, and we do not encourage attempting
to reverse it, but our recommendations are focused on helping ensure that farm-
ing is not precluded as a livelihood for the Amish in Lancaster County.

We suggest that tourism itself has no significant negative impact on Amish com-
munities, some sources even indicate that it might build group cohesion as the
Amish are consistently reminded of their principles of simple living (Kreps, et al).
What we see as more dangerous for the security of the Amish community is the
increase in land prices that is associated with tourism.
The increased price of land, and higher cost of living have led to rising numbers
of Amish seeking employment off the farm. This is important not only because
it represents a shift away from the traditions of the Amish, but also because one
of the central reasons that the Amish are of interest to tourists is their seeming
simplicity. This simplicity is derived from their simple clothing, their perceived
rejection of technology, and their dependence on farming (Kreps, et al).
These elements of Amish culture are key to tourism, so our recommended course
of action focuses on preserving farming as a viable means of livelihood for the
Amish so that they can maintain their traditional lifestyle while also exhibiting
the desired ‘brand’ of simplicity that is so tantalizing for tourists.

36 | Conclusion
Agricultural Preserve Board | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://web.co.lancaster.pa.us/126/
Agricultural-Preserve-Board
Anderson, C., & Kenda, L. (2015). What kinds of places attract and sustain
Amish populations? Rural Sociology, 80(4), 483-511. doi:10.1111/ruso.12083
Hostetler, J. A. (1989). Pg 5. Amish roots: A treasury of history, wisdom, and
lore. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. http://groups.etown.
edu/amishstudies/statistics/largest-settlements/.
Kraybill, D. B. (1993). Pg 191.The Amish and the state (2nd ed.). Baltimore:
Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kreps, G. M., Donnermeyer, J. F., Hurst, C., Blair, R., & Kreps, M. (1997). The
Impact of Tourism on the Amish Subculture: A Case Study. Community
Development Journal, 32(4), 354–367.
http://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/32.4.354
Lancaster county planning commission. (2006, April). Balance – The Growth
Management Element. http://pa-lancastercountyplanning.civicplus.com/
DocumentCenter/View/232
Lancaster, D. (n.d.). Statistics | Tourism Economics’ analysis of
Discover Lancaster’s KPIs. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://www.
discoverlancaster.com/tourism/tourism-statistics.asp
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. (2015). Bureau of Farmland
Preservation 2014 Annual Report. Retrieved April 24, 2016, from http://
www.agriculture.pa.gov/Encourage/farmland/Documents/2014 Farmland
Preservation Annual Report final.pdf
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from: http://www.
agriculture.pa.gov/Encourage/farmland/Pages/default.aspx#.Vx0PbKMrKfU.
REDDING, R. (n.d.). PA.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2016 http://www.agriculture.
pa.gov/Encourage/farmland/Pages/default.aspx#.Vwxeh0c8jcp
“The Twelve Largest Amish Settlements, 2015.” Young Center for Anabaptist
and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College.
PHOTO CITATIONS
(Cover) Meskens, A. (n.d.). Traditional Amish buggy. Retrieved March 20,
2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish#/media/File:Traditional_Amish_
buggy.jpg
(pg 2) – The Amish Village #VisitLancaster. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2016.
http://4hatsandfrugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0049.jpg
(pg 4) – Gingrich, D. (n.d.). From Our Kids to Yours. Retrieved March 23,
2016. http://www.amishnews.com/DONNA%20GINGRICH%20AMISH%20
FARMER%20retouched.jpg
Citations

(pg 7) – Ahh, Amish Country. (2011). Retrieved March 23, 2016. https://
okokletsdothis.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/country-road.jpg
(pg 8) – A. (2016). PA & Amish Country 11.10.15 040. Retrieved April
09, 2016. https://windryder5.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/pa-amish-
country-11-10-15-040.jpg
(pg 11) – Siripattanakul, S. (n.d.). Humphrey Fellows at Philip Merrill College
of Journalism. Retrieved March 21, 2016. http://blog.umd.edu/merrillhhh/
files/2014/12/Amish-1143hu9.jpg
(pg 13) – RV There Yet. Retrieved from http://rvthereyetchronicles.
s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_00421.jpg
(pg 15) – Parsley, T. (n.d.). TonyParsley@OhioNature. Retrieved March 23,
2016. https://tonyparsley.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/amish-ctry-2014-10-
18-013-copy.jpg
(pg 16) – Illinois, E. (n.d.). The Official Enjoy Illinois Blog. Retrieved March
30, 2016. http://www.enjoyillinoisblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/
HomesteadBakeryInside-Arthur.jpg
(pg 18) – Illinois Amish Museum - Amish Country Tours. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 23, 2016. http://www.amishcenter.com/assets/images/Amish%20
wagon.JPG
(pg 21) – OHAlpacas (2010) Retrieved April 23, 2016, http://ohalpacas.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/09/Barn-199-low-res.jpg
(pg 22-23) Graph and Maps created in-house using data from: the
Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Private and Non-Public Schools
Enrollment Reports 2005-2006 through 2014-2015. http://www.education.
pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Enrollment%20Reports%20and%20
Projections.aspx#.Vw3MuxMrL_Q
(pg 25) – Parsley, T. (n.d.). TonyParsley@OhioNature. Retrieved March 23,
2016. https://tonyparsley.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/blackhand-2014-11-
01-165-copy-copy-2.jpg
(pg 27) – Stambaugh, B. (n.d.). Tag Archives: Amish lifestyle. Retrieved
March 30, 2016. https://brucestambaugh.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/
dsc_0825.jpg
(pg 30) – (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016. https://upload.wikimedia.org/
wikipedia/commons/d/dd/AmishRakingHay.jpg
(pg 33) – Usitalo, K. (2010). Amish Country Cruisin’. Retrieved March
23, 2016. https://greatlakesgazette.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/amish-
wagon_4662.jpg
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23, 2016. https://brucestambaugh.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-
15-14-35-50.jpg

Prepared by:
Prepared for:
The color palette and distinctive pinwheel icon used throughout this report
were derived from traditional Amish quilts.

Since the 1950s the Amish have been a major tourist
attraction, bringing in millions of dollars across the
country. Nowhere is the importance of Amish
tourism more apparent than in Lancaster County
Pennsylvania, the iconic home of the ‘Plain People’
that draws tourists from across the country.
Buggies, cuisine, and the sense of a simpler time are
all reasons for this bustling trade, which has become
an important part of Pennsylvania’s tourism
industry. The question addressed here looks at how
best to achieve profitable tourism, while also
maintaining Amish culture. The key to answering
this question rests on understanding how tourism
impacts Amish culture both directly and indirectly.
In order to guarantee long-term profitability it is
important that steps are taken to ensure that future
generations of Amish can continue living as their
forbearers have, farming and living off the land.
A report by Geotech, LLC. Prepared for the Pennsylvania Department
of Economic Development and the Lancaster County Tourism Board.

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