Bobby and I have been married for more than 20 years and we have always enjoyed visiting the Ohio Amish Heartland in Holmes County. Sometimes it is just a quick trip for the day and other times it is for a long weekend. We have enjoyed staying at bed and breakfasts and hotels. It has always been a matter of searching the internet to find a place to stay. However, on Saturday, December 12, 2015, we had the opportunity to join 700 others by attending the 8th Annual Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns, which allowed us to view 12 different sites that could all be potential locations for future stays.
The event was hosted by the Amish Country Lodging Council, part of Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. It included visits to 12 hotels and inns throughout Holmes and Tuscarawas County including Berlin, Walnut Creek, Winesburg and Sugarcreek. At each location visitors could tour rooms decorated for the event as well as enjoy refreshments, entertainment, exhibits by vendors and do-it-yourself presentations on a myriad of areas from decorating, entertaining and making gifts. We also got to pick up a different cookie at each site. Bobby and I came home with two dozen cookies!
It was a great time, but a really, really long day. Looking at 12 different hotels/inns in just 6 hours is certainly a whirlwind tour. I loved every location. They are all different, offering their visitors different styles, but all the same Amish Heartland hospitality. I can’t wait to book my next visit!
Below is an overview of each location we visited in the order we traveled:
Comfort Suites Berlin
We started here, as this is where we picked up our press passes. When I walked into the lobby, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful staircase that leads to the second floor. We were able to view an Executive Suite, which has a very comfortable chair in the sitting room. The main bed is in a separate room. We also saw two of their standard rooms that were adjoining one another. The hotel has a pool, hot tub and fitness center and offers a deluxe continental breakfast. It is close to downtown Berlin and it would be feasible to walk to the main street of Berlin weather permitting. This would allow those staying to not have to worry about fighting traffic or finding a parking space when perusing the shops in Berlin. http://www.choicehotels.com/hotel/oh243
Berlin Grande Hotel
This hotel is beautiful with its modern design. Each room has either a patio or balcony (depending on what level you are on). We were able to see two beautifully decorated rooms. The suite is huge. There is a kitchenette with a microwave and small fridge in each room. The hotel also has a salt water pool, whirlpool and fitness center. It, too, is located close to the center of Berlin. So visitors can park and walk into town. http://www.berlingrandehotel.com
Carlisle Country Inn
Bobby and I actually stayed here before, when it was the Lamplight Inn, “home of the singing innkeeper.” We had heard that the owner’s were selling, but hadn’t heard that Carlisle had purchased it. Everything looked as beautiful as I remembered. This inn is cozy and intimate. The view from the back porch is breathtaking. http://www.dhgroup.com/inns/carlisle-inn-berlin
Berlin Resort
Bobby and I had stayed here before as well. Although this tour was of the Signature Suites part of the resort and not the main building. The suites are in a separate building (it used to be a restaurant) from the main resort. The suites are beautiful with luxurious bathrooms and seating areas. The event planner, Elizabeth, explained that the suites can be reserved separately or all together. They have had bridal parties book the building, using the lower level for the reception and the suites for the bridal party. In addition to the beautiful facility, which was renovated two years ago, the resort has a pool, hot tub, steam room, private movie theater, a mile long walking trail and a pond. The resort is located west of Berlin. http://www.berlinresort.net
The Victorian Suite
This suite is out in the countryside of Berlin. The setting is beautiful. The suite has a kitchenette, king size bed and a huge bathroom with heated marble flooring. It is a nice cozy place for a couple’s get away. http://www.countrysidelodging.com
The Barn Inn
This is another location that Bobby and I have visited previously. (I told you we like to go to Holmes County!) However, since we were there, they have added on to the bed and breakfast. We were able to tour most of the inn. It was cozy and warm, just like I remembered. The main lobby area was beautifully decorated for the event, but was welcoming and warm when we visited over 12 years ago and it still is. It is still owned and operated by Loretta and Paul Coblentz. http://www.thebarninn.com
Guggisberg Swiss Inn
This inn is a little off the beaten path, but worth the trip. It is on State Route 557 on your way to Charm (where you can visit Keim Lumber). It is set up on a hill from the road which overlooks Doughty Valley. We were told that weather permitting, they have horse drawn sleigh rides. (Thankfully the weather didn’t permit that!). They also have several weekends this winter for murder mystery events. http://www.guggisbergswissinn.com
The Wallhouse Hotel
Bobby and I…no we never stayed there–yet…but we watched it being built, with each visit down to Walnut Creek Cheese, we’d see it progress more and more. But, honestly, we didn’t realize it had been open for 2 1/2 years. This is the third year with them participating in the Christmas Cookie tour. The rooms are ultra modern and beautifully arranged. They have a two fire pits outside, which one of the guest relations staff stated they would light even in December at the request of their guest. Their lobby is huge with a beautiful staircase. Made me think it be a perfect place for pictures for a wedding. It is really close to Walnut Creek. Just a drive up the hill and guests can visit Der Dutchman Restaurant and check out the shops in town, too. http://www.wallhousehotel.com
Carlisle Inn Walnut Creek
As modern as the Wallhouse Hotel is that is how traditional the Carlisle Inn is. It is warm and inviting as you enter the lobby. There is a winding staircase that takes you to the second level and down to their lower level. The rooms are cozy and comfortable. It is next to the Der Dutchman Restaurant, and you can walk to the nearby shops in town. http://www.dhgroup.com/inns/carlisle-inn-walnut-creek
Miller Manor
The Miller Manor is the “House on the Hill” on State Route 39. You can see it really well when visiting Walnut Creek Cheese. This is a beautiful mansion that when rented, you rent the entire building. It can sleep up to 20 people. Honestly I could have stayed in the basement. It has a huge home theater room, a pool table, an air hockey table and a ping pong table. But the rest of the house is beautiful, too. Bobby and I talked with one of the sons, whose parents used to live in the Manor. He shared that the music theme was because his mother is a cellist. The Christmas tree in the main room had music notes that were cut out of sheet music. It was right next to the grand piano. http://www.dhgroup.com/inns/miller-manor
Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek
While this was our third Carlisle Inn we visited, it was still amazing. The lobby is huge with another beautiful winding staircase that takes you to the second floor. It is a large hotel, but very inviting. There is nothing that makes you feel like you are entering an impersonal location. As with the other Carlisle Inns, the rooms were comfortable and cozy. There is a gathering area on the second floor, where we were treated to Christmas carols being played on the grand piano. http://www.dhgroup.com/inns/carlisle-inn-sugarcreek
Stone Cottage Inn
Our final stop on the Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns was in Winesburg. We were very appreciative of Brenda, the manager and the owner, Marlin, who allowed us to come in after the official close of the tour. We got to the cottage at 6:17! The cottage is lovely. It has open beams in the ceiling and true to its name, the outer walls are stone. This is another location that when it is rented, you get the entire building to yourself. Its location is a little away from the action of Walnut Creek and Berlin, but it would make a nice place to come back to after spending the day in either town. http://amishcountrystonelodge.com/
We started our tour at 12:10. We ended it at 6:30 (thanks to the graciousness of Stone Cottage Inn). We came home with a ton of cookies and wonderful memories. And now I’m trying to figure out where I’ll be staying at my next extended visit to Ohio’s Amish Heartland.
Thanks to Bonnie Coblentz of the Chamber for the press passes.
