One of the very best times of the year is approaching – Fall Color Season. The warm (and this year very wet) days of summer are coming to an end. Refreshing cooler temperatures make us excited to head back outdoors. The fragrant smell of decaying leaves fills the air. (more…)

One of the largest Wisconsin Amish settlements is located in the southwest corner of the state – between the city of Cashton and the village of Ontario. This settlement in in the heart of the Driftless Area and the landscape is one of successive ridges and valleys that break the useable farmland into small parcels that are not well suited to modern, large-scale farming, but are perfect for the traditional Amish farming that uses horsepower from real horses. We recently drove through the Cashton Amish area during late June, perfect timing to see the Amish mowing hay, pitching it into one huge mound on a horse drawn wagon, then driving that wagon down a local road toward their barn. To see this old fashioned farm work is to step back 100 years in time. Much of it seems to be a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.

Amish gentleman hid from camera

The Cashton settlement also offer many skilled craftsmen and craftswomen producing very high quality furniture, baskets, quilts, candy and much more. There are a couple of non-Amish opoerated consignments shops in or near Cashton that offer the products of many of the local Amish. You can also pick up a map of the settlement and make direct visits to the workshops of the individual Amish families.

Amish Goods

The Inn at Lonesome Hollow  is a nearby Bed and Breakfast that can provide area visitors with information about the Amish. Most of the bedrooms furniture at the Inn at Lonesome Hollow was made by Amish furniture makers in Cashton. Amish quilts are on many of the beds.

Room at Inn at Lonesome Hollow

Especially interesting is the Cashton settlement live Amish auction which takes place each Labor Day. Furniture, quilts, hand-made toys, and Amish produce are all auctioned in a 4-6 hr long event that will give a visitor the feel of having Amish neighbors and friends. We hope that many who read this will be intrigued and will tour the beautiful Amish area around Cashton and attend this great Amish auction.

Nora and Pete

Would you like to get away for some private down time during the hectic holiday season? Or maybe travel somewhere new with family or friends to celebrate with those you love the most?

The Inn at Lonesome Hollow offers a completely private 160 acre setting in the beautiful Driftless Area of Southwest Wisconsin. If you have not seen our Driftless area and our Kickapoo Valley hills, you are in for a most pleasant surprise. Our landscape is one of continuous hills and valleys – a more rugged landscape than you have seen anywhere else in Wisconsin. The surrounding counties are rural and sparsely populated.

In this setting we offer our guests deluxe lodging options: three beautiful B&B rooms, a private, two-bedroom cabin, and two exceptional two-bedroom suites. All of our units have private baths and real gas fireplaces. Four of the units offer two-person whirlpool tubs. Full country breakfasts, winter hiking and snowshoeing, and memorable quiet time complete the enjoyment of a Lonesome Hollow holiday getaway.

Christmas lights on a snowy evening

Our Holiday Package is offered for two night stays between December 22 and January 10. This package includes a $25 dinner certificate at one of three local restaurants, complimentary wine and cheese at the B&B, a free gift from our gift case (up to $20 value), free use of snowshoes, and an evening bonfire with hot apple cider or hot chocolate.

We already have an abundance of snow and colder than normal temperatures. It’s looking like a white Christmas and New Year’s is in store for our area. This winter is shaping up to be similar to last winter, the kind of cold and snowy winters we remember from our childhood! Relive some old memories and create some new ones as well.

Treat yourself to a very reasonably priced holiday package this season. We will do everything possible to provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable getaway.

Pete and Nora