If you're looking for one of the most vibrant and diverse Amish business communities in the Midwest, Cashton, Wisconsin should be at the top of your list. Nestled in Wisconsin's beautiful Driftless Region, this community boasts an absolutely remarkable collection of over 100 Amish-owned businesses spanning everything from traditional furniture shops and greenhouses to specialized operations like cheese making and hunting blind manufacturing.
What strikes me most about Cashton is the sheer entrepreneurial spirit. This isn't just a farming community with a few side businesses – it's a bustling network of family enterprises that serve both the local community and visitors from across the region. The variety is simply astounding, and the quality of craftsmanship reflects generations of skill passed down through Amish families.
Cashton is one of the more conservative Amish communities in Wisconsin (or anywhere) I've heard of some pretty rigid and strict doctrine in this community but if you are approaching it from a tourist perspective, you'll have an enjoyable visit. But if I were looking to become an Amish convert, I'd not start in Cashton.
The community spreads across several townships around Cashton, with businesses scattered throughout the rolling countryside that makes this part of Wisconsin so beautiful. Many operate out of farm buildings or purpose-built shops on family properties, giving visitors an authentic glimpse into how Amish families integrate work and life.
Furniture and Woodworking: World-Class Craftsmanship
Cashton's furniture makers represent some of the finest woodworking you'll find anywhere. The selection of shops specializing in different styles and pieces is simply incredible.
Cook Creek Woodworks (27830 Newport Rd) offers mission, modern, and traditional style custom furniture with a showroom open Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm. This is one of those shops where you can spend hours admiring the craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Countryside Woodshop (18755 Nickel Ave, Norwalk) provides complete home and office furnishings including live edge slab tables, cabinets, hutches, bedroom sets, and complete office setups. Their showroom is also open Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm.
For specialized pieces, Hickory Bent Furniture (S1231 County Rd D) creates beautiful rockers, footstools, end tables, and coffee tables using traditional bent hickory techniques. Meanwhile, Miller's Rustic Log Furniture (Currier Rd Cty D) specializes in bedroom and outdoor furniture plus kitchen cabinets with that distinctive rustic log aesthetic.
Scenic Country Woodworks (S-1313 Mast Rd) focuses on western red cedar outdoor furniture including love seats, gliders, garden arbors, Adirondack chairs, and patio sets – perfect for Wisconsin's beautiful summers.
Custom Cabinetry: Built for Generations
The number of custom cabinet shops in Cashton is truly remarkable, each offering specialized expertise and styles.
Elegant Kitchens (26441 Cty Rd Hwy U, Norwalk) handles kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, while Mast Custom Kitchens (28336 Omega Rd) and Pleasant View Kitchens (12402 Mason Ave) offer additional options for custom kitchen designs.
Corner View Cabinets (S623 Dell Rd) and Country Lane Cabinets (13116 Mascot Ave) provide custom cabinets and furniture, and Deweiller Workshop #3 (S336 Cty D) specializes in kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, entertainment centers, china hutches, and pie safes.
What I love about having so many cabinet shops is that each has developed their own specialties and styles, so you can find exactly what fits your home and budget.
Greenhouses and Garden Centers: A Gardener's Paradise
Cashton's greenhouse operations are legendary among gardeners throughout the region. The selection and quality of plants, combined with the knowledge of the growers, makes this a destination for serious gardeners.
Blooming Dale Greenhouse (E10464 E Bloomingdale Rd, Westby) offers baskets, planters, perennials, mini gardens, ornamental shrubs and trees, plus cut flowers through the summer months.
Brush Creek Greenhouse (16905 Oneil Ave, Ontario) provides an impressive selection including baskets, planters, bedding plants, vegetable plants, herbs, garden seeds, seed potatoes, onion sets, perennials, tropicals, garden supplies, maple syrup, and even plywood furniture.
Green Acres Greenhouse and Nursery (S1899 Sandhill Rd, La Farge) specializes in flowers and vegetable plants, perennials, fruit trees, shade and ornamental trees and bushes, fall mums, and red cedar lawn furniture.
Morning Star Greenhouse (15796 Mendota Ave) offers hanging baskets, planters, annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, bedding and vegetable plants, seed potatoes, onion sets, sedums, succulents, rustic barn quilts, and mums in the fall.
The Growers Produce Auction (S347 Dell Rd) holds weekly auctions of locally grown produce and plants – a fascinating experience where you can see the community's agricultural abundance in action.
Food Specialties: Taste the Tradition
Cashton's food businesses showcase both traditional Amish cooking and Wisconsin's famous dairy heritage.
Old Country Cheese (S502 County Highway D) produces over 100 varieties of cheese made right at the store, with free samples daily. Pasture Pride Cheese (110 Eagle Dr) creates handcrafted cheese from Amish-produced milk, including over 100 varieties plus Juusto (baked cheese).
Scenic View Bulk Foods (E11817 Irish Ridge Rd) offers bulk baking supplies, dry goods, cheese, and occasional dairy products, plus an on-site bakery open Friday and Saturday with gluten-free baked goods available.
For sweet treats, Andy Miller Candies (E10096 Andy Miller Rd, Westby) and Pine Grove Candy Shoppe (S805 Irish Ridge Rd) offer handmade candies, while Country Lane Wood & Candy Shop (23993 County Highway XU, Norwalk) combines fine furniture and cabinetry with a candy shop featuring candies, sweets, noodles, spices, and seasonal jams and jellies.
Miller's Dented Discounts (S490 Miller Rd) provides discounted bent-and-dent groceries, maple syrup, local honey, and occasional meat truck sales. They're closed Thursday and Sunday.
Traditional Crafts and Specialties
The craft businesses in Cashton represent skills that have been passed down through generations.
Borntreger's Leather Shop (31185 Oneida Rd) handles shoe repair, dress belts, deer skin gloves, wallets, and pens – quality leather work that's becoming increasingly rare.
A&L Harness Shop (S115A Opaque Rd, Ontario) and Peaceful Valley Harness (E9167 Peaceful Valley Rd) serve both the local horse-drawn community and visitors interested in quality leather goods.
County D Quilts (S434 Sletten Ln) offers crafts, rugs, soaps, maple syrup, and fall mums, while R&E Quilts & Crafts (15267 Hwy 33) provides additional options for traditional Amish quilting and crafts.
Specialized Services and Manufacturing
What really sets Cashton apart is the incredible range of specialized businesses that demonstrate Amish ingenuity and adaptation to modern needs.
Ultra Vision Hunting Blinds (15796 Mendota Ave) manufactures octagon hunting blinds, elevated stands, and kits for on-site building – serving Wisconsin's large hunting community.
Badgerland Windmill Repair (S501 Dell Rd) handles windmill maintenance and repair, while Kickapoo Metals (S3297 Richard Rd, La Farge) provides custom metal roofing, siding, and trims.
Miller's Farm Shop (S261 St. Hwy 27) manufactures horse-drawn and custom farm machinery, keeping traditional farming methods alive while serving modern agricultural needs.
Miller's Buggy Shop (8778 Odin Ave) handles convertible top recovering, upholstery work, wood bendings, chair recovering, antique repairs, and sleigh restoration – specialized skills that are increasingly valuable.
Building Supplies and Construction Services
Buckeye Building Supplies (E11158 Buckeye Ridge Rd, La Farge) provides quality building materials, while Engineered Wood Trusses (S3495 Salem Ridge Rd, LaFarge) handles structural components.
Hershberger Carpentry (S2023 Cty Hwy D, Westby) custom-builds mini barns, storage sheds, and cabins, and Spruce Hill Sheds (S229 County Rd PC) specializes in custom mini barns and sheds.
The "Amish Walmart" and Unique Finds
Trails End (S321 Little Ridge Rd, Ontario) bills itself as the "Amish Walmart" and lives up to the name with hand tools, hardware, building materials, primitives, collectibles, household items, and much more. This is one of those places where you never know what treasure you might discover.
Country Discount Store (30970 Opal Rd, Ontario) serves as a general store selling a variety of food and crafts, while Irish Ridge Sales (S981 Irish Ridge Rd) offers home and farm supplies, household tools, gardening and farm tools, and livestock care supplies.
Planning Your Visit to Cashton
With over 100 businesses spread across the countryside, visiting Cashton requires some planning. The best approach is to pick several businesses in the same area and plan a scenic drive through that section of the community.
Most businesses operate Monday through Saturday with varying hours. Many of the furniture and cabinet shops keep regular business hours (8am-5pm), while seasonal businesses like greenhouses may have extended hours during peak seasons.
The Growers Produce Auction on Wednesdays provides a fascinating glimpse into the community's agricultural activity, while weekends tend to be the busiest times for visitor-oriented businesses.
What makes Cashton special isn't just the number of businesses, but the authentic nature of the community. These are working enterprises that serve real needs while maintaining traditional values and craftsmanship standards. You'll find fair prices, quality goods, and genuine interactions with families who take pride in their work.
The drive through Cashton's countryside is beautiful any time of year, but spring and summer offer the best selection at greenhouses and produce stands. Fall brings harvest activities and beautiful foliage, while winter is perfect for indoor shopping at furniture shops, craft stores, and specialty food businesses.
Whether you're looking for handcrafted furniture, fresh cheese, garden plants, or simply want to experience one of the most successful Amish business communities in America, Cashton offers an authentic and memorable experience. Plan to spend a full day or even a weekend – with this many quality businesses, you'll want time to explore and discover all that this remarkable community has to offer.
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