IA - Amana July 2025

 🇩🇪 Amana, Iowa – Where Heritage Meets Heartbeat

July 2025

There’s something quietly enchanting about Amana. Maybe it’s the way the morning light rests on century-old brick, or how the scent of fresh-baked bread drifts from the general store like a whispered memory. Maybe it’s the polka music echoing down Main Street while someone hums along over a cold Pilsner. Or maybe—it’s all of it.

I spent the last few days truly immersed in the Amana Colonies, a place where the past doesn’t feel stuck in time, but alive in its people, buildings, and gentle traditions. I began my visit at the Heritage Museum, then wandered through the communal kitchen and Cooper Shop, finishing today with the Amana Community Church. Every stop pulled me deeper into a story both foreign and familiar.

What struck me most was the history behind the split from the Lutheran Church to the Community of True Inspiration. Unlike the Amish and Mennonites who separated themselves from modern progress, the Inspirationalists embraced innovation. They had no clergy—only elders. Their churches were humble: no altar, no stained glass, no ornamentation. Just benches and a shared faith. Even their burials reflect this humility—identical concrete headstones aligned in rows, a quiet testimony to their belief in equality.

And their traditions? Fascinating. Men and women ate and worshipped separately to avoid distractions (though as I teased, I’m pretty sure women can talk plenty amongst themselves… and I’ve seen the men do it too! 😉). Engaged couples had to spend a full year apart, living in separate villages. Then, once married, they’d separate again until a home could be found. Simplicity and intention were stitched into every part of life.

But the real fun was in the living pulse of the place:

🚴‍♀️ Biking 18 miles between colonies, soaking in every charming corner

🎶 Sitting at the Brauhaus, Pilsner in hand, feet tapping to German drinking songs

🍫 Sampling treats from the Chocolate Haus and goodies from the bakery

🪑 Touring the furniture and glockenspiel shops—truly remarkable craftsmanship

🍽️ Sharing a schnitzel sandwich and a pretzel with beer cheese with Ron while laughing through a live band’s spirited polka

And best of all, Ron and I got to take the scenic driving tour together—soaking in the past while carving out new memories. We’ve already decided: we want to come back for Oktoberfest. I hear it’s an unforgettable celebration and the RV park is booked way in advance. So maybe… September or October 2026?

If Amana teaches anything, it’s that simplicity isn’t boring—it’s beautiful. You just have to slow down long enough to see it.