Some of our businesses have viewing galleries or give tours and others provide yummy samples of what they’ve made. We think you’ll have a great time discovering those made in Amana products and marvel at all the things made by the people of our small seven villages.
These businesses all feature items they have been made or are made by local artisans and crafters. If you’re looking for something made locally be sure to ask and the shop keeper will point those items out. We are very proud of the large number of items made in our small villages.
Furniture, Clocks, and Wooden Items of all Types
Woolen Blankets, Cotton Throws, Scarves, and Tote Bags
Mittens
Quilts
Tinware
Brooms and Baskets
Food in the Restaurants
Package Food Products
Soaps and Lotions
Art Work of multiple medias
Baked Goods
Chocolate and Fudge
Sausages and Other Meat Products
Wine
Beer
Smoked Meats, Bratwurst, and Sausages
It is amazing how much is made in these seven small villages of around 1,500 people. That shouldn’t be too surprising since they were almost self-sufficient from 1855-1932. Most everything that our ancestors needed they made themselves.
Today, some of the original businesses still operate and many of the crafts that were practiced by members of the communal society have become businesses in their own right. Be warned that not everything you see in Amana is made right here, that really wouldn’t be possible but many items are and shopkeepers will gladly point them out.
Listings for Local Goods
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In the good old days, everything was made by hand, and the traditions were passed from generation to generation. At the Chocolate Haus, we’ve taken the heritage of craftsmanship and the rich history of chocolate-making and poured them into a steaming copper kettle to produce a purely decadent chocolate sensation. Century-old recipes made by hand ensure a chocolate experience that’s as rich in flavor as it is in history. Our History Part of the world famous, historic Amana Colonies, The Chocolate Haus endures to preserve the fine art of preparing chocolate sweets for chocolate lovers everywhere. Tourists from across the Read more...
Visit our rustic gallery of chainsaw art, located in an historic Amana barn, and take home a treasure that makes you smile. From whimsical to realistic, each carving is unique and handmade onsite from recycled logs. Enjoy the current inventory of bears, eagles, critters, signs, and more. Chainsaw artist Bobby Ward is usually available to discuss the carvings that speak especially to you. Custom orders are also possible. Live creations add fun to your shopping experience. Find us on Saturday from 9am-5pm. By appointment during the week. Read more...
Owner Chris Davies and her staff invite you to experience Heritage Designs, a destination for quilters, stitchers and those who love the needle arts. Heritage Designs Quilting & Needlework was established in 1976 and is located in a renovated old granary built in 1895 in the heart of historic Amana. With 14 foot ceilings, the space is perfect for showcasing the shop’s HUNDREDS OF SAMPLE PIECES that are sure to inspire your creativity. In addition to being a full service quilt shop with nearly 4000 fabrics, you can find a full line of supplies for counted cross-stitch, punchneedle, embroidery and Read more...
Catiri’s Art Oasis was established in 2001. Ithiel & Jenise Catiri decided to move to the beautifully wooded rolling hills of Amana to establish a life, creating & selling their artworks. Over the years, the gallery has rapidly evolved to its present location nestled in the historic village of Main Amana, Iowa. Located in the historic Noe’ Haus and displaying over 100 regional artists works, it is a true art oasis. We are all about promoting the arts! We just can’t imagine life without art! We want to share that excitement with everyone! Catiri’s Art Oasis has a passionate team Read more...
Established back in communal days in 1857, the store’s exterior and interior have remained virtually unchanged all these years. The original tin ceiling, wooden floor, and glass-topped display cases still remain. Throughout the store are charming reminders of the good old days, of a simpler time, of the past preserved. They just don’t make stores like this anymore, and there sure aren’t many of them left in existence! The store is truly a “museum” and an authentic general store in one. We have stocked the shelves with an interesting variety of hard-to-find trinkets and unique treasures from days gone by. Read more...
Since 1973, the Krauss family has been producing fruit and berry wines. We feature over a dozen wines, including Cranberry, Raspberry, and Blackberry, as well as Rhubarb and Dandelion wines. Stop in for a free sample! Our gift shop features many different collectibles. Visit our craft corner, featuring many handmade items by local crafters, including item such as primative stitched pillows with cute quotes , CD clocks, doll clothes and much more. Read more...
WHITE CROSS CELLARS IS OPEN Located in the historic village of Amana, Iowa, White Cross Cellars is a new approach to the Amana Colonies wine industry. While the Amanas have long been famous for fruit wines, White Cross Cellars delivers a more traditional approach to the wines of the Amanas. We feature Award-winning wines from classic wine grapes as well as Midwestern varieties; producing wine in the European or California style. Our specialties are white wines reminiscent of the traditional German and French styles, along with red dinner wines designed for beef and Italian dishes. Our wines are available in Read more...
Amana furniture, designed and hand-built in the Colonies since the 1850’s, has an enduring reputation for high quality and timelessness. The Amana dierence is a focus on craftsmanship, using century-old building methods that have been passed down for generations. Today, these standards are still applied to our exceptional heirloom-quality furniture, clocks, and home décor. Meticulous care is taken in matching wood grains, testing durability, and expert finishing to enhance the wood’s natural beauty. Many locally made gifts also available. Our craftsmen are both designers and builders, and turn their experience, passion, and know-how into pieces that expertly blend heritage craftsmanship with modern insights. Enjoy our workshop viewing gallery and learn more Read more...
The tradition of the Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse began when the seven villages were a communal settlement and families enjoyed meals together in kitchen houses. Each village had its own meat shop and smokehouse where ham, bacon, and sausage were cured the old-world way with long-held recipes and a commitment to quality. Today the tradition of quality continues. Each year thousands of visitors come to Amana to visit our historic shop, sample our products, send gifts through our catalog, and take home the flavors of another century. Enjoy the personal service and great selection of mouthwatering steaks, chops, and bratwurst from our fresh meat Read more...
Visitors of Amana often speak of having had a certain picture of Iowa in their minds: a flat, uniform landscape with endless rows of corn. But when they arrive, they are surprised to find rolling hills with luxurious textures that have inspired vibrant landscapes and portraits by Grant Wood and other artists. As a community, Amana works hard to keep its fine arts and handcrafts alive. Currently the Amana Arts Guild recruits and assists blacksmiths, coppersmiths, broom makers and tinsmiths, reinvigorating Amana’s early trades. Today, the community finds itself at a critical point in its history where it must keep Read more...
Schanz Furniture & Refinishing is a small family owned business located in South Amana. We specialize in creating custom built furniture as well as repairing & refinishing your old furniture. Our showrooms offer a nice selection of handcrafted furniture and handmade wooden gift items as well as brooms & baskets. This father & son business has been making furniture since 1966! We uniquely design furniture to fit our customers needs so they can feel confident that they are getting exactly what they want. Each craftsman selects and matches his own wood, and then cuts, glues, and assembles each piece from Read more...
The art gallery and studio are open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 5, Sundays from 10 to 4….and by appointment. The studio is located in a 1868 Amana home that was once a communal kitchen. The home is adjacent to beautiful floral gardens which are the inspiration for many of the artist’s creations. There are five rooms of contemporary and traditional oils and watercolors on display. Relax and enjoy the “get away from it all” beauty of Homestead, an Amana village. Read more...
This landmark restaurant is enjoyed by local residents as well as our many visitors. Sometimes, all you really want is a simple, old-fashioned meal. The name “Ronneburg” comes from the medieval fortress in Hesse, Germany, bearing the same name, which sheltered the Amana ancestors during their religious persecution over 200 years ago. The historical Ronneburg Restaurant is located in an original communal kitchen until it opened as a restaurant in 1950, where thick plaster and brick walls complete the ambiance for your traditional family-style dining. Now, for over 60 years, the Ronneburg has been serving German and American dishes including Read more...
The name “Brau Haus” simply means “Brewing House!” For years the Brewery owners had said that it would be wonderful to add an authentic German Bierhalle to the Amana Colonies. In August 2016, the Millstream Brau Haus was born! Adding the Brau Haus gave the Brewery the opportunity to make more ‘one of a kind’ brews and specialty beers only to be sold in the Brau Haus! And of course, these special brews are complemented by delicious German-style pub food! Under new ownership, the Brau Haus continues the tradition of serving delicious German-inspired food in a festive, welcoming atmosphere. No Read more...
The Michele Maring Miller Studio Gallery features the works of watercolorist Miller, and the photography and mixed media work of her two daughters. Experience the Amana Colonies through the brush strokes and lens of this talented family. Also featuring pottery from Cedar Falls artist, Jim Kerns. Be sure to visit our West Amana location in the old West Amana Church, open Friday thru Monday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Read more...
The Amana General Store was built in 1858 and is a prominent historic landmark in the village of Amana. From the time it was built until 1932, the store served the community with all of their material needs that the communal society did not provide. Today, the General Store continues to offer items from far off places and many Amana and Iowa made products. Amana General Store features two specialized areas; the Amana Coffee & Tea Co., which offers an exclusive line of flavored whole bean coffees and a variety of loose-leaf teas, and the International Christmas Market, a year-round holiday wonderland. You never know what treasure you might find! Read more...
Something for everyone! Creative Colony has whatever style you’re looking for, country to Americana, primitive to contemporary. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of our handcrafted products. We carry items for your home; furniture, framed art work, flower arrangements, quilts, baskets, pottery, kitchen wares, hand-woven rugs, and soy candles. We have unique gift ideas; soaps and lotions, fused glass and stained glass, whimsical signs, garden art and pet accessories. For the personal touch; we have jewelry, hand-woven scarves, stylish purses, appliqued t-shirts and sweatshirts. Our children’s room offers doll clothes, wooden toys, bibs, blankets and small treasures. No matter what your Read more...
Amazing Grace Antiques & Gifts has a new location on Main Street of historic Amana. Find them on the corner of 220th Trail and 45th Ave near the Amana General Store. We invite you to stop by and shop the wonderful antique and gift items chosen just for you! Read more...
Fern Hill Gifts and Quilts has a unique and inviting collection of Handmade Iowa quilts, antique quilts, fabric and Stephanie Brandenburg and Frond Design Studios fabrics, architectural antiques, antique furniture, gifts, cards, home decorating, garden, florals, sweets and beverages. There are 3 floors brimming with wonderful items to decorate your own home. Open year-round! Read more...
Fireside Winery in the Village is gourmet food shop conveniently located next door to its sister company, Ackerman Winery, on the main street of Amana. Wines are sampled daily from local Fireside Winery located 15 miles southwest of our store. To compliment the wine, Fireside Winery in the Village carries a wide selection of cheeses and cured meats. In addition to the wonderful wine & cheese, you will discover a wide selection of pickled vegetables, preserves and other charcuterie essentials. Read more...
Scrumptious breads and pastries baked in the Amana Colonies’ only operating hearth oven bakery. Open Tuesday through Saturday, April through October. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays in November, December, and March. Open at 7am until sold out. DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC We’ll be open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with orders being taken a day in advance. Call 319-622-3439 to place your order. Pick-up will be Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. Recommended Hahn Bakery Restaurant Guru 2020 Read more...
Ackerman Winery is proud to have the distinct honor of being the oldest operating winery in the state of Iowa. The Winery started in 1956 by Harry and Louisa Ackerman. In 1974, their son Les Ackerman along with his wife Linda took over operations and carried on the family wine-making tradition for over 40 years. In 2015, the Ackerman family handed down their long history of wine making tradition to another local family, The Wyants. Bill and Rona Wyant, of Marengo, Iowa (just a few miles outside of Amana) have a long family history of agriculture in the area Read more...
Lillies and more AJ’s Copper Garden & Metal Art Gallery is a sales outlet for the artists studio located next door. 10 artists build metal art sculptures of Copper, Brass & Stainless Steel. These sculptures are simply amazing creations from a team of award winning artists. Come in and see the huge assortment of metal sculptures for the home and the garden. Watch the artists working next door in their studio. Read more...
Amana textiles express the heritage, value and essence of the originating Amana community. The Amana Woolen Mill is the oldest business in the Colonies and Iowa’s only remaining working woolen mill. It’s been in continuous operation since 1857 and can be traced back more than 300 years to Germany. Textiles were critical to Amana’s beginnings. In addition to producing goods for the community’s use, the Mill helped to support the colonists’ communal living; selling textiles across the country gained Amana a national reputation for superior quality. Now, with updated designs, colors and materials, we want to ensure that they’re a part of your future. Warped & Read more...
Tinsmith and Metal Work An Amana tradition from the start Metalwork has been taking place in the Colonies from the beginning. These artisans are keeping…