We are proud to be part of the Adams County community. As you plan your stay at the John T. Wilson Homestead, you will find a wide variety of attractions and activities. We are situated minutes from State Route 32 and centrally located. This makes an excellent base from which to explore all that Adams County has to offer. If you are interested in ancient history, you find the world-class attraction, Serpent Mound. If you are looking for a scenic drive, the Quilt Barn Trail will take you across the county and is an example of modern day folk art. You can also go looking for covered bridges and see picturesque farms at every turn. We are also just minutes from a growing Amish community at Wheat Ridge where you can visit bakeries, purchase furniture and various other goods, and see horse drawn buggies. In addition, you will find several interesting shops specializing in antique and primitives. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you will find boating, hiking, bird watching, hunting, and fishing opportunities. Activities abound at any of the six state nature preserves, Ohio River, Scenic Ohio Brush Creek, two state forests, the 14,000 acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve, a National Wildlife Refuge, and the 4300 acre Tranquility Wildlife Area. We hope that you will enjoy your stay in beautiful Adams County!
See our list below to explore what just some of this area has to offer: ____________________________________________________________________
Visit the great serpent mound just a few miles from the John T. Wilson Homestead.
Great Serpent Mound Phone: 937-587-2796
Toll Free: 1-800-752-2757 Directions/Map Website
Located just a few miles from the Homestead. The Great Serpent Mound is a 1,330-foot (410 m)-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound located on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio. Maintained within a park by the Ohio Historical Society, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of Interior. The Serpent Mound of Ohio was first reported from surveys by Ephraim Squire and Edwin Davis in their historic volume Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, published in 1848 by the newly founded Smithsonian Museum. Researchers have attributed construction of the mound to three different prehistoric indigenous cultures. Although it was once thought to be Adena in origin, now based on the use of more advanced technology, including carbon dating and evidence from 1996 studies, many scholars now believe that members of the Fort Ancient culture built it about 1070 CE (plus or minus 70 years). There are still anomalies to be studied. The Serpent Mound is the largest effigy mound in the world. While there are several burial mounds around the Serpent mound site, the Serpent site does not contain any human remains. It was not constructed for burial purposes. The Cherokee relate the legend of the Uktena, a large serpent with supernatural appearance and power. The existence of the legend attests to the importance of the figure. Researchers have speculated that perhaps ancient native people created large totemic shrines that were built on platforms made of earth and stone. Such an effigy could have been destroyed by war or changes among inheriting cultures, with the result that only the platform (the mound) was left. Text from Wikipedia.
Keim Amish Family Market and Deli.
Phone:937-386-9995 2621 Burnt Cabin Rd. Seaman, Ohio 45679 Directions/Map Website
Just a few miles from the John T. Wilson homestead. Keims Amish bakery and goods is a real treat to visit. Plan to visit for lunch and eat outside on the picnic benches under the trees. Keims also offers lots of other goods, such as handcraft furniture, baking goods, bird houses ect. Located on the southeast corner of SR32 and Burnt Cabin Rd. Offering home baked goods, bulk foods, deli, storage barns, gazebos, and indoor and outdoor furniture.
More Amish shops and attractions in Adams county click here
Miller’s Amish Bakery, Bulk Food and Furniture
Furniture: 937-544-8524 Bakery & Gifts: 937-544-4520 Bulk Foods: 937-544-8449 960 Wheat Ridge Rd. West Union, Ohio 45693 Directions/Map Website
Hours: 9-5 Mon-Sat Every year, there are special events and sales during Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, Fall Cookout, End of Year Clearance and from time-to-time, quilt auctions and other special occasions. Produced by the Ohio Travler- Click here to see a video for the Millers Amish market More Amish shops and attractions in Adams county click here
Located 9 miles from the John T. Wilson Homestead and just 4 miles from the Great Serpent Mound is the House of Phacops. A one of a kind collection of fossils & minerals. Gift shop of rocks, fossils, minerals, jewelry and other natural wonders.
House of Phacops located in the town center of Locust Grove, Ohio.
Tom Johnson a rock man from Michigan and has been collecting rocks since he was 4 years old. Collected a lot around Sylvania, Ohio in an old 350 million year old sea bed 90 feet under ground through the 60’s and 70’s until the government stopped that activity with MSHA and OSHA 1979, He then moved to southern Ohio and began collecting an even older sea bed of 438 million. Many trips around the planet to collect and study fossils dating back to 2,7 billion years, recognized for his achievements in 1984 by the Smithsonian and National Geographic, he has written 3 books and lectured on the subject of trilobites and Meteor Craters for many years. Recent work airs on the History Channel,
Tom conducts workshops for universities in the serpent mound impact crater. He does private tours as well, cost is 100.00 and takes 2 hours. Groups up to 12 are welcome. There are 6 stops along the way and collecting is permitted. Many Universities use this service and I have taken hundreds of students and teachers into the crater over the years. We study the diverse geology, magnetic, faults, and minerals on the tour. To contact Tom for a guided tour or to visit the House of Phacops rock shop. Cell 937 205 3810 or email [email protected].
More local interest and shopping in Adams County.
Antiques, old soda shop pharmacy, goat farm, wool products, Indian center, primitive & county shops. Click here Food In Adams County – Minutes away from John T. Wilson Homestead. Casual – Fine Dining Tour Adams County by car. Auto Route Appalacia Discovery Quilt Barn Trail Discovering Southern Ohio’s natural and historical treasures. Adams County Quilt barn trail. Appalachian Birding trail and Heritage trail. Land of the Singing Coyote Located in the town of Seaman. Ohio. Native American Goods.
Beautiful Parks and Wildlife of Adams County.
Adjacent to the John T. Wilson Homestead. Tranquility Wildlife preserve.
Nature preserves. Hiking, fishing, canoeing and bird watching click here
Wildlife preserves in Adams County. Hunting, fishing click here Shawnee state forest. Wildlife, hunting, backpack trails, bridle trails and biking. Click here.
Visit TheAdams County, Ohio – Nature & Outdoor Blog
Video by Adams County, Ohio – Travelers visitors Bureau. With Tom Cross.
Visit the Adams county Travel & Visitors Bureau 
Order your free Adams County Travel Guide. Click Here.
Civil War Related Links. Civil War Reenactment Headquarters-Events, Reenacting Units & Supplies
