10 Things I’ve Learned About Kishacoquillas Valley

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This summer I got to travel to Kishacoquillas V alley and fell in love with the place! So much so that I decided to set a series there. That meant research. Here are 10 unique facts I learned about the Valley.

1)      It sits between 2 mountains–Jacks Mountain and Stone Mountain

2)      The buggies in the Valley are yellow, black, and brown and white.

3)      Men wear mostly blue shirts

4)      Men wear one diagonal suspender

5)      The women dress like the Lancaster Amish with the one piece apron that ties in the back

6)      The difference in buggy colors also signifies the three different Amish groups in the Valley– Nebraska Amish (white and brown buggies), Renno Amish, also called Peachey Amish (black buggies), and Byler Amish (yellow buggies)

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7)      Other names for Kishacoquillas Valley are Kish Valley and Big Valley

8)      The most common Amish last name in the Valley is Peachey

9)      They serve white church pickles (made with white cucumbers of course!)

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10) The Amish and Mennonites in the Valley share a cemetery. It has gravestones ranging from very plain to very elaborate.

I have pictures of all this and more here on Amy’s Amish Adventures. Simply click All Things Amish<Amish Photos<The Amish of PA Kish Valley< Kish Valley part 1 to see the slideshow.

My Kappy King Amish Mystery Series starts January 2018. (Yes, I know that’s a long ways off!). Aside from being set in Big Valley, this series has another unusual aspect: My protagonist is Amish! I’m very excited about this series and just as excited to share with you the pictures and interesting facts I learned while in Big Valley.

And the best part? This post is part of my Christmas Giveaway. How do you enter? Leave a comment below. That’s it! By leaving a comment you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for one of three sets of The Amish Christmas Sleigh. That means three names will be drawn and three readers will receive 2 autographed copies of The Amish Christmas Sleigh which includes my Amish Christmas novella-A Mamm for Christmas. That’s one copy for you and one copy for a friend! Or two copies to give as Christmas gifts. Or, heck, I guess you could keep them both for yourself! Whatever makes you happy!

Have you ever read an Amish mystery? Did you like it? Do you want to read more? What was your favorite part?

Thanks for reading!

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90 thoughts on “10 Things I’ve Learned About Kishacoquillas Valley

  1. Love the facts especially the pickles and the one suspender. I love Amish mystery. Since the Amish always seem so calm and peaceful, it is different when the turmoil of a mystery is involved.

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  2. I love the excitement in your post!!! Now I have to wait a stinkin year to read!!!! Oh the agony!!! I do love the idea and you are correct about the area up there it was beautiful and I only saw a little. Thank you for sharing.

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  3. Its been a long time since I read an Amish Mystery. It is always surprising that they have unusual problems in their lives. I liked the facts above. I liked the picture of the orange daylilies on the side of the road with a farm, then mountains and another farm by the other mountains.

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  4. Loved to read about what you learnt on your trip to Kishacoquillas Valley, especially about the church pickles. I love to read Amish mysteries. It is fun to find out how the crime was solved.

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  5. I love Amish mysteries! To great books in one. I have never seen the church pickles . Did you try them? I love your pictures so many hard to really choose a favorite. I would to visit the area someday!
    Blessings
    Diana

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  6. I didn’t use to read until I started reading Amish stories. I am so looking forward to your new one since I am from this area. I loved all the pictures, but really liked the one of you and Stace with The Big Valley in the background.

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  7. I love Amish mysteries. Actually I love all Amish books, especially if you wrote them AMY! I am thinking you must absolutely have a blast doing all the research Amy. I have been to several Amish places and it was tooo fun!

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    1. Thanks for the sweet words, Sonja! It might be my favorite part, going to all those wonderful places! I’m not much of a traveler, but Stace is a great running companion! 🙂

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    1. Awesome, Karen! The Valley is amazing! I’m so glad I got to visit and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone through the new series. 🙂

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  8. Forgot to say, yes I enjoy Amish mysteries. It’s interesting how the Amish community views a mystery even when it’s happening within. Most definitely would read more Amish mysteries. Bring them on, Amy!

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  9. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and facts about the different customs of the Amish.
    I cannot travel right now so I really enjoyed the picture tour as I love to visit Amish country.
    I do enjoy all Amish based stories including the mysteries. Looking forward to reading your new series.
    Thank you for giveaway.

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  10. I love hearing about your adventures. Maybe, some day, I will get up the gumption to visit Big Valley.
    I also am excited to read your new Amish series…..although, I am not fond of the wait to 2018. (LOL)
    Thank you for your wonderful books and for sharing your adventures with all of us.
    Love you!

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  11. That is neat that the Amish and Mennonite share a cemetery. I love all Amish books and have a huge collection of them. Would love to add this book to it. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

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    1. The diagonal suspender is a little odd to me, but that’s what they all were wearing. I wish I had a picture, but we’re always very careful about not photographing the people.

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  12. Would love to win a copy of your book . . . although I’ve lived in Florida for the last 20-some years, I do have relatives in The Valley. I was born and raised in neighboring Snyder County! And, I am always ready for a new Amish book.

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  13. I love reading Amish fiction/non-fiction… They are very interesting. One of the things I like about the mystery ones is seeing if you are right on who actually done the crime….. etc…
    I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win even one of the books 🙂
    Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

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  14. Love the 10 unique facts about the Kishacoquillas Valley Amish. I never heard of the Amish in that area, only been to Lancaster County when my late Aunt and Uncle lived in Quarryville. I really miss going there. I love reading all kinds of Amish books even mysteries. There are so many types of Amish books to read and not enough time!

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  15. First, thank you for offering this giveaway of The Amish Christmas Sleigh. I’m sure it is a great read with it being about the Amish and Christmas!!
    Thank you for sharing the facts about the Amish that you discovered on your trip. Yellow buggies and white pickles would take some getting used to! Yellow buggies seem so unAmish. I guess I’m just too used to the black ones!
    Looking forward to reading your mystery series.

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    1. Thanks, Diane. It was really interesting to see these unique Amish. We actually talked to a ‘yellow topper.” But he acted like it was no big thing. 🙂

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  16. I would love to be able to read this story. I love Amish stories. I didn’t know that they had different colors for their buggies. Also, I’ve never heard of white pickles. Always new and interesting facts about the Amish. Keep writing and informing your readers.

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  17. Looking forward to the new series. I have read Amish mysteries and enjoyed them. Just another example of how the Amish are just people. Strange things can happen to all of us. The white pickles are interesting! Thanks for sharing your facts…gotta go visit that area! Blessings!

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  18. That’s so neat! I like reading facts about the Amish from someone who actually did their homework (vs. someone who gets their facts from TV). It’s interesting how different the communities can be. I’m looking forward to this series.

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  19. i do enjoy Amish books but have never read one with a mystery. I think that would be fun also my prayer buddy loves those kinds of books and I would love to give her one too. Looks like a nice Christmas Story

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