A Return To Virginia’s Oldest Amish Community — And The Woman Who Left Something Beautiful Behind (15 Photos)
Reader Shawn has been visiting the Amish community at Pearisburg, Virginia for over a decade now. The first visit of Shawn’s we saw here was back in 2014, followed by a return in 2016 to check on the newly opened Walker Valley Market.
I’ve made a couple of visits myself – one on a rainy February day in 2020, and another in December 2020 when I finally got a proper look inside the market.
About a week ago, Shawn made another trip out to the area, and shares some very nice photos from around the community – and something unexpected waiting inside a greenhouse.
These were taken Sunday May 24th and from the looks of it, I stumbled on a lot of buggy activity headed to Sunday evening church service or evening fellowship. Really starting to see this community thriving and growing a bit.
All photos in this post are by Shawn.
The Pearisburg Community
The Pearisburg community – also known as White Gate, after a spot along Route 42 – is Virginia’s oldest Amish settlement, founded in 1993.
It sits tucked into a lovely mountain valley in Giles County, about 15-20 miles southwest of the town of Pearisburg itself. If you didn’t know it was there, or happened to notice a passing buggy, you’d likely drive right through it.
The hand-painted signs reflect the character of this place. Pear Tree Lane. Old Church Road.
One of the mailboxes along the road carries a verse from Proverbs 14:26: “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.”
It’s the kind of detail that makes this community feel distinct. Pearisburg has long had an unusual character among Amish settlements. It is known for its openness to outsiders, and practices uncommon elsewhere, like Sunday School and simultaneous translation for English visitors at church services.
Like in other places, home businesses are an important means for local Amish families make a living.
Hillside Sheds and Miller’s Flower Garden. What a neat sign with the flowers. Shawn says this sign is “very new”. It says they offer “Custom Bouquets For Your Events”.
Sunday buggy traffic.
I really like this shot, as it gives you a good feel for the beautiful mountainous terrain (views like this remind me a bit of the Big Valley, Pennsylvania community).
Several buggies gathered at a home. Looks like a Sunday gathering.
On the point about the community growing above, Shawn shares: “Saw more recent Amish homes that had been previously inhabited by the English.” Though we often cover Amish selling their homes to English buyers here, it often works in reverse as well.
Now we come to the Walker Valley Market, with its “Yes! We’re Closed” sign.
Shawn:
Even though the Walker Valley Market was closed since it was Sunday, the greenhouse door was open and there were some interesting tidbits inside.
Hanging baskets of beautiful flowers.
Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, flowers, baskets and planters. Those look like pretty reasonable prices as well.
But there was something else inside. A note on a plastic container, addressed to customers:
It reads:
For customers who remember Alta Swarey, you may take one of these Memorial Cards. Customers who didn’t know her, she raised these plants before she died.
Alta Miriam Swarey. 1956–2026.
It’s touching that those who run this place would leave something thoughtful like this behind for the people who encountered her as customers.
I have always felt a warm welcome when I’ve visited this market, so somehow that doesn’t surprise me. I never met Alta, to my knowledge, but I would bet she reflected that warm presence as well.
In any case, thanks to Shawn for sharing this return visit to the Pearisburg community. I’ll leave you with one last quote from Shawn:
All in all, a great trip, hate that I missed the sandwich at Walker Valley, but it was the best buggy traffic I have ever experienced up there!
And I’ll just say – speaking from experience – I’m sorry you missed that sandwich too!
