By Intelligencer Journal/lancaster New Era

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013, 2:33 p.m.
Updated: Sunday, February 10, 2013

LANCASTER — Local author and historian Brad Igou is sure the hit television show “Amish Mafia” is a farce — and he's willing to prove it.

Igou, president of The Amish Experience in Bird-in-Hand, said his newest attraction will bust the myths surrounding the Discovery series that's breaking network records.

The “Amish Mafia Tour” will reveal filming locations and debunk specific claims made on the series.

Most area residents — Amish and English — seem to have opinions about Discovery's portrayal of a Lancaster County-based gang of violent Plain-sect protectors.

Igou said he hopes his tour will set the record straight. He gave a preview last week.

Igou, a reputable author on Amish culture, says he dissected more than 75 statements from the show, which recently wrapped its first season to many rave reviews. (Filming for season two is ongoing.)

It's not that people are watching that bothers Igou — it's that people are believing.

“People don't know what to think,” he said. “They really don't know what's true and what isn't.”

The tour, expected to open April 1, will visit filming locations and an Amish elder while a guide explains Hollywood's fascination with the culture.

“We think a lot of people curious because they saw ‘Amish Mafia' will probably come here,” Igou predicted. “We can use that curiosity.”

Residents have noticed the show's characters and camera crews across the county.

Esther, the group's female influence, was spotted Monday in East Lampeter; boss “Lebanon Levi” popped up in several locations last week in New Holland.

“We observed the characters being filmed here,” New Holland police Lt. Jonathan Heisse said, confirming a crew was at a vacant apartment building at Grant Street and Brimmer Avenue and at New Holland Sales Stables.

Igou and other tour contributors expect the attraction to mimic the show's success.

“We are a business, and not doing it just because,” Igou said candidly. “We think it will be pretty successful.”

What Igou and several local Amish folks found particularly offensive about the show was its mention of the attack at West Nickel Mines School in 2006. Five Amish girls were killed and five others seriously wounded when an English neighbor seized the single-room school and opened fire.

The show refers to that event as an example of Amish vulnerability and their need for protection from “outsiders.” Amish rarely summon police, the show claimed.

“(The reference to) Nickel Mines was probably most offensive,” Igou said. “The Amish reaction (to the shootings) was exactly the opposite.”

There was no thirst for revenge and outrage against English people, Igou said. Amish from the Nickel Mines community expressed forgiveness to the shooter's family almost immediately.

Other show “myths” expected to be challenged on the tour:

• Amish never hold a pitchfork upside down because it signifies the devil.

• Only Amish can operate roadside produce stands.

• Amish use only push mowers.

• Amish believe that females won't go to heaven if they die while not wearing prayer coverings.

Igou said he introduced the tour two weeks ago with a blast email to numerous travel/tourism groups.

“Within 15 minutes, I had a (customer) on the phone,” he said.

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