Conceptually, here is such an idea: "The Amish Family Rest:" Roadside Rest Areas for Amish Buggy drivers: Amish drivers and their passengers need refreshment and relief as much as anyone, yet their beliefs may lead them to avoid the usual gas stations and convenience stores that the "English" community uses. What business niche is more clear than this? It caters to the needs of particular customers with a unique need.
There are said to be about 230,000 Amish in North America, principally in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada. Some thought must be given to location, whether to site at a community center (as a destination or meeting place) or between communities as truly a resting place. My intuition would lead me to think the later rather than the former.
Each rest would have clean toilet and refreshment facilities to the standards of the most strict Amish communities, in consultation with bishops and clergy, while adhering to appropriate state regulations. As power-line electricity is not generally accepted by many Amish, perhaps things like emergency lights and signs could be powered by on-site batteries and generators (steam or solar powered most likely). Light for evening operation could be gas or candle powered, in conventional approved safety lanterns. Food prepared of course to meet community and state requirements.
The safe transit of the horses or other draft animals is of great importance of course. Appropriate hitching posts will be needed and water troughs. Feed should be available, and other needed accessories. The horse areas should be paved to the requirements of the animals (and carts) with appropriate drainage and ease of maintenance in mind.
Some Amish use other vehicles (cars, trucks or tractors) and likely some "English" people will wish to stop and rest as well. For all non-animal vehicles we will provide a separate parking area, isolating the animals from the machines and technology. The ideal arrangement would be for the horse parking at one end of the site with drainage and prevailing winds away from the facility (for health and odor reasons). Then the structures that house toilets and service areas (restaurant or store). Then, moving even further from the horse parking, an area that could be used as a "market" area, perhaps semi-enclosed, where farmers and craftspeople could sell their wares. Finally, at greatest distance from the animals the parking area for motorized vehicles. This arrangement keeps the animals safe from the technology. As a side benefit the technology is also farther from those clients who are more devout and might be offended.
A little advertising in local newspapers and by posting fliers might be needed at the start, but I reckon the community would discover it quickly enough. Since the Amish in general probably don't use computers and mobile phones, there is no need for a Facebook, Twitter or MySpace page. Or, for that matter, a telephone wouldn't be needed at all. Perhaps a static website should be created as a courtesy for visiting non-Amish people. Given that there will be little technological infrastructure, the operating expenses should be quite low. The revenue at each location would include food, travel items, and rents from vendors in the market area. Seems a simple business, though the market is limited, it would provide a living for a few families.
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