Enjoying the Simple Pleasures: Pinecraft Amish Community in Sarasota, Florida
One of the most charming day trips in the state of Florida has to be a visit to the Pinecraft Amish Community. This small but lively village is brimming with amazing history, shopping, fun activities, and fantastic food! All of this is encompassed within a gentle atmosphere that makes Pinecraft a real respite from the stress of work and everyday life.
It’s also a chance to experience another culture. Though within the city limits of Sarasota, stepping into this neighborhood feels a bit like stepping into another world; it’s certainly walking into a different, but pleasing, way of life. While this contrast might initially make you feel like you’re intruding, know that non-Amish visitors are welcome and expected! As with any interaction in life, simple mutual respect is key.
So, if you’re ready for a day of relaxing fun, Pinecraft is just waiting to be discovered!
*cue Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise”*
Celery & Warm Winters
It was in the 1920s when the Amish first arrived in Sarasota, Florida.
Winter was (and still is) a harsh affair in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and sunny Florida offered an irresistible escape into warmer temperatures. It also offered an opportunity for winter farming.1
The primary Amish crop of choice was celery…but unfortunately, when they arrived in Florida, they realized with dismay the soil wasn’t suitable for celery.2 However, they weren’t giving up on Sarasota that easily! They enjoyed this newfound winter haven, so they worked to grow other vegetables instead, which thankfully proved to be successful.
Ah, yes, this was the place to be!
Some families began to purchase property and set down roots in the Pinecraft subdivision, becoming a permanent resident. Others simply farmed up north during summer and habitually returned south every winter.
Eventually, the Pinecraft Amish community in Florida grew into a steady, year-round populous (numbering about 500 homes), and a permanent church was established in 1945.3
Today, the year-round Pinecraft Amish community is an integral part of Sarasota, and the village still swells with Amish (and Mennonite) tourists from the north when winter comes, just like it first did in 1925.
Pinecraft Amish Community: The Gift of Simplicity
Whether you visit in winter like a traditional Pincecraft tourist or choose to enjoy this quaint community in spring, summer, or fall, you’ll find it a refreshing change of pace from both regular life and your typical tourist traps.
Simplicity is the key ingredient at Pinecraft. From bonnets to bicycles, anything obtrusive or showy is strictly banned from cluttering the pleasant plainness of the community. This is an outward display of a strong inner belief, as an integral part of the Amish faith is avoiding the sin of pride.3
But that doesn’t mean they avoid having fun! There are volleyball, shuffleboard, and games of horseshoes constantly being played in Pinecraft park! It’s nice to set aside the phone and just immerse yourself in a real live chat between turns.
But, of course, the biggest draw for most folks is the food. (Same!)
Pie That’s To Die For
In Pinecraft, there are two family restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy a delectably hearty meal.
The Der Dutchman offers both made-to-order meals and buffet-style dining. The “barn raising buffet” is always brimming with home-cooked comfort foods like broasted chicken, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, noodles… It’s like Thanksgiving every day at Der Dutchman! Open at both lunch and dinnertime, there’s a slight change in the buffet menu as more variety is offered in the evening.
The highlight of Der Dutchman is their enormous selection of mouth-watering baked goods. While it’s easy to get stuffed at the buffet, we definitely recommend saving some room for dessert!
While Der Dutchman is definitely delicious, Yoder’s is generally even more popular. (Though, if you’re in Pinecraft long enough for two meals, you should absolutely try both!) Known for fried chicken and an excellent deli, Yoder’s true claim to fame is their pie.
Now, this isn’t just any old pie. We’re talking highlight-of-the-trip, still-craving-it-a-year-later type pie. Getting a slice at Yoder’s is the one thing you must-do if you want a proper Pinecraft experience.
These pies are made from scratch every single morning, and what they consider a slice at Yoder’s isn’t a slice. It’s more like a third of the pie.4 Needless to say, that’s pretty awesome.
Flavors include classics like apple, cherry, and pecan, as well as a selection of cream pies such as banana, chocolate peanut butter, and even Florida’s most famous flavor: key lime. While a slice is more than filling, we still recommend grabbing a take-home pie so you can enjoy a taste of Pinecraft after you’ve gone home, too.
If that wasn’t sweet enough, you can also stop by the Big Olaf Creamery for some of Sarasota’s best ice cream! With over 60 homemade flavors, the Big Olaf Creamery makes Pinecraft just as desirable a destination in summer as it is in winter!
A Spot of Shopping
Pinecraft Amish Community is also a great place to do a bit of shopping!
Yoder’s, as well as Dutch Heritage and other merchants, have a wide selection of handmade gifts. From beautiful quilts to the highest-quality rocking chair, you can find the perfect item to make your home that much cozier! The homemade soaps will make every bath feel like a real luxury, while adorable signs and embroideries can add a splash of color and delightful cottagecore vibes to any room.
In addition to selling home goods, Pinecraft is also the ultimate farmer’s market. Here, you can find fresh produce, homemade jams, and jellies, and of course, those signature baked goods and pies. (You’ll definitely want to stock up on those!)
Make It A Weekend
A visit to the Pinecraft Amish Community is both calming and cozy. If you’d like to extend your stay, perhaps making a weekend out of it, the Carlisle Inn retains Amish tradition while offering guests modern amenities like an all-season swimming pool. (There’s even a complimentary hot breakfast!)
With Sarasota just on the edge of the community, you can always slip out to enjoy some of the city’s activities, or an afternoon on the beach, then return to Pinecraft for some peace and quiet.
Pinecraft’s quiet ways are both soothing and inspiring, and a reminder that there’s more than one way to live. And sometimes the simple way can be the best way!
Especially when it comes to pie.
Have you been to Pinecraft? Did you try Yoder’s pie? Tell us about in the comments below!
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