Questions & Answers about Pinecraft

Here are questions I have been asked and thought I would make an article out of it for the sake of others who have questions. And if you have other questions feel free to ask. I probably didn’t answer all questions correctly, so correct me if I am wrong. I do expect these corrections to come from people who live or have lived in Pinecraft.
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Hi, Katie,
You and I have been friends on Facebook for awhile now. I look at your pictures often. I still don't understand some things, though. Is Pinecraft a town? Where is this town? Is it like a tourist attraction? I don't understand the bus stops and people coming and going all the time. Did you used to be Amish and now are Mennonite?
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Is Pinecraft a town?


No, Pinecraft is not a town. I think years ago Pinecraft was at the edge of the city of Sarasota. Pinecraft is situated right outside the city limits. But even so the city has build all around Pinecraft and beyond. Present day Pinecraft is a winter resort for the “Plain People” and their off-springs, although there is a scattering of other people living in Pinecraft too. During the summer months Pinecraft looks and feels like a ghost town for 85% of the houses are empty and so 15% of the people are year-round residents, which includes me. There are enough year round Amish & Mennonites living here in Pinecraft that each group has their own church building. Plus there is quite a collection of Mennonite churches surrounding Pinecraft. But right in Pinecraft there are just two, one Amish and one Mennonite.
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Is it like a Tourist Attraction?


Probably more yes, than no because there are a few restaurants around doing Amish style cooking. That of course is always a tourist attraction. But other than that I don’t think Pinecraft is a tourist attraction, not in comparison to up north. We don’t have horse and buggy’s around here. The transportation mode is bikes, public bus service and taxi. All the Amish have electricity and phones and whatever else.
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The Bus stops and people coming and going all the time:


There are three private bus lines that make direct runs to & fro, just for the people who want to come down to Pinecraft and return back home sooner or later. They do make stops enroute if they don’t have to get off the interstate for more than a few minutes. The Pioneer Trails from Holmes County Ohio were the first to offer this service and this is their 27^th year. The Elite bus makes these runs from Lancaster County to Pinecraft, only three months out of the year. They start right after New Year’s and end the last of March. The Crossroads bus comes from Indiana and run weekly from the beginning to the end of the winter season. Why all this coming and going all the time? Most of the people spend a couple of weeks vacationing down here and then go back home. This is the reason of all the coming and going. Some of the people are winter residents, they come and stay for the winter, then leave for their northern home in March or so. Of the people who vacation for only a couple of weeks each winter, usually reserve an apartment from one year to the next year.
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Do you used to be Amish and am now Mennonite?


I was born and raised Amish and was Amish for about 45 years. Then I joined something similar to Mennonites. But right now I am neither of them. I am just me.