Pinecraft, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pinecraft
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Mennonite Tourist Church
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 Pinecraft
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Sarasota |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| • Land | 0.26 sq mi (0.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 486 |
| • Density | 1,854.96/sq mi (717.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-56525 |
| GNIS feature ID | 300875 |
Pinecraft is a small community in Sarasota County, Florida. It is a special place because many Amish and Mennonites from places like Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania visit here for winter vacations. In 2020, about 486 people lived in Pinecraft. It is part of the larger Sarasota area.
Contents
History of Pinecraft
Pinecraft got its name in 1925 or 1926. Before that, it was known as the Sarasota National Tourist Camp. This camp had many spots for people to stay. It also had a small park, a community building, and a water tank.
At first, Pinecraft was about half a square mile in size. It was surrounded by streets like Bahia Vista Street and Yoder Street. Later, another camp called Homecroft was built next to Pinecraft. After 1946, Homecroft became part of Pinecraft.
Over time, these camps slowly changed into neighborhoods with houses. A lot of building happened in the 1940s and 1950s. The roads in Pinecraft were paved around 1949 or 1950. In 1949, a single plot of land in Pinecraft cost about $200.
Churches in Pinecraft
Mennonite Tourist Church
The Mennonite Tourist Church is an important building in Pinecraft. It is located at 3340 Bahia Vista Avenue. Mennonites bought the church building in 1946. Before it was a church, a bakery was on that land.
When the church first opened, 531 people attended the Sunday services. For a while, both Mennonites and Amish used the church for their separate services. Starting in 1947, the church was also used as a school for children visiting Florida. Later, around 1949 or 1950, the county built a new school for Pinecraft children.
Amish Church
The Amish community in Pinecraft has its own church. It is located at 1325 Hines Avenue.
How People Travel to Pinecraft
Many Amish people travel to Pinecraft by bus. Buses from companies like Crossroad Tours and Pioneer Trails bring people from Indiana and Ohio. These buses run almost every month, except for June and July.
Amish visitors from Pennsylvania often travel on buses from Elite Coach or Melard Coach. These companies offer trips from different places in Lancaster County. Elite Coach has weekly trips from January through March. Melard Coach provides transportation most weekends from late December through March.
Pinecraft in Media
Pinecraft was featured on a TV show called Breaking Amish: Brave New World. This show was part of the Breaking Amish series. Season 2 of the show was filmed in Pinecraft and aired in 2013.
The community in Pinecraft did not like the show very much. A popular restaurant in Pinecraft, Der Dutchman, even said they did not support the show's production. This statement came out after the restaurant had already allowed filming inside.
