Day Tripper Finds Beauty in Farms with Butler Barn Tour

I read the history of the barn we were about to tour, and I viewed photos online before we drove there. Still, as we approached the farm, I was in awe of the beauty of the barn.

Beauty of a barn?

Yes, the old stone barn was that beautiful. Facing the surrounding fields, it looked like the European countryside. Immediately, I was whisked back in history (It also didn’t hurt that we had just visited the down the lane).

We had pulled up in front of the Drover Inn Farm, one of 16 barns on the Barns of Butler County tour. Built on land once part of the Harmonist Society in the 1800s, the barn was a gift to Aaron and Elizabeth Schontz from her father, Abraham Zeigler, an early settler in Western Pennsylvania. The stone barn seemed to gleam almost white the morning of our visit.

Adding to the attraction of the view was knowing each of the four silos has round date stones at each gable peak inscribed with the couple’s name, forever etched in time. 

The self-guided tour of 16 barns is a route that leads through the beautiful hills of Butler County. You can choose one of the three driving routes, which is what we did, or one longer trip. Each segment is about three hours, but the duration of the tour varies with how often you choose to stop. Most of the tour is on two-lane, well-paved roads.  

My husband and I toured the barns on a Saturday afternoon, and we paused to take photos and admire the barns, rolling hills and farmland of Western Pennsylvania. This is such a beautiful area, and the farms are an important part not only of our history but of our current economy.

Each of the barns has its own unique flavor. I’m partial to baby animals so seeing the alpacas at Sunset Hills Farm was a favorite for me. You can even buy warm socks made from alpaca yarn in their shop. If you want to extend the farm experience, there's a bed and breakfast area where you can view baby alpacas through a window that separates the accommodations from the animals.

No worries – there aren’t any smells or loud noises associated with the animals.

The cows at Marburger Farm Dairy are pretty cute as well. Marburger is a working dairy, so you're able to visit the milking parlor and buy fresh milk.

Some of the barns are only to be enjoyed from afar. The barns are private property, and guests are asked to keep their distance and be respectful. Four of the farms – including the two above – welcome visitors on site. Tours can be arranged in advance.

Visit www.VisitButlerCounty.com to download the informative guide and route. It contains many historical facts and bits of information that will add to your tour.