Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

One of my all time favorites. It has really changed over the years to keep up with the changing times and tastes of Gen Z Gen X, whatever! The ambience can't be beat. And I've never had a bad meal. I really do wish they would serve some of the old dishes from the cookbooks they sell. Chess pie, corn pudding, etc. mmm mmm. We live 3 hours away and still make it down each year at least once or twice.

(Visited Oct 2024).Overall, the Shaker Village was slightly underwhelming for me. I was expecting a more lively and interactive experience that I've found at other 'open air' type museums. I thought there would be people dressed in period clothing roaming around but there was nothing like that, although there were some demonstrations of things like music/crafting. It was decorated for the fall season with hay bales and pumpkins, etc. which made for some nice seasonal photos. The village basically consists of sparsely furnished buildings with info boards that you wander in and out of. The grounds are pretty with trees, flowers, rickety paths, a small animal farm, picnic tables, a restaurant and general store. We took a history tour, but the info signs around the property were repetitive of the tour.We arrived at opening time, where we were greeted at the entrance to the parking lot by a cheery employee. We purchased tickets in the gift shop which also serves as check-out for the inn. We waited while an inn patron checked out and once we'd paid, we were given a sticker to wear on our clothing. We then joined a narrated history tour, which started outside the gift shop. I personally found the history tour way too long, wordy and boring and couldn't wait for it to end, but my husband enjoyed it and it served as a good overview. Prior to our visit, we'd made a lunch reservation at the Trustee Table, the onsite restaurant. I did notice there were several picnic tables available, which would be a budget option in good weather. There are several demonstrations available at certain times. We attended the half hour music program where the docent demonstrated shaker singing and dancing. She had a wonderful voice. Restrooms are located in front near the parking lot and gift shop. We stayed at a hotel at Fritz Farm near Lexington, about 30 mins away.Helpful?

Very interesting place with lots of history. The religion is interesting and the people conducting the tours are top notch!! The restaurant is not to be missed! The lemon pie is outstanding!

Me and my wife won a silent auction and got to stay here and have breakfast. The history and old buildings are super cool. They have gift shop and evens all day. We didn't get to do much because it was freezing! The breakfast the next morning was really good I want to go stay again in the summer and have dinner. There is a lot of fun to be had here!

Our visit to Shaker Village was definitely one of the highlights of our Spring Break TN/KY roadtrip. Even in mid-March, the grounds are GORGEOUS. We participated in multiple of the tours/events offered and enjoyed every one. The tour guides are exceptional! We learned so much about Shaker history and walked away with a pretty clear picture of what life was like for villagers in the 1800s. My kids' age ranges are 3 to 11 and they ALL got something out of our visit. They loved feeding the animals, walking around the village and exploring each building, and playing on the natural playground. We stayed overnight at the Tanyard, which I think was the only option that could accommodate our size family. The house is about a quarter mile away from the village center. It is VERY private, with a large yard for kids to run around and explore. There is a creek and a firepit. The house itself is gorgeous from the outside, but the bathrooms and kitchen could use a facelift. We didn't go in expecting luxury, so it met our needs just fine, but it's something to consider if you have any high-maintenance family members. The bathrooms are dated (meaning, 1990s dated, not 1800s dated) and we could only get one of the two showers to work. The hot water runs out in about 10 minutes. The kitchenette is basically just a fridge/freezer and a microwave. There are no dishes or utensils. The beds are comfortable and the house is clean. AC/heat work great, although it was quite loud.By far the best part of the house is spending time in the yard. Firewood, fire starters, and matches are provided for the fire pit. There is ample room to run around, play sports, and look for wildlife. We saw deer and a HUGE turtle. My kids caught crawfish in the creek. There is a trail nearby and we did see one couple walk the trail, but otherwise we were completely alone the entire time we were there.There is a restaurant on site but it's quite pricey and with there being 8 of us, it was frankly unaffordable. Whatever they make in there sure smells good though!Overall, this was an exceptional experience for myself and my kids. I highly recommend visiting, even if it's just for the day.

One of the most pleasant places to visit with a beautifully laid-back atmosphere, is Shaker Village there it feels as if time staying still, and visitors can do whatever they wish at their leisure.It's always interesting to learn about the history, the architecture and the way of life in the village. In the tradition of the Shakers, everything there is beautifully simplistic.The food is fantastic & love that they grow their own herbs and produce right out back. There's so much to do at Shaker Village that you can easily spend a full day or more there.Things to do:Dine at the Trustees' Table for breakfast, lunch or dinnerHike any of 12 trails on over 32 miles of acreage Explore the produce garden used for fresh veg in the meals served Meet the farm animals Listen to live music on Friday and Saturday evenings while roasting marshmallows Participate in the programs offered around the village Enjoy an overnight stay Explore Relax

To be clear, I don't look at the place for its overnight stays; I'm interested as a day-tripper. Having taken a few shots at the trails, there is plenty of quality Kentucky scenery, but it isn't as practical as I'd hoped. The trails (and I've been through a few of them) have been quite overgrown and I can't emerge without picking off some ticks. Stream crossings are often fords, that could use some rocks to walk on, if not an actual bridge. I would have hoped that paying to come here (as opposed to the free trails in the greater Lexington area) would have yielded a more comfortable experience.There are some interesting events to be had, though apparently a riverboat that once launched from here is no more. I have yet to get any sense of the Shaker culture, other than seeing one parent and child riding by on bikes. The place may have more to offer, but they've got some work to do to convince me that it's really worth the trip and the money.

This village takes one back in time. Lovely restored Shaker Village is a must see. We decided to book one of their rooms and we are so glad we did.our stay overnight was special because we were able to walk around village at 10 pm using the electrified street lanterns. The stars and sky were beautiful and we felt like we were back in the 1800s.The rooms are spacious the beds super comfortable and the bathrooms sparkling clean. There are several price options. One needs to be able to do stairs for most of the sights. There are hourly tours for different topics such as music ,architecture and farm animals.This is an amazing chance to experience a pre civil war village . Look up their website. There are special events taking place all year long. Staff very friendly.The architecture is amazing. Do not miss the stairs in the main lodging area. Epic experience!

We had a wonderful 1 night get away here! Our room was very clean and the bed was comfortable! It was so peaceful and quiet, such a perfect place for a reset and to get away from it all. We did several hikes while staying here where we saw 2 waterfalls! Highly recommend! We will be back!

Went to Shakertoen this evening to listen to an outdoor live music event. Weather was great. Music was great. They had a bar set up and the bartender was very good. Went inside to order food and ended up very disappointed. Outdoor bar had an 'outdoor menu'. Went inside to order and found that the outdoor menu was no longer available. Got a two cheeseburgers with fries. Took 55 minutes. Seriously. Timed it. Was hungry before we drove an hour to Shakertown. Three ketchups with two cheeseburger and two orders of fries. Also, $35.00. I wish I didn't have to write this but if this is what's being offered, a real gem of Kentucky is going to g to fall away. Ask questions and call before you make the trip.