Stretching across 3,000 acres of rolling bluegrass farmland in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a remarkable national treasure and the country’s largest restored Shaker community. It is here, amid the vibrant foliage and blue sky of an idyllic autumn day, that visitors to this timeless destination will often attest that they have stumbled upon pure perfection.
Constructed from indigenous materials such as brick, wood, and limestone, the planned community of Pleasant Hill reflects the Shakers’ intention to create heaven on Earth. Their impressive architectural skills were largely influenced by the Federal style that is predominant throughout Kentucky.
The property contains thirty-four original buildings situated on 3,000 acres of preserved farmland. Shaker Village also features 25 miles of rock fences, and partners with the Dry Stone Conservancy in an effort to preserve this masterful building technique.
The Inn at Shaker Village provides peaceful accommodations in thirteen beautifully restored buildings throughout the property. With extraordinary views of the gently rolling countryside, each room offers guests a refreshing mix of contemporary amenities alongside Shaker reproduction furnishings. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, visitors can enjoy regional favorites and traditional Shaker dishes at the Trustees’ Office Dining Room. Delectable entrées include rainbow trout, sliced pork, steak, fried chicken, and country ham.
The past is brought to life at Shaker Village, where costumed interpreters portray life in the mid-nineteenth century. Skilled artisans demonstrate spinning and weaving, as well as the techniques used in constructing the tightly sewn brooms for which the Shakers are renowned.
To read more about the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, see “A Heaven on Earth”, from the November/December 2010 issue of Victoria magazine.
