Our History
Our History
We at Sylvan Ridge Farm are inspired by the property's storied past and excited that it is once again accessible to the community as a place to gather and create rich memories.
We at Sylvan Ridge Farm are inspired by the property's storied past and excited that it is once again accessible to the community as a place to gather and create rich memories.
.png)
Event Barn
Sustainably sourced. Traditionally built. Timelessly elegant.
In many ways, the Sylvan Ridge Farm event barn is historic and traditional, set on the exact footprint of the barn that was erected in the 1800s when the farm was first settled. To ensure authentic, high-quality workmanship, we employed Amish craftsmen from Lancaster County to erect the new mortise & tenon timber frame around the 14-foot-wide fieldstone fireplace preserved from the original barn. Saving this remarkable feature was our highest priority in designing a new structure, and it took a true feat of engineering to do so! The lower level also makes extensive use of reclaimed barn beams and siding.
In other ways our barn is innovative and unique, guided by the design consultation of renowned modern architect Peter Bohlin. It features two built-in bars, modern restrooms, a hydraulic elevator for easy access between levels, and a stunning wall of windows overlooking the forest landscape. Ethically salvaged Brazilian hardwoods used throughout the structure create unparalleled warmth and richness. Whether dining and dancing under the soaring timbers of the main floor or sipping a cocktail in the rustic bar level, at Sylvan Ridge Farm your event guests will enjoy a barn venue like no other.
Barn Features
Upper level:
-
Custom Amish-built timber frame made with sustainably sourced Brazilian hardwoods
-
3,250 square feet, with 2,800 sq. ft. of event space that comfortably seats up to 150 guests
-
14-foot-wide, functional stone fireplace preserved from the original 19th-century barn
-
50-foot-long wall of windows overlooking the wooded mountainside (exclusive design by Peter Bohlin)
-
Two 10-foot-wide sliding barn doors that open onto the expansive lawn
-
Custom-built bar made from a live-edge slab of goncalo alves (tigerwood)
-
Heat, air conditioning, fully accessible restrooms & lift elevator to the lower level
lower level:
-
Exposed post & beam construction using reclaimed barn beams and siding, with local stone accents
-
2,100 square feet, with 1,140 sq. ft. of indoor event space that can comfortably fit up to 150 standing guests, plus 1,000 sq. ft. of covered outdoor space
-
14-foot-wide fieldstone fireplace foundation-turned-daybed with custom cushions
-
Two 10-foot-wide sliding barn doors that open into the intimate courtyard
-
Custom-built bar made from a live-edge slab of goncalo alves (tigerwood)
-
Fully accessible restrooms & lift to the upper level
Our Building Partners
Deeply committed to rainforest preservation, ATF is a Brazil-based producer of custom handcrafted timber frames. They ethically and sustainably harvest their hardwood logs (which would otherwise be destroyed) using the 3-D guidelines of dead, dying, and down. Recipient of the Brazilian Parliament's "Top of Environmental Quality" award, ATF's manufacturing facility Zero Impact Brazil employs skilled local craftsmen to mill the timbers & precision cut the joinery. Thanks to Amazon Timber Frames, Sylvan Ridge Farm's barn is both stunning and built to last.
Based in Lancaster County, PA, Precise Buildings is an Amish company specializing in construction and restoration of timber frame barns. Their vast experience and firm commitment to quality made them the perfect partners for our unique barn rebuilding project. Together with ATF-associated designer Bruce Korson, Precise's crew raised the Brazilian timber frame in fall 2019—truly a sight to behold! They worked through winter and spring of 2020 to enclose the structure before turning over the finish work to local contractors. We could not have asked for a better crew!
Antiquity to Modernity: A Timeline
clicking a photo will open a slideshow on the history of the barn.
