The focal point and hub of activity at any farm is the barn, and barns have been part of Pennsylvania’s landscape for over 300 years. Agriculture and farming, which includes horse racing, training, and horse breeding, are leading economic drivers of the state’s economy. Known throughout the country for their craftsmanship, hard work, and integrity, Pennsylvania barn builders construct pole barns, timber barns, indoor riding arenas, breeding sheds, turnout sheds, and custom buildings throughout Pennsylvania and the U.S. Whether simple in design, or showplaces like Deo Volente Farms in Flemington, NJ, barn builders from Lancaster County travel to sites across the United States and Canada to build custom barns or to restore historic old barns. Builders in the state also construct modular sheds or small barns in their workshops and transport them to other locations.
King Construction Company in New Holland, PA specializes in equestrian facilities and builds custom horse barns and run-in sheds and equipment sheds, and they provide architectural and engineering services for the buildings they construct. According to Rebekah Diem at King Construction, “we build custom barns using timber frame interiors and custom door designs. We build classic style barns using large wooden post and beam construction made from high quality materials. We build in PA, but we also travel out of town, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic area and build barns in New York, Connecticut, and Virginia. We also build event barns which are for weddings, conferences, and parties. That part of the business has been increasing, and we do lots of work in the West Chester area.”
Just off the main road in New Holland, warehouses and building manufacturers line the highway. Roofing businesses, New Holland Farm Equipment offices, heavy duty truss manufacturers, storage shed companies, paint factories, and barn builders are located in the area. SMS Builders, located on Commerce Drive, builds and restores barns using skilled Amish craftsmen. “We build mostly pole barns now, but we restore some bank barns, and we travel to other states too. We have a project now in South Carolina,” explained Gideon Bier. Established in 1994, SMS employs local craftsmen and artisans known for their hard work and attention to detail. One of their most elaborate projects was building Deo Volente Farms, a premier standardbred breeding facility in New Jersey. The goal at SMS is to build barns that transform visions into reality.
Located about ten miles south of New Holland, in a small town named Strasburg, Groffdale Barns manufactures custom modular barns and sheds in their on- site workshop. In business since 1984, Groffdale designs and builds their pre- fab products on skids in their shop, and trucks haul the finished product to its permanent location. According to owner Jake Riehl,” these modular barns are our signature product. We build them on an oak frame and use oak kickboards in the barns and sheds. We make accessories for the buildings too like feed bins, saddle racks, and harness cabinets.” The Amish business employs local Amish carpenters and uses local products when possible. “We do barn restoration too, and we travel to some other states in the east to do some custom building. We build sheds and barns for lots of local horse owners,” added Jake.
Nearby, in the village of Paradise, B&D Builders prides itself on building superior quality barns and luxury equine estates. Started as local shed builders in 2000 by Ben Esh and Daniel Glick, B & D Builders evolved into a team of craftsmen that work on projects across the U.S. and Canada, including jobs in Idaho, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and British Columbia. Experts in renovation and historical restoration, they were entrusted with several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places including the Herr’s Mill Bridge and the Star Barn, both in PA. Other major projects include Unionville Equine Hospital in Oxford, PA and the Riveredge Equine facility owned by the billionaire Malone family and built on the grounds of the old Sagamore Farm, a historic thoroughbred breeding farm located in Chesapeake City, Maryland. A new member of the B&D team, Will Phipps worked as a consultant for a major horse transportation company and was an assistant to horse trainer Bill Mott. He brings his equine knowledge and experience to his new position as relationship manager. Recently, B&D expanded to include five specialty brands that include Mid-Atlantic timber frames, Mid-Atlantic steel fabrications, vintage millwork and restoration, vintage wood and forged iron, and Blackwood Equestrian stalls. Using their expert crews, B&D now handles projects from start to finish.
Barn building is an important industry in PA, and Pennsylvania barn builders earned a reputation across the country for quality craftsmanship, hard work, attention to detail, and reliability. They are responsible for creating equine showplaces that include breeding farms and race horse barns in PA as well as preserving and restoring our historic barns.
