Your guide to Stoudtburg, a charming slice of Germany hiding in Pa.

Get to know Stoudtburg, the Bavarian village nestled in Lancaster County’s Adamstown.

Tucked in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country town of Adamstown in Lancaster County, Stoudtburg Village is wildly different from most other Pennsylvania towns. For instance, it’s modeled after the Bavarian town Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany, famous for its medieval architecture, much of which was spared from destruction during World War II. Today, the German town of Rothenburg looks like a postcard — and so does Stoudtburg Village.

Within walkable Stoudtburg Village, you’ll jaunt past colorful homes on cobblestone streets. In the warmer months, many homes have small but lush gardens or balcony flower boxes. A large koi pond invites you to relax on nearby benches. And in the center of the community, in its village square, you’ll find a beautiful fountain featuring a nymph — her name is Peaches.

But it’s not just the picture-perfect scenery that makes Stoudtburg Village and its 98 properties worth a visit. It’s also a lovely community that prides itself on its warm and welcoming nature and that’s home to a handful of small businesses and a number of engaging events throughout the year (Stoudtoberfest, anyone?). Read on to learn more about the village and plan a weekend when the residents of Stoudtburg Village can extend a warm “Willkommen” to you.

People gathered in Stoudtburg Village on a summer evening. (Stoudtburg Village)

The history of Stoudtburg Village

You’d be forgiven, and astoundingly historically inaccurate, for thinking Stoudtburg Village was built by German immigrants during William Penn’s time. But the village was actually established in the late 1990s, the relatively recent brainchild of entrepreneurs Ed and Carol Stoudt. The Stoudt family can trace its ancestral history to Rothenburg, and so Ed and Carol designed their “modern day version of an old European Village” based on those roots.

The idea was that homeowners would have small businesses on the ground floors of their homes, just as shopkeepers did in European villages back in the day. New development has added homes that aren’t meant to also serve double-duty as shops, but many of the businesses in Stoudtburg Village, zoned for both residential and commercial use, indeed house the shopkeeper on the second floor.

Stoudtburg Village businesses

Many of the Stoudtburg Village shops represent the passions of their owners, like art, jewelry design, or antiques. The mix of shops is owned both by longtime entrepreneurs and by retirees launching a “second act,” all of who are sole proprietors of their businesses.

Sole proprietorship does mean that shop hours might not be convenient for everyone who wants to visit. For instance, in Stoudtburg Village, most shops are only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Many open their doors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on these days, but individual shops may have different hours. Be sure to check with a specific business in advance if you really want to visit!

Here are some businesses you can visit in Stoudtburg Village:

• Classic Charm Home Goods sells retro and vintage home décor.
• Fire Kissed Jewelry sells handcrafted jewelry, including custom pieces, constructed from copper and silver.
• Plum Pudding Antiques, Etc. is a shop focused on antiques, gifts, and other treasures both old and new. (We are very pleased that the building is purple, like a plum.)
• Outta My Gourds is the shop of a painter and gourd farmer who creates artwork out of gourds.
• Out of this World is home to a toy robot museum filled with tens of thousands of pieces of Americana.
• The Village Haus Restaurant is currently the only full-service restaurant in the small village, serving German and American dishes for lunch and dinner. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday and often hosts live music.
• Village Perk and Crafts is a coffee shop that also sells sweet treats, handmade arts and crafts, and other gifts. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday.
• Zen Squirrel Yoga is a yoga studio that also has a small, wellness-focused boutique.

Stoudtburg Village shop entrance at Christmas. (Stoudtburg Village)

Where to stay

There are no hotels (yet?) in Stoudtburg Village, but there are plenty of short-term rentals listed online. Check Airbnb or Vrbo so it’s easy for you to stay inside the village. You’ll wake up in what might look like Bavaria but is actually a friendly and welcoming Pennsylvania community.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.