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Homestead Craft Village

A peaceful, faith-based agrarian community featuring hand-crafted goods, historic barns, and a restored 1760 gristmill, offering a serene escape into traditional craftsmanship and rural Waco charm.

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What is Homestead Craft Village?

A peaceful, faith-based agrarian community featuring hand-crafted goods, historic barns, and a restored 1760 gristmill, offering a serene escape into traditional craftsmanship and rural Waco charm.

Why visit Homestead Craft Village?

Visit for a serene, free-admission experience where you can browse unique, hand-crafted furniture and arts, and admire historic restored barns and a 1760 gristmill.

What is Homestead Craft Village best for?

Homestead Craft Village is a good pick for architecture, history, photography, and solo travelers.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Homestead Craft Village is part of Homestead Heritage, an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community. The village is set within an 18-acre complex that showcases the work of artisans who emphasize enduring values of handcraftsmanship. Visitors can explore a variety of specialized shops, including a pottery shop, a blacksmith shop, and a fiber crafts shop housed in a restored 19th-century barn. Other notable architectural features include a 200-year-old barn and a restored 1760 gristmill. The community's history dates back to the early 1970s, when it began as a small peace church in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen. In 1990, the community purchased Brazos de Dios, a 510-acre farm near Waco, where the craft village grew from a simple cafe and gift shop into the diverse complex of workshops and gardens today. For those seeking a culinary experience, the village offers dining options such as Cafe Homestead, which uses all-natural, locally sourced, home-grown ingredients, and Red Wagon Barbecue, which serves slow-smoked barbecue on Saturdays. Accessibility is a priority here; the craft shops, Cafe Homestead, and restrooms are all wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant, with wheelchairs available for visitors who need them.

Visitor tips

  • Admission is free to tour the grounds and visit the craft shops.
  • Visit on Saturdays to enjoy slow-smoked barbecue at Red Wagon Barbecue from 11 AM to 6 PM.
  • The village is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.

Nearby context

Located just north of Waco, the Homestead Craft Village offers a quiet, rural contrast to the bustling activity of nearby landmarks like The Silos.

Sources

Evidence and links