Flea Market
Roots Old Mill Flea Market - and that strawberry cream cheese pie!
Whenever we find ourselves traveling to Pennsylvania, particularly around Lancaster County, there’s one place I always try to make time for. Root’s Old Mill Flea Market in Manheim. Now, I would like to say that it’s because of my love for antiques, local history, or the excitement of finding something interesting among all the vendors. But the truth is, there’s really only one reason why I want to stop here. The strawberry cream cheese pie! More on that later.
Root’s is a pretty neat flea market located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It’s one of those places where you never really know what you’ll find. There are vendors selling everything from antiques, collectibles, old tools, furniture, and household items to clothing, fresh produce, and homemade baked goods. The market has both indoor and outdoor sections, with several buildings that give the place a somewhat rustic appearance.
What’s interesting about this place is its history. Root’s Country Market was established in 1925 by A.W. Root as a poultry auction. Over the years, it expanded into a farmers market where local farmers and merchants could sell produce, meats, baked goods, and other products. The market has remained a family-owned business for generations and has become somewhat of a tradition in Lancaster County.
The Old Mill Flea Market itself has a separate history. The original mill building dates back to the early 1900s and was previously used as a feed mill. In 1983, the property was converted into a flea market. It wasn’t until 2005 that Root’s Country Market purchased the property and incorporated it into the larger market operation.
I thought that was pretty interesting considering how much the place has changed over the years. What started out as a simple poultry auction has grown into a large market with hundreds of vendors. And despite all the changes, it still retains much of that old-fashioned country market atmosphere.
One of the things I like about Root’s is the variety of things being sold. The outdoor section is filled with vendors displaying their merchandise on tables, under tents, and sometimes right out of their vehicles. Some stalls have neatly organized displays while others have piles of miscellaneous items that require a little digging to see what’s underneath. That’s part of the fun I guess.
The photo above shows one of the old buildings with the antiques sign. I really liked the appearance of the building, especially the weathered wooden staircase and the simple architecture. There’s something about these old structures that makes them interesting to photograph. They have a lot of character and you can tell they’ve been around for quite some time. I also decided to take most of these photos in black and white, which I thought worked pretty well with the atmosphere of the market.
As we walked around, we came across vendors selling all sorts of things. Clothing, toys, antiques, food, and even live animals. It’s actually a pretty good place to spend a few hours just browsing. You don’t necessarily have to buy anything to enjoy the experience. I think part of the appeal is simply walking around and seeing what people have brought to sell.
Lancaster County is also well known for its farming communities and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Markets like Root’s have been an important part of the local economy for generations, providing a place where farmers and small businesses can sell directly to customers. It’s nice to see that tradition continuing even today.
Of course, while everyone else might be interested in looking for bargains and antiques, I usually have something else on my mind. And that’s making sure we don’t leave without getting my pie!
"Whenever we go to Pennsylvania, there's one thing I always look forward to at Root's. The strawberry cream cheese pie. Everything else is secondary! LOL."
The next set of photos shows some of the other areas around the market. One of the buildings had live animals being sold, which was pretty interesting to see. This actually goes back to the original purpose of Root’s when it first opened as a poultry auction in 1925. It’s neat that almost a century later, that tradition was still part of the market. We also walked around some of the indoor sections where vendors had antiques, collectibles, and other miscellaneous items on display.
But let’s get back to the real reason why I enjoy coming here. The strawberry cream cheese pie! I don’t even remember how we originally came across it, but ever since trying it, I’ve made it a point to get one whenever we’re visiting the area. It is absolutely delicious! The combination of the strawberries and cream cheese is just perfect. I don’t know what they put in that thing, but it is TO DIE FOR! LOL.
There are plenty of other baked goods and food vendors around the market, and I’m sure many of them are just as good. But for me, the strawberry cream cheese pie is the highlight of every visit. Everything else is just a bonus.
Overall, Root’s is a pretty neat place to explore if you’re visiting Lancaster County. There’s a lot of history behind it and plenty of interesting things to see, especially if you enjoy antiques and old country markets. It’s also a nice little stop for the family whenever we’re in Pennsylvania.
And even if we don’t end up buying anything else, as long as I get my strawberry cream cheese pie, I’d consider the trip a success!
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