Inside Look at Pioneer Village Church

Pioneer Village Church at Shingle Creek 2491 Babb Road, Kissimmee

The Pioneer Village Church at Shingle Creek is a replica of the one first churches built in the area.

The first time Jack and I visited this park it was on a hot summer day. As we walked from building to building the humidity crept up. Then I saw the village church. The cool air greeted us as we walked through the front door. A miracle I thought......... No, the building was wired for air conditioning since it was a replica of a church from the 1880’s.

Jack stayed there while I walked through the rest of the historic buildings of the park. I would like to think it was to reflect and thank God for the natural beauty of the great state of Florida, but he was looking at his cell phone when I came back so I think he was enjoying the natural wonders of air conditioning and cell service.

On my walk, I discovered Pioneer Village has a collection of historic structures relocated to the Village from different locations in Osceola County. Preservation efforts continue. A walk through Pioneer Village gives one an idea of what life was like for early settlers. Aside from the church, the park is home to a post office, schoolhouse, train depot, general store, blacksmith shop and homes from some of the early Osceola County settlers. At the annual Pioneer Day celebration volunteers dress in period costumes from the late 19th century to portray some of the early residents as well as Seminole Indians, showing how they lived together at that time.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Kissimmee

St. John’s Episcopal Church (Chapel) completed in 1889 is now located at 1709 N. John Young Parkway. This Carpenter Gothic Style church was dedicated by Bishop Weed and was originally located downtown. It was relocated for the second time to its present location in 1961. The church at Shingle Creek is patterned after St. John's Episcopal Church with the original bell tower.