Rafter J Ranch Barn

Rafter J Ranch Barn Leola and Abraham John moved to to Parrish, Florida in 1918. They bought 110 acres from a family member and built a house in 1921.

This is the same house in which we (the Barn's owners) still live today. The property had a persimmon grove and chicken houses back in the early 1900's, then the property was transformed into a cattle ranch which is currently operated by their grandson, Mitchell John, and his family. The land on which we live is more that just property to us. It is a symbol of family heritage and we take pride in

carrying on the tradition. Family heritage is something we hold close to our hearts, so we want to welcome you to come and celebrate your family (and friends because they are family too) in our barn whether it's with a wedding to unite two families into one, a graduation party to celebrate someone's success, a birthday party to celebrate another year of life, or even a retirement party to mark the beginning of a new and exciting chapter of someone's life. We would be delighted to share the place where we celebrate our family so you can celebrate yours!

01/08/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE​​​​​For More Information
Dec. 31, 2022​​​​​​​Contact Steve Wilson
​​​​​​​​941-650-1073


Former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore is the new Development Administrator for Help To Home Inc., a non-profit that has provided low-rent housing and other assistance to parents with children threatened by homelessness.
“I am honored that Help To Home has chosen me for this worthy cause,” Ms. Whitmore said. “My goal in life is to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and this position will help me do just that.”
During her 16 years as a county commissioner, Ms. Whitmore worked to help find jobs and vocational help for low-income families.
Help To Home purchased land on 30th Avenue just west of 14th Street West in Bradenton, and is planning to build Hope Village, a community of housing units with below market rents. It is an unusual program, because it requires each tenant to work with case managers, the local school system and community services to get vocational “up-skilling” to stop the generational cycle of homelessness.
“As our Development Administrator, Carol Whitmore offers vast knowledge, great experience and many talents to help us reach our goals,” said Steve Wilson, a board member and founder of Hide-Away Storage.
“Her understanding of homelessness and the impact it has on the entire family make her the best possible choice to ensure that Hope Village becomes a reality in 2023.”

In a related development, Help To Home added to its board this year Jerry Marlar, Mike McCoy, Margie Genter and Matt McSwain. Marlar is the former head of Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs. Mrs. Genter is an executive with Goodwill Industries. McCoy is a former market president for Bank of America. McSwain is a financial consultant with Edward Jones. Other board members are Rod Urban, a retired HR executive with Tropicana, April Childers, a long-time child advocate and restaurant owner, Bill Hawthorne, a retired CPA with Mauldin & Jenkins, and Dr. Archie Smith, a retired psychologist.
Help To Home’s fund raising for Hope Village formally begins with the new year. It is seeking private donations and is not asking for government funding. The absence of government funds will avoid any restrictions on how it helps its tenants get better jobs and become financially independent. It also is not borrowing any money. Hope Village will be economically sustainable when fully built-out and occupied, even at below-market rental rates, according to Wilson.

05/15/2022
Beautiful!
03/12/2022

Beautiful!

We think our barn is pretty special… but it’s even better when there are weddings full of amazing families and friends g...
08/31/2021

We think our barn is pretty special… but it’s even better when there are weddings full of amazing families and friends gathering to celebrate love and, of course, a gorgeous bride in her perfect dress on the best day ever!
Taken by Tanna Photography - this one’s a true masterpiece!

We love reviews! If you have a review, we’d love to read it - this one is from the amazing Julie! Thank you for your swe...
08/25/2021

We love reviews! If you have a review, we’d love to read it - this one is from the amazing Julie! Thank you for your sweet words, we LOVE hearing your feedback and being a part of your special day! Check out our Google reviews here: https://bit.ly/3zL4u2J

It’s no secret that we have some of the most beautiful views BUT we often forget to share photos taken on our road! We l...
08/18/2021

It’s no secret that we have some of the most beautiful views BUT we often forget to share photos taken on our road! We love when couples and their photographers mix it up and explore all of the scenic options for photos you’ll treasure forever!

There are so many reasons to have your wedding reception inside our beautiful barn… but we think this view really takes ...
08/11/2021

There are so many reasons to have your wedding reception inside our beautiful barn… but we think this view really takes the cake! (Get it? Cake!) Whether you prefer pretty pastels (like this gorgeous pink & white combo!) or a more dramatic & bold vibe - trust us, they all look stunning in the Rafter J Ranch Barn!

It’s time for a good, old fashioned, ! We LOVE celebrating love - and we also love looking at photos of past weddings a...
08/04/2021

It’s time for a good, old fashioned, ! We LOVE celebrating love - and we also love looking at photos of past weddings and reminiscing about our amazing couples and their perfect day! We stumbled upon this photo and we think it’s just gorgeous - if you’re engaged, and searching for the perfect backdrop for your best day ever… make sure to email us at [email protected] to set up a tour!

Address

Permanently Closed
Parrish, FL
34219

Telephone

+19417379987

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Let us host your big day!

Congratulations on your engagement! Our price is $4,500 for 2021* weddings. We include round tables that seat 8, white chairs, wooden spools for cocktail tables, a bar made from wood pallets, and 5 beautiful wine barrels to use separately or as a unique dessert bar. We hang lots of sheer curtains in the barn and have a variety of decorations! You can use our wooden arch for your ceremony which is usually in front of a beautiful oak tree by the tree-lined creek and wooden bridge just behind the barn.

The barn is made of cypress inside and out and has lots of twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling. There are chandeliers over the dance floor. There are two large restrooms in the barn and two spacious, air conditioned dressing rooms in the barn as well.

Our gorgeous bridge that crosses the creek is 45' long which is great for pictures of the bride and groom or the entire wedding party. There are cafe lights in the trees along the creek so you can get some great night time photos as well.

To schedule a tour of the barn and see everything that is included, please send an email to [email protected]. To learn a bit about our history, read on!