The Best Pumpkin Pie in Ohio Comes From This Small Town Bakery

Ohioans know that if you're looking for pumpkin-flavored delicacies, Circleville, Ohio, is always a solid bet. This quirky community's annual Pumpkin Show has made it famous far beyond The Buckeye State. Whether or not you visit during the festivities, you can bet the local businesses know how to prepare some memorable pumpkin-flavored goodies. Today, we're going to take a virtual visit to the town to get to know Lindsey's Bakery, a friendly little business that has been serving up pumpkin (and other autumnal) goodies for over five decades.

Circleville is located about 25 miles south of Columbus, and it's a community of under 14,000 residents. By city standards, this cozy suburban town is small and welcoming, though it may feel large to visitors from more rural areas. The area gets its name from indigenous earthworks that once dotted the landscape. In fact, the city was built around the existing feng shui principles back in 1810, although it was later modified to a more traditional grid-style layout. Interestingly, this town has produced several famous faces, including Conchata Ferrell from Two and a Half Men, Tony Laubach, a storm chaser known for his work on the Discovery Channel, and Kohl Sudduth, who starred alongside Tom Selleck in nine Jesse Stone films.

This town is also famous in the true crime community for the infamous Circleville Letters. Starting in the 1970s, a series of mysterious and threatening letters began appearing in mailboxes throughout the community, namely targeting a few specific families in particular. For nearly two decades, the letters continued to appear, though their author has not been identified to this day.

Today, the community remains quaint and humble despite a star-studded roster of historic residents and one very big mystery. And places like Lindsey's Bakery continue to shape a new reputation for Circleville, thanks in part to their iconic pumpkin pies.

Each year during the Circleville Pumpkin Show, they create a pumpkin pie that has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest. The very biggest recipes have turned out to be 18 feet in diameter, and yes, it takes over one thousand pounds of ingredients to bring these massive pies to life. This ain't your grandma's pumpkin pie.

While the gargantuan pie is just a Pumpkin Show specialty, you can grab a normal pumpkin pie here as seasonal demand picks up. Other coveted flavors, like pecan pie and mint chocolate cream pie, are also available. Check out the Lindsey's Bakery Facebook page to keep your finger on the pulse of what's available before your visit. Fortunately, if pumpkin pie isn't available, there's one pumpkin delicacy that's offered all year-round: pumpkin donuts.

For some visitors, the pumpkin donuts at Lindsey's Bakery are worth the drive all on their own. Fried to perfection, deliciously fluffy, surprisingly moist, and packed with fall flavor, these are worth writing home about. Pick up a dozen during your visit... you might have to share them, though, because it's easy to want to eat the whole package yourself.

The pumpkin donuts are also a staple of the Pumpkin Show, but they're in hot demand. If you're hoping to score a few during that event, don't be surprised if there's a line.

Beyond pumpkin-flavored goodies, Lindsey's Bakery specializes in all sorts of delicacies that you might expect from your standard Ohio bakery. Cookies, eclairs, cakes, cupcakes... you name it, they've probably got it. (And if they don't, they might have sold out. As with any bakery, you'll want to visit early in the day if you can swing it!)

When it comes to delicious indulgences, you're going to love visiting Lindsey's Bakery in Circleville. So grab your pumpkin pie merch and get ready for a road trip, because this cool community in Ohio is calling your name. Come for the annual pumpkin show. Take some time to explore the town during your visit, as autumn is truly magical in this area. And stay for the pie at Lindsey's.

Want to make your autumn road trip to Circleville even more memorable? Check out the Columbus-area waterfalls to add a few to your itinerary. If you're ready to do even more exploring in the Buckeye State, check out Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner and see where it takes you.