Pie Perfection
In a quiet corner of northeastern Indiana, there’s a place where life slows down in the best possible way. Inside Backcountry Outdoors, you’ll find more than outdoor gear and friendly conversation. You’ll find the delicious aroma of something warm, familiar and made with care.
Dallas Lake Bakery may be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, but for those who know, it’s become a necessary stop and part of their day.
Owned by Steven and Regina Bontrager, Dallas Lake Bakery is housed under the same roof as Backcountry Outdoors. The bakery keeps things refreshingly simple. There’s no long menu to scan or a glass case filled with too many options. Instead, the focus is on one beloved item: fried pies.
“We’ve been open for about a year,” Steven says.
Focusing on one item currently is a choice that feels both intentional and refreshing. At a time when most places aim to offer more, Dallas Lake Bakery leans into doing less and focusing on a single item — and doing it very well.
That kind of clarity shows in every detail, from the consistency of each pie to the care behind its preparation. It’s not so much about variety. It’s about getting it right every time.
Visitors might arrive looking for outdoor supplies, but many find themselves lingering a little longer than expected. The fried pies have a tendency to catch customers’ attention.
And then there are the pies themselves. Golden, crisp and filled with flavor, they offer a kind of comfort that doesn’t need explaining.
Whether it’s a familiar favorite or a seasonal variation, each one feels like something made not just to sell, but to share.
According to Steven, “We do rotate flavors but offer our most popular ones daily.”
Favorites include black raspberry, Bavarian cream, apple, peach and pecan.
Regulars know the routine. Some stop in often, others whenever they’re passing through, but nearly all leave with the same appreciation for something simple done well.
In a time when more often feels like the goal, Dallas Lake Bakery quietly takes the opposite approach: fewer choices and more intention, less rush and more meaning. It’s a place that doesn’t try to stand out, and because of that, it naturally does.
“We currently have 5 regular employees and also some others that help out if needed. Without them, this would not be possible,” Steven says.
While Dallas Lake Bakery has built its following on the simplicity of its fried pies, this is only the beginning. The owners have plans to expand the menu in the near future, introducing new items with the same care and attention that customers have come to appreciate.
Even as offerings grow, the focus will remain the same. Quality comes before quantity, and a commitment to serve something worth coming back for time and time again.
For locals, it’s more than a bakery. It’s part of the landscape, woven into the everyday moments that make a community feel like home.
And for those discovering it for the first time, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best places aren’t the biggest or the busiest. They’re the ones that keep things simple, welcome you in, and send you on your way with something worth remembering.
Make sure to drop by Dallas Lake Bakery at 0410 W. 700 S. in Wolcottville or call 260-214-4977.
