diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1634182e..722a9982 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ other databases, the database will be created as a new DB within the system.
 When you create a new database, all migrations will be run against that database, so it will be
 up to date when create returns.
 
+You can configure the `schema_format` used to create a new database. The options are `:ruby` (the default) and `:sql`. For `:ruby` the 'db/schema.rb' file is used, and for `:sql` the 'db/structure.sql' is used.
+When used within Rails the setting is assigned from the configured schema format set in 'application.rb' so there is no need to duplicate the configuration setting.
+
 #### Notes on PostgreSQL
 
 PostgreSQL works slightly differently than other databases when creating a new DB. If you
@@ -53,6 +56,8 @@ would not allow a full new database to be created.
 
 One can optionally use the full database creation instead if they want, though this is not recommended
 
+The `:sql` schema format cannot be used when PostgreSQL schemas are used, since the `structure.sql` file sets the schema search path.
+
 ### Switching Databases
 
 To switch databases using Apartment, use the following command:
diff --git a/lib/apartment.rb b/lib/apartment.rb
index 0e2ab7ba..9a6fcf6c 100644
--- a/lib/apartment.rb
+++ b/lib/apartment.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class << self
     extend Forwardable
 
     ACCESSOR_METHODS  = [:use_schemas, :seed_after_create, :prepend_environment, :append_environment]
-    WRITER_METHODS    = [:database_names, :database_schema_file, :excluded_models, :default_schema, :persistent_schemas, :connection_class]
+    WRITER_METHODS    = [:database_names, :database_schema_file, :excluded_models, :default_schema, :persistent_schemas, :connection_class, :schema_format]
 
     attr_accessor(*ACCESSOR_METHODS)
     attr_writer(*WRITER_METHODS)
@@ -45,10 +45,22 @@ def connection_class
       @connection_class || ActiveRecord::Base
     end
 
+    # Schema format :ruby or :sql
+    # as per http://guides.rubyonrails.org/configuring.html#configuring-rails-components
+    def schema_format
+      @schema_format || :ruby
+    end
+
     def database_schema_file
       return @database_schema_file if defined?(@database_schema_file)
 
-      @database_schema_file = Rails.root.join('db', 'schema.rb')
+      if defined?(Rails)
+        @database_schema_file = if schema_format == :sql
+          Rails.root.join('db', 'structure.sql')
+        else
+          Rails.root.join('db', 'schema.rb')
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     # Reset all the config for Apartment
diff --git a/lib/apartment/adapters/abstract_adapter.rb b/lib/apartment/adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
index a99e0331..6e5f0f8f 100644
--- a/lib/apartment/adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
+++ b/lib/apartment/adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
@@ -147,9 +147,15 @@ def environmentify(database)
       #   Import the database schema
       #
       def import_database_schema
-        ActiveRecord::Schema.verbose = false    # do not log schema load output.
+        return if Apartment.database_schema_file.nil?
 
-        load_or_abort(Apartment.database_schema_file) if Apartment.database_schema_file
+        ActiveRecord::Schema.verbose = false    # do not log schema load output.
+        if Apartment.schema_format == :sql
+          raise ApartmentError, "Using the :sql schema format is not supported when using Postgres schemas." if Apartment.use_postgres_schemas
+          execute_or_abort(Apartment.database_schema_file)
+        else
+          load_or_abort(Apartment.database_schema_file)
+        end
       end
 
       #   Return a new config that is multi-tenanted
@@ -170,6 +176,17 @@ def load_or_abort(file)
         end
       end
 
+      #   Load a SQL file and execute it or abort if it doesn't exists
+      #
+      def execute_or_abort(file)
+        if File.exists?(file)
+          structure_sql = open(file, 'r').read
+          ActiveRecord::Base.connection.execute(structure_sql)
+        else
+          abort %{#{file} doesn't exist yet}
+        end
+      end
+
       #   Exceptions to rescue from on db operations
       #
       def rescuable_exceptions
@@ -181,6 +198,7 @@ def rescuable_exceptions
       def rescue_from
         []
       end
+
     end
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/lib/apartment/railtie.rb b/lib/apartment/railtie.rb
index 12f5de33..a64d68e8 100644
--- a/lib/apartment/railtie.rb
+++ b/lib/apartment/railtie.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Railtie < Rails::Railtie
         config.seed_after_create = false
         config.prepend_environment = false
         config.append_environment = false
+        config.schema_format = Rails.application.config.active_record.schema_format
       end
 
       ActiveRecord::Migrator.migrations_paths = Rails.application.paths['db/migrate'].to_a
diff --git a/spec/unit/config_spec.rb b/spec/unit/config_spec.rb
index 1270836e..a6cf18f5 100644
--- a/spec/unit/config_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/config_spec.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,34 @@
       Apartment.use_schemas.should be_false
     end
 
+    it "should set schema_format" do
+      Apartment.configure do |config|
+        config.schema_format = :sql
+      end
+      Apartment.schema_format.should eq(:sql)
+    end
+
+    it "should set database_schema_file" do
+      Apartment.configure do |config|
+        config.database_schema_file = 'a_file'
+      end
+      Apartment.database_schema_file.should eq('a_file')
+    end
+
+    it "should set database_schema_file for :ruby schema format" do
+      Apartment.configure do |config|
+        config.schema_format = :ruby
+      end
+      Apartment.database_schema_file.to_s.should match(/schema.rb/)
+    end
+
+    it "should set database_schema_file for :sql schema format" do
+      Apartment.configure do |config|
+        config.schema_format = :sql
+      end
+      Apartment.database_schema_file.to_s.should match(/structure.sql/)
+    end
+
     it "should set seed_after_create" do
       Apartment.configure do |config|
         config.excluded_models = []