Malabar Farm State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Malabar Farm
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Horses at the Maple Sugar Festival in 2007.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Monroe Township, Richland County, at 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio |
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| Area | 580.6 acres (235.0 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Louis Lamoreux |
| Architectural style | Greek revival style |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001520 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
Malabar Farm State Park is a fun and educational place in Richland County, Ohio. It's close to Lucas and the beautiful Mohican State Park. This park was once the home of a famous writer and a model for new ways of farming.
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The Story of Malabar Farm
Malabar Farm was built in 1939 by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield. He grew up in the area and loved nature. Bromfield lived here until he passed away in 1956.
He became very interested in plants and farming while traveling. His trips to India inspired his book The Rains Came. He used the money from this book to buy the land for Malabar Farm. He even named the farm after a region in India because it helped make his dream possible.
Bromfield bought his first farm in 1938. He added more land in the following years, owning about 595 acres in total. He worked with architect Louis Lamoreux to design his large, 19-room home. It was built in a Greek revival style and called the "Big House." The family moved in during 1939. Bromfield loved making changes, so the house took about 18 months to finish.
The "Big House" had 32 rooms and was a popular spot. Many famous people visited, including movie stars, artists, and writers. Up to 20,000 people came to the farm each year! On May 21, 1945, Bromfield even hosted the wedding and honeymoon of Hollywood stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall at Malabar Farm. Other celebrities like James Cagney also enjoyed visiting.
Bromfield was a pioneer in what he called "conservation farming." This meant farming in ways that protected the soil and environment. He used ideas like planting special crops to enrich the soil. He also used contour plowing, which means plowing along the curves of the land. This helped stop soil from washing away.
Malabar Farm became a national example for farming that was good for the earth. Bromfield also experimented with composting. This is a way to turn natural waste into rich soil. He changed square fields to follow the land's shape, which also helped prevent erosion.
After Bromfield's death, his children gave the farm to a foundation. In 1972, the state of Ohio took over the farm. It officially became a state park in 1976. Sadly, the main barn burned down in 1993. But in 1994, many volunteers worked together to build a new barn, just like the old one.
For many years, there was a youth hostel at the farm. It offered a place for young travelers to stay. It closed in 2017 after being open since 1979.
Cool Places to See at the Park
Malabar Farm Inn
The Malabar Farm Inn is a historic building from 1820. It used to be a stagecoach inn, a place where travelers could rest. Today, it has been a restaurant at different times, serving home-cooked meals.
Near the restaurant is Malabar Spring. In 1946, Louis Bromfield designed a market stand here. It used the cool spring water to keep fresh produce cold. Visitors could sometimes buy local fruits and vegetables from this stand.
Pugh Cabin
This rustic log cabin was built in the 1940s by Bromfield's neighbor, Jim Pugh. It's famous because some scenes from the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption were filmed here!
The Ceely Rose House
This old house has a sad story. It was once home to a young girl named Ceely Rose in the 1800s. In 1896, a tragic event happened where Ceely caused the deaths of her family. Each October, a play about Ceely Rose is performed in the park's barn. It's part of a series of ghost stories. In 2014, the TV show Ghost Hunters even filmed an episode here. They explored claims of strange happenings at the house and in Bromfield's "Big House."
Fun Events at Malabar Farm
Maple Sugaring Festival
This festival celebrates the old Ohio tradition of making maple syrup. It happens on the first two weekends in March. You can learn how sap is collected from trees. You'll also see how it's boiled down to make syrup, candies, and other sweet treats. There are many activities and demonstrations, and admission is free!
Heritage Days
This is one of Ohio's biggest outdoor craft shows. The festival includes living history reenactments. You can see people dressed up from different time periods, like the Civil War era.
Wagon Tours
You can take a fun wagon tour around the farm during certain seasons. It's a great way to see everything!
Barn Dances
During the warmer months, a square dance happens monthly in the Big Barn. There's a live band, and everyone is welcome, no matter their age or dance experience. Around Halloween, you might even get a wagon ride during the dance!
See also
- Open-air museum
