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Malabar Farm State Park Malabar Farm State Park offers a variety of activities in the rich, green surroundings so loved by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Louis Bromfield.

Amenities include the overnight Maple Syrup Cabin, a primitive campground, day-use facilities, a horse camp, an onsite visitor education center, playground, restaurant and picnic grounds.

Visitors can see the farm, hike nature trails, tour the Big House, drive atop Mt. Jeez and partake in recreational activities just as they did in Bromfield’s time, As a working farm, you can meet a variety of animals and browse Malabar Farm products available to purchase at our gift store. The hills are contoured with strips of small grain crops and hay, while scenic trails are adorned with nature’s bounty.

G U I D E D T O U R S

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks & Watercraft

2045 Morse Rd.

Columbus, OH 43229 - 6693

An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H printed on recycled content paper

G u i d e d F a r m W a g o n T o u r Enjoy a tractor drawn guided tour of Malabar Farm State Park. A park naturalist will lead your journey and discuss landmark and conservation highlights in relation to Louis Bromfield and his book, Pleasant Valley. Tours generally last an hour and do not overlap the house tour.

W o r k i n g F a r m Discover the landmarks of the area as discussed by Louis Bromfield in his book, Pleasant Valley. See where murderous Ceely Rose lived in 1896 and the 1919 mail order home where Bromfield’s family lived when they arrived to Pleasant Valley.

M t . O l i v e t C e m e t e r y The oldest cemetery in Pleasant Valley holds many characters referred to in Bromfield’s Pleasant Valley. Dating back to the 1820s, it is the resting place of the Bromfield’s and early pioneers from the valley.

G r a z i n g F i e l d s Rotational grazing cells permeate the landscape in Pleasant Valley. Learn about farming methods before the dust bowl and how Bromfield would reform the habits that led to the devastating event.

P r o d u c e S t a n d See where Bromfield’s produce stand, infamous for James Cagney’s appearances, was located. The site is one of four farms that Bromfield purchased in 1939, and is the location of the present day restaurant.

T h e B r o m f i e l d H o m e ( T h e A n s o n / H e r r i n g H o m e )

“The Big House,” as Bromfield fondly referred to his dwelling, began with a small existing farmhouse as a base and was enlarged into this 32-room home. The house, designed by both architect Louis Lamoreux and Bromfield, is a blend of Western Reserve architectural styles and was built to appear as if it had been added to over the years. Bromfield furnished the house predominantly in a French style with the original paintings and antiques collected during his world travels. Today, the Big House uses geo-thermal technology for heating, cooling and humidification. This system helps preserve the contents of the house.

NATURE OF THE AREA

The natural features of Malabar Farm are representative of the diversity of the glaciated Appalachian Plateau region of Ohio. This area is renowned for its interspersion of woodlands, lakes, streams and bogs along with villages, fertile valleys, dairy and grain farms. Located in the Pleasant Valley of Richland County, Malabar’s forests and fields offer visitors a glimpse of both the cultural and natural history of the area. The rolling countryside and fertile farmlands of Malabar recreate the pleasure of life on the farm while the wooded ridgetops support an abundance of natural wonders.

Ferguson Meadow The high valley wall opposite of Mt. Jeez lies Ferguson Meadow. Ferguson is the setting of Bromfield’s story about Zenobia and is a frequent mention in Bromfield’s books Pleasant

Valley and Malabar Farm. The bridle trail passes through the meadow and is the location of several important landmarks and features including Ferguson Rock Shelter and Falls, and the foundation of the Ferguson home.

Butternut Cave A visitor favorite, Butternut Cave is located near the Pugh Cabin offers recreational needs for your adventurous side. Walk through the cool cave on a warm day for that natural, cooling refreshment.

Mt. Jeez Once called Poverty’s Knob, Mt. Jeez stands towering above the valley and offers a superior overlook of Malabar Farm.

HISTORY OF THE AREA

In the rolling countryside of Richland County, Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, created his dream - Malabar Farm. Inspired by his love of the land, Bromfield restored the rich fertility of the farmlands and preserved the beauty of the woodlands. He built a 32-room country home, where his family, friends and neighbors could share the pleasure of life on the farm.

In his book, Pleasant Valley, Bromfield wrote, “Every inch of it (the house) has been in hard use since it was built and will, I hope go on being used in the same fashion so long as it stands. Perhaps one day it will belong to the state together with the hills, valleys and woods of Malabar Farm.” Bromfield’s prophecy came true in August 1972, when the state of Ohio accepted the deed to Malabar Farm. The state pledged to preserve the beauty and ecological value of the farm.

From 1972 to 1976, Malabar Farm was operated jointly by the Ohio Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture. Then in 1976, Malabar became one of Ohio’s state parks. As a park, Malabar Farm is dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield’s farming philosophies, preserving the Big House and its many artifacts and providing a place where visitors can explore life on a farm and the beauty of nature.

The Main Barn The main barn is the largest building at the complex. It has a colorful mural that reflects historic folklore surrounding barns and superstitious farmers. On April 4, 1993, the barn tragically burned to the ground. Although modified to meet modern building standards, the new structure uses the same traditional construction methods perfected by the colonists.

The Bicentennial Barn To commemorate Ohio’s 200th anniversary of statehood, the Ohio Bicentennial Commission selected artist Scott Hagan to paint at least one barn in each of Ohio’s 88 counties with the bicentennial logo. The project began in 1997 and was completed in September 2002. Malabar Farm is host to Richland County’s bicentennial barn.

THINGS TO DO

• Guided Tours • Dining • Fishing

• Picnicking • Hiking Trails • Nature Programs

PLACES TO STAY

• Campground • Cabin

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

• Mohican State Park

• Mohican-Memorial State Forest

• Clear Fork Gorge Nature Preserve

• Pleasant Hill Lake • Kingwood Gardens

• Renaissance Theatre • Ohio State Reformatory For more information on area attractions, call

1-800-BUCKEYE or visit online at ohio.org.

AND WATERCRAFT