Malabar Farm was the creation of author and conservationist Louis Bromfield. His novel, Early Autumn, published in 1926, won a Pulitzer Prize and established him as an important writer of the 1930s and 1940s. He went on to publish both books of essays about farming on his self-sustaining estate and novels which were widely acclaimed. His 1943 novel, Mrs. Parkington, was made into a movie starring Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon.
Bromfield’s literary success enabled him to purchase a large tract of gently rolling farmland in central Ohio, where he constructed a 32-room home and put into practice some of the most progressive farming techniques of his time. The hills, valleys, woods, fields, and house of Malabar Farm became an Ohio State Park in 1976.
Malabar Farm Today
Visitors to Malabar Farm enjoy touring the home, which has been so faithfully restored that it seems as though Bromfield and his guests must appear at any moment. Guides are well-versed in fascinating information about Bromfield’s marriage, his beloved dogs, and his many famous guests. Among these were actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, who were married at Malabar Farm and stayed in the home’s honeymoon room. Hundreds of books line the walls of the home, revealing the literary tastes of the times. Vintage magazines are artfully strewn here and there as if someone has just put them down for a moment and will soon return. The dining room is still furnished with the same long table and crystal stemware that graced Bromfield's dinners long ago. Visitors should be sure to ask why the chairs don't match the table. The explanation is a fascinating story.
The Education Center has displays and demonstrations that explain farming techniques that maximize conservation and minimize energy use, including crop rotation, no-till seeding, contour plowing, cover crops, and more. The Earth’s Energy System, a display sponsored by General Electric, explains the farm’s solar/wind energy system.
Special Events
A number of seasonal programs and activities are available for visitors to enjoy. August 6, 2011, will be Farm Fun Day, featuring contests and skills from farm life long ago. August Night Haunt, August 13, begins at eight o’clock in the evening and lasts until midnight. A picnic is scheduled for August 27, featuring Malabar Farm’s exceptionally tasty roast pork and a sneak preview of the play, “Louie,” which will run October 7-9 and 14-16.
To purchase tickets or obtain more information about Malabar Farm State Park and any of these events, contact park officials by email or at:
Malabar Farm State Park
4050 Bromfield Rd.
Lucas, Ohio
Phone: (419) 892-284
Brenda Layman - I grew up in eastern Kentucky in a family that hunted, fished, hiked, and camped regularly. Although I moved to Ohio to become a teacher ...
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