This was such a fun stop! There are live farm animals here, and the pastures looked well maintained with plenty of space for them to roam, which was great to see. The welcome center was pretty nice and had a small kids museum inside that was interactive. There's also a gift shop with cute merch, local items, maple syrup, and other extras. They offer tours of some of the buildings for purchase, which is a cool option if you want a deeper experience, but even just walking around the property on your own is enjoyable. Overall, a really nice place to explore for a bit. read more

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Unique park in Ohio with a visitor center, working farm, historical house and so much more. We came on an off-season day in March so the visitor center was open but not staffed. We also didn't see anyone to give tours or ask information. The park is easy to find with lots of signs pointing the way. When you pull in there is a visitor center that has a gift shop and restrooms. Everyone's favorite part was the parrot. If you say hi or dance he will talk to you. The park has trails you can hike. There are maps in the lobby to help find a course. They mentioned a cave trail but the map did not have trail names so we were not sure what path to follow. You can walk down to the barn and see the animals. We also walked around the exterior of the house. Behind the visitor center there is a great playground that the kids really enjoyed. If coming for a visit I highly recommend waiting to come during the peak season so you can view the house and have staff to explain the history and trails you can hike. Lots of picnic areas too so pack a lunch! read more

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Malabar Farm State Park sits in the beautiful countryside of Richland County in Ohio, and it is the place to get an immersive farm experience. The 900+ acre farm and estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. My family is always up for greeting farm animals, and we got a lot of that at Malabar. We met a variety of farm animals, like chickens and roosters, cows, goats and even a sleepy barn cat who let us pet him. You can walk up and greet the cows in the barn, feed goats in the outdoor pen, and watch ducks swim in the lake. There is also a playground on the farm, not too far from the visitor's center. Inside the visitor's center, you'll find an elderly parrot who will sometimes talk to you (but mostly just blink at you), as well as a lot of informative and educational displays about the history of Malabar Farm and the surrounding area. The visitor's center is also where you can purchase tickets for the tractor tour and a tour of the Big House, a 32-room home on the farm that was the site of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's wedding in 1945. The tractor tour takes you through rolling hills of the farm to see the farm's crops and nature trails. You'll also see the fields where they grow soy beans. On the tractor, you can either sit facing outside, or you can sit inside the tractor under a shaded partition. The whole tractor tour lasts about 1 hour. While we were there, we saw people getting ready for a wedding. It's a beautiful venue for such an event! Mostly, my family and I loved just walking around the huge farm and exploring. It's free to just walk around on a self-guided tour. There are also picnic benches and lots of shady spots in the grass to relax and have a picnic lunch. read more

Although it was quite chilly and rainy, we came in early March for the Maple Syrup Festival. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect, but from the horse-drawn wagon rides to the samples of syrup in the sugar shack to the complimentary tours of the Louis Bromfield home, I was impressed. Louis was a collector. The house contained everything from Grandma Moses paintings to pieces of furniture dating back to the 1600s to original custom-designed wallpaper. Some of the furnishings were inspired by Hollywood and also by Louis's time in France. He had this huge half-moon shaped desk that he designed himself. This thing was massive. Between the maple festival and the house, there was a lot to feast your eyes on. My 3 and a half year old was particularly impressed with the blacksmith demo, which allowed him to use an old fashioned drill bit and create a little souvenir. He also really enjoyed the kitty cats that live in the barn outside the Big House. Malabar farm has many connections to Hollywood and it was kind of interesting to learn that Bogie and Bacall were married right here at this farm in central Ohio. A couple different people told us to look for Pedro the Parrot in the gift shop. We didn't see him and the employees didn't know anything about him, so I am wondering if perhaps he passed away. Dead parrot aside, I really had an enjoyable day at the farm. I can't wait to come back again and learn more. read more

Malabar Farm State Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lucas, Ohio

We arrived just before sunset on a quiet Thursday evening. The gift shop was closed and the tours were over but we still wanted to enjoy the scenery. We decided to take a small fall hike in the park and the scenery was breathtaking. I can't wait to come back and fully experience the farm but the park itself is a true gem. read more

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A disclaimer. We went in March during the Quarantine do we only did outside stuff. But we loved playing with animals, walking all over Looking forward to going back in warm weather or for an event! read more

If you are in the mood for a short roadtrip through rolling Ohio countryside, aim yourself north up I-71 toward Mansfield to visit the serene and historical Malibar Farms. This 1930's home-turn-museum is situated on a 900-acre working farm owned and operated by the State as Malibar Farm State Park. The main attraction is the 32-room house, which was the former mansion of Pulitzer prize winning author and conservationist, Louis Bromfield. Guided tours of the "Big House" go off every half hour or so and additional wagon tours of the property can be added on for a nominal fee. This is such a serene an peaceful place that draws visitors from around the country. Bromfield, who was born and raised near Mansfield, made it big as a novelist and screenwriter and lived all over the world, but after the depression he returned to Ohio to build his beloved Malibar Farm and implemented conservation techniques in hopes of preserving the central Ohio landscape. Bromfield is not the most popular name around, but Malibar is well-known for being the country escape for many of the 1940s and 50s New York and Hollywood jetsetters. It is most famous as the wedding site of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A shrine to their nuptials resides on the dining room table and remains a pilgrimage site for fans of old Hollywood. At the bottom of the farm, a small log house known as Pugh Cabin served as the filming site for the opening scene of Shawshank Redemption. It is also is locally famous for its maple syrup. The extended Malibar wagon tours take visitors to the center where the syrup is made. In the winter, the farm opens 12 miles of trails to cross country skiers. If a day trip isn't enough, Malabar Farm offers 15 campsites, a 19-bed hostel, and a rustic cabin for rent. read more

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This has to be one of my favorite places in Ohio. As an old Hollywood movie fan, Malabar Farm has been on my list for ages. (I mean, how could I *not* visit the place where Bogie and Bacall were married??) Welp, about six years later and I finally made it! I can't tell you what a blast I had on this tour. My tour group was a nice group, but my tour guide is what made it such an enjoyable experience. She knew so much about the Hollywood history (did you know Adrian designed the wallpaper in the phone room??) that I was geeking out the entire time. I highly recommend visiting Malabar Farms and doing a tour of The Big House. And if you are a fan of the movies of the 30s and 40s, then fasten your seat belts because you're in for a real treat! read more

We happened to be in town for the Maple Syrup Festival, so decided to check it out. Parked near the visitor center and checked out the displays and met Polly the 40-year-old parrot. She didn't feel like talking that morning but can be quite chatty, I understand. There is a gift shop there as well. The property is immense and there 4 trails (3 under a mile long and the loop around the property, which is about 6 miles). We decided to hike the Doris Duke Woods Trail. It was an easy walk on a sunny day. The property has lots to see and explore beyond the festival. We enjoyed seeing the farm animals. You can also check out the Big House and the Pugh Log Cabin where scenes from Shawshank were filmed. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

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What an interesting and beautiful place to visit. We took the house tour and also the farm tour (on a tractor-driven wagon). I am amazed that I had never heard of Louis Brumfield. He was an author who had several of his books turned into movies. He was also a conservationist and was passionate about sustainable farming. So interesting! Our tour guide was fantastic! Highly recommend visiting! read more

This farm is so beautiful. It was a great experience being able to have access to the house and the animals. A really cute cat followed me around. The buildings and areas are well manicured. read more

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A wonderful, relaxing meander through the rolling Ohio countryside - Malabar Farms. Where else can you see a piece of Hollywood history, the library collection of a Pulitzer Prize winner, and see a true conservationist at work? This beautiful property belonged to author Louis Bromfield, contemporary of Ernest Hemingway, CS Lewis, Pablo Picasso and JRR Tolkein. While Bromfield won the top award in his field, his true love was farming, which his mother prohibitted. This land is a must-see for anyone who loves Hollywood memorabilia, wants to take a hike, indulge in local folklore and help preserve a gem. Louis Bromfield was a brilliant writer, friends to the rich-and-famous and a true green farmer. He entertained as many as 20,000 people in a year, had James Cagney selling produce at a roadside stand and took care of his overbearing mother until she died. After living in France for 13 years he came back to the US determined to save the land from overfarming. He was a true pioneer in agricultural techniques. He was also a screenwriter for MGM after he won the Pulitzer, earning $2500 a week for a year. His high-profile friends often came to visit and Humphrey Bogart even married his 3rd wife, Lauren Bacall, in the hallway. Malabar Farms is only state park that is still a working farm. After you take a tour of the "big house" you can take a tractor ride through the property, both for only $5. We also got to see the tree where Andy Dufrane buried money for his friend Red. We also heard about the resident ghost on a nearby property of a mentally challenged girl who poisoned and killed her entire family. Once a month they hold a barn dance and in September they have heritage days. Members of the Bromfield family will return and the visitor's bureau is trying to organize the 25 year anniversary of Shawshank Redemption. This property is definitely worth a visit. read more

Beautiful starting point for hiking the trails. Though the map proportions are a little strange, trees have been marked to guide the way. I also recommend the drive up Mount Jeez for the view. After all, a change in altitude can change attitude. read more

Malabar Farm State Park - Doris Duke Woods Trail - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lucas, Ohio

My wife and I visited this park a few years ago. I went back about 5 years later with my daughter and the park was missing the horses that were there. This is a nice park for couples and families. This property was given to the state from Louis Bromfield a playwright and author. The main attraction here is the house. At this house the famous author would entertain. Bogart and Bacall got married there. There is a small fee involved. The tour of the house is guided, no flash photography. My wife enjoyed flowers, animals, and garden. read more

Malabar Farm State Park - Giant Horse in the barn that my wife petted. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lucas, Ohio

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We were staying in Mansfield as part of a cross country trip and just looking for somewhere to walk the dog that was open and found this place. This place is pretty awesome. Sadly, we did not have as much time to explore as we would have liked, but the few little paths we made it down were impressive. The fact that it was a working farm and filled with fields of all sorts was neat. We saw deer coming out at night and even a chance to look across the street to the tree from Shawshank Redemption. The paths seem to wind through woods and fields and all sorts of different places. The houses on the property were quite interesting. Beware when you walk on the horse approved paths for poo though! read more

We visited Malabar Farm for their annual maple syrup festival. The festival is extremely well organized, and the staff and volunteers we encountered, beginning with the officer helping with parking to the folks explaining the maple syrup process, were so friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed the wagon ride to and from the sugar bush, where all of the maple syrup action was taking place. The air smelled absolutely amazing up there, as demonstrations of how Native Americans, pioneers, and farmers today collect sap and prepare it to syrup and other lovely goodies took place. There were some delicious samples of syrup and maple sugar, and a great little concession area that had not only food to enjoy on the spot, but also a wonderful collection of maple goodies to purchase. What a wonderful festival! It has also whetted our appetite to return to visit the beautiful farm and try out some of the trails, as well! read more

Enjoyed our time here over the weekend. Spend the day picnicking and letting the kids play on the playground. After that we went to the farm to check out the animals, which the kids loved. The park was beautiful but we ran out of time to hike. Will definitely be back! read more

Husband and I came here for the Maple Syrup Festival. Very interesting. Great learning activity for parents and kids.

This review is from the perspective of a dude with a kid or kids who needs some free outdoorsy-type stuff to do. This place is wonderful; the barn was a particular highlight for my animal-loving toddler. We paid exactly zero dollars during our time here, had a nice picnic lunch at the entirely empty picnic area, saw some animals and just enjoyed being outside. Worth a trip. read more

This is a cool little working farm. There are several really good short hikes and if you go in the fall you are sure to see plenty of deer.