Malabar Farm is Ohio's most unique state park. It was the estate of Louis Bromfield who lived from 1896-1956, A famous novelist, he won a Pulitzer Prize for his book EARLY AUTUMN. Bromfield was a celebrity in his time with all 30 of his novels becoming bestsellers and several of them being turned into motion pictures.
After serving in World War I, Bromfield lived in France for 10 years before returning to his native Ohio to pursue his love of agriculture. For the rest of his life he developed grass-based sustainable farming and wrote non-fiction books.
He built his 32-room home, "The Big House," and it soon became a favorite destination for his friends. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married between the staircases at Malabar Farms. The Big House is open for tours and I notice that Bogart and Bacall’s honeymoon bedroom has two twin beds on wheels. Bacall commented in later years, "Just because there are two beds doesn't mean we used both of them."
The farm is very pretty and Bromfield chose the name from the Malabar Coast of India that he considered one of the most beautiful places on earth. Despite being a famous author, Bromfield's lasting legacy was in his agricultural methods. His youngest daughter still directs Malabar Brazil, developing new farming methods throughout the world.
There is plenty to do at Malabar Farms. Tour the Big House, visit the farm animals, enjoy the 30 interactive exhibits in the Visitor Education Center, and take a wagon ride to view the farming operation firsthand. The farm also has several stocked ponds where visitors can fish, plus there is a cave to explore and over 12 miles of wooded hiking trails. If you want to bring your own horse, you can spend a weekend at Malabar's horse camp.
Maple Syrup Days, is a late winter tradition, September offers Heritage Days and this year, in October, Malabar Farms hosts an encore performance of "Louie" a play about Bromfield’s life. Christmas time finds the Big House offering candlelight tours through its 1940s era rooms.
For more information on Malabar Farm State Park go to www.malabarfarm.org
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