The Heritage Farmstead

When Winthrop Rockefeller arrived on Petit Jean Mountain in 1953, he found a close-knit agrarian society of small, self-sufficient farms. The largest of these was the Westphal farm. This farm had an orchard, a vineyard, a diverse vegetable garden, a blacksmith shop, and livestock that included beef cattle, milk cows, pigs, chickens and two large mules.

In honor of this history and to cultivate the growing interest in heritage gardening and agriculture, we are using the Westphal farm as a model to develop educational demonstration gardens typical of a self-sufficient farm from 1933 (when Petit Jean State Park was built) to 1953 (when Rockefeller arrived).

Our Heritage Farmstead currently contains a Teaching Barn and demonstration gardens, including an orchard and vineyard. Future plans include building a well house, a farm house and other out-buildings such as a family spring-house/wine cellar and a smoke house.

Tours and educational activities involving the Heritage Farmstead are being developed. For more information e-mail Sandy Davies.