Have you ever wondered what an 1800’s farm was like? Are you curious about how to cook on a wood stove? How to cultivate heirloom seeds and garden? Do you want to take a gorgeous day hike? Have a nice picnic at a great picnic grounds? Fishing pond? Then Slate Run Historical Farm and Metro Park are a great location for you to check out.
We have made 2 trips to Slate Run Historical Metro Park in the past 3 weeks and have found a plethora of things to do and see. Our first trip was to check out the park and see if it was something we would want to visit again. We arrived late in the day and were bummed because we could have spent HOURS there! We came for a second visit on Sept 9th for a Morning Chores program at 9 am, BRIGHT and early.
THE HISTORICAL FARM:
THE HISTORICAL FARM:
This 1880’s working historical farm is a place where you can come and see how a farm in that era would work. There is a farmhouse, pastures, orchard and grape arbor, summer kitchen and woodshed, garden, privy, root cellar and smokehouse, barn, windmill, granary, fields, machine sheds, poultry yards, and hog shed. There are volunteers and park rangers to help you with your experience at the farm.
The farm is self guided and you can get maps at the farm house or at the entrance in the parking area. There is no entrance fee for the park and Slate Run Historical Farm Hours vary, make sure you check them before you go. You will need a minimum of 1 hour to see and experience the whole farm house and various buildings, so make sure you plan accordingly.
Morning Chores:
Morning Chores:
For the morning chore program we were greeted by, Herb, who was our guide on the farm. He was amazing and very laid back, letting the children do the chores. He gently told them how to do each activity and was extremely informative. We fed chickens, horses, sheep, turkeys and pigs. As we went to each area Herb would tell the children facts about the animals and their purposes on the farm.
For more information about the programs Slate Run has to offer Click Here.
After our morning chore time we took a day hike around the metro park area. We loved Buzzard’s Roost Lake and the hike across the covered bridge. The hiking trails are well maintained and very family friendly. You can hike as much or as little as you would desire. We have found Columbus Metro Parks to be wonderful locations to get your family into the outdoors and explore what Columbus area has to offer.
We picnicked both times we came to Slate Run Metro park. The picnic area at the Buzzard Roost area is wonderful and there is potable water and very clean pit toilets. My kids hung up the ENO hammocks for some rest time in the trees in the picnic area where it was nicely shaded. They also have a great playground for your younger children.
Slate Run Metro Park is a location where you can come many times and every time you visit you will see and learn new things. I would highly recommend this park for your family or for homeschool
SLATE RUN HIGHLIGHTS:
*Catch and Release Lake
*Hiking
*Covered Bridge
*Farm and Activities
Location
1375 OH-674
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
I would rate this park a **MUST VISIT** if you live in and around the Columbus area and if you are planning a visit to Ohio this should make your short list.
Happy Adventuring!
The Gleason Crew
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