Nestled in rolling hills of farmland and surrounded by some of Ohio’s best state parks, the village of Lucas bursts with local charm. Founded in the 1830s, the town in southeastern Richland County quickly blossomed with homes and businesses. While Lucas may still be small, it does have its big claims to fame. Lucas is known for both the estate of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield at Malabar Farm State Park and for its folkloric resident John Chapman, who is more commonly known as Johnny Appleseed. Chapman, an American pioneer who spent a large portion of his life in the Mid-Ohio region, had landholdings throughout the area where he planted apple tree nurseries. Lucas is a stop on the Johnny Appleseed Historic Byway, and as the gateway to Mohican and Amish country, this quaint village is the perfect place to stop on your way to Loudonville and Holmes County.
Start your day in Lucas with a stop at the Lucas Community Center & Open Door Café to pick up a few brochures and guides on the regional attractions. The Open Door Café is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so grab a coffee and treat to go, or stay for a meal. The spacious picnic deck is the perfect place to enjoy a meal al fresco. You might even get the chance to join in on a pick-up game at one of the two regulation sand volleyball courts. Local events are often hosted in the Community Center’s 2,000 square foot (rentable) Hanley Hall, so keep an eye on the Community Center Calendar.
Malabar Farm State Park sits just 10 minutes down the road. This 900-acre country estate was home to Louis Bromfield, known for his novels, screenplays, and his work in sustainable farming and conservation. Malabar is still a working farm (though on a much smaller scale than during Bromfield’s time), but the main aspiration of the farm is now education. With seasonal events and daily tours, there is enough to do at Malabar Farm to fill your whole day. Start with a “Big House” tour to learn about Bromfield’s life and how the farm inspired his most famous works. You won’t want to miss this – Bromfield’s famous friends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married at the Big House and spent their honeymoon there. Several other famous faces have stayed at the farm, including James Cagney, William Powell, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Errol Flynn.
After a house tour, take a guided tour of the working farm with an Ohio State Park Naturalist. On this tractor-drawn guided tour, you’ll learn about conservation highlights of Bromfield’s farm and discover the landmarks of Pleasant Valley, which inspired his book by the same name.
Once you’ve perused the exhibits at the Visitor’s Education Center, locals recommend sampling the homemade fudge at the gift shop and bookstore. Then make sure to hit the hiking and bridle trails at Malabar Farm. Parking and trails are free and open to the public from dawn to dusk. A favorite of locals – make sure to explore the caves on the Butternut Trail.
Bogart isn’t Lucas’ and Malabar Farm’s only connection to Hollywood. In 1993, scenes from The Shawshank Redemption were filmed across the region. Fans of the film will recognize Malabar Farm’s Pugh Cabin (located on the Doris Duke Woods Trail) from the opening scene of the film. Pugh Cabin has become an important stop for Shawshank fans and pop culture enthusiasts on the Shawshank Trail Self-Guided Driving Tour.
While you’re in the area, the spot where the iconic oak tree used to stand is located on Pleasant Valley Road just past Malabar Farm. You can see the site from Malabar Farm land, but the tree was on private property.
Need something to do on a rainy afternoon? Find some quiet time at the Lucas branch of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. Peruse the collection of books, movies, and music or join the Bromfield Book Club. With programming for children, teens, and adults, the branch offers a wide array of hours for your convenience.