Park Summary for Print - Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Welcome to Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this park demonstrates the evolution of Florida farming from the 1850s to the mid-1940s-through three generations of the Dudley family. An authentic working farm, the homestead consists of eighteen buildings, including the family farmhouse with original furnishings, an 1880s kitchen outbuilding, a general store and post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. Park staff in period clothing perform daily chores, raising crops, and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants. Deer, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and bluebirds are still seen in the fields. The park has a visitor center, picnic area, and nature trail. Self-guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Group tours can be reserved one month in advance. Smoking and pets are not allowed at the farmstead. Located seven miles west of I-75 on State Road 26 between Newberry and Gainesville.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Dudley Farm Historic State Park, please call 352-472-1142.

Hours of Operation

Park is open Wednesday thru Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the Farmstead is open Wednesday thru Sunday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Driving Directions

Dudley Farm Historic State Park is located 4 miles east of Newberry on SR 26.

Park Fees

Admission Fees - $4.00/vehicle (up to 8 passengers).
Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicles with a holder of an Annual Individual Entrance permit - Admission Fee $1.00 per person.

Activities at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

	Bird-Watching Bring your binoculars & enjoy the bluebirds at the Visitor Center. Hawks & other birds may be seen at the farmstead
	Guided Tours School groups and organizations must make reservations for tours one month in advance. Groups are limited to 40 people. Please call the park office at 352-472-1142 for group tour guidelines and information ADA accessible bathroom facilities are located at the Visitor Center. The farmhouse can be accessed by an ADA compliant lift located on it's exterior.
	Nature Trails Picnic Area Loop - A pleasant 15 minute walk that wanders through a hammock with many live oaks and sinkholes. The Pause and Ponder Trail - Enjoy this .3 mile loop nature trail at Dudley Farm’s Visitor Center. This is your chance to take a quiet, meditative walk through the diverse habitat of Dudley Farm’s woodlands. There is mystery here as the trail slopes downhill and curves out of sight. The trail climbs to high ground with a view out over pasture land where the Dudleys once grew cotton and where cows still graze. A hand-hewn cedar bench is made for resting or bird-watching. Pileated woodpeckers can be heard calling; native magnolias and live oaks create a majestic canopy. The trail begins and ends at the park’s picnic area. The Old Homestead Trail - This trail is featured January through June; the 2nd Saturday of the month. A ranger or docent will meet you at the Visitor Center at 10:00 a.m. for this behind-the-scenes view of the Dudley Farm that was before the existing 1880s farmstead. The original log homesite location and possible slave houses location will be pointed out. Participants will learn about Captain PBH Dudley, who established the original farm. This walk back through time traverses the original lane past 100-year-old split rail fences. One will experience the flavor of the true South while walking under ancient canopy live oaks and red cedars dripping with Spanish moss. Allow a leisurely hour or two for this new guided walk.
	Picnicking The picnic area is located on the west side of the parking lot across from the visitor center and is equipped with 6 tables and 3 grills.
	Special Opportunities Seasonal Harvest Time - From June through November experience and participate in the farm harvest of fruits, nuts and crops; including figs, peaches, pears, pecans, field corn, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. Call the park for more information (352)472-1142.
	Tours Pick up a brochure and enjoy a self-guided walking tour of Dudley Farm. An authentic working farm, the homestead consists of eighteen buildings, including the family farmhouse with original furnishings, a 1880s kitchen outbuilding, a general store and post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. See costumed interpreters working the farm in the lifestyle of the 1880's to 1940's as they perform daily chores, work the crops, and tend to livestock. (Note: the chickens are sometimes penned to protect them from natural predators. The turkeys are on the east side of the farmstead, free-ranging from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., east side of the Brooder House.)

Special Events for Dudley Farm Historic State Park

DUDLEY DOCENT PROGRAM
Date: October through July. 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Description: These educational training programs are open to the public and provide Dudley Farm with skilled interpretive guides for the farm and Visitor Center. Diverse and interesting topics include: Cracker Florida; Genealogy; Florida’s Landscape Plants; Florida History and Pioneer Days; Authentic Handcrafts and Skills; Washdays and Soap-making; Dudley Farm: A Visual History & Tour. Meet at the Visitor Center.

This program takes place the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Fees: Regular park admission. Free to docent volunteers.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PROGRESS
Date: August and September, 2008.
Description: Park Service staff and volunteers carry out the preservation projects necessary to maintain this National Register property. THE FARM BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 2008.
Fees: N/A
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
FALL HARVEST DAYS
Date: October, and November, 2008.
Description: In October, and November, visitors can help harvest heirloom crops of field corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and sugar cane. Corn shucking, corn shelling and corn grinding will be in progress.

Call the park for specific dates and times.
Fees: Regular park admission of $4.00 per vehicle, up to 8 passengers.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
A WALK THROUGH TIME QUILT EXHIBIT
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2008. 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Description: Walk through time as you view quilts from yesterday through today. Stop and listen to mini lectures and watch teaching moments as old-time mountain and hammered dulcimer music is played. Hand quilting demonstrations will be given with an opportunity to try your hand at quilting.

Sponsored by the Dudley Farm’s Domestic Skills Group.
Fees: Park admission of $4.00 per car. Voluntary donation for the quilt exhibit.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
ANNUAL CANE GRINDING
Date: Saturday, December 6th, 2008.
Description: This annual event commemorates donor Miss Myrtle Dudley’s birthday and continues the farm family tradition of grinding sugar cane and boiling cane syrup, making this a unique old-time community gathering. Visitors can tour the farm and see other traditional activities and craft demonstrations or enjoy a wagon ride. Children can have fun playing old-fashioned games. Syrup and farm products will be for sale.

Note of interest: Volunteers are needed to strip cane the first week of November and cut cane the 2nd week. Call the park for details.
Fees: Regular park admission.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
FARM PLOW DAYS
Date: Friday & Saturday, February 6th & 7th, 2009.
Description: Mule teams and draft horses demonstrate old-time farming before the days of tractors as they prepare the fields for spring planting.

School groups will be given guided tours on Friday, February 6th. Reservations are required two months in advance. Please call 352-472-1142.
Fees: Regular park admission of $4.00 per vehicle, up to 8 passengers.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.
SPRING PLANTING DAYS
Date: Last week of March and early April 2009. Call the park for specific dates and times.
Description: Come and participate in the traditional planting of the Dudley family heirloom corn and gardens. For more information about this event, call the park at 352-472-1142.
Fees: Regular park admission of $4.00 per vehicle, up to 8 passengers.
Contact: For more information, call 352-472-1142.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park Ranger Programs

DOMESTIC SKILLS AND CRAFTS PROGRAMS
Wednesdays, 9 AM - 11 AM This participatory program provides a resource person teaching a variety of traditional domestic skills including quilting, rug braiding, basketry, woodworking, and corn shuck crafts.
Regular park admission.
Meets each Wednesday of the month EXCEPT the 3rd Wednesday.
Call (352) 472-1142 for more details.
SELF GUIDED TOUR
Ongoing. A self-guided tour is available to all park visitors beginning at the visitor center. The self-guided tour goes through the farmstead where you can view the original Dudley Farm structures and see park personnel interpreting the farm through period living history demonstrations.

Call 352-472-1142 for more details.
THE OLD HOMESTEAD TRAIL
January thru June; 2nd Saturday of the month.

This trail is featured January through June; the 2nd Saturday of the month.

A ranger or docent will meet you at the Visitor Center at 10:00 a.m. for this behind-the-scenes view of the Dudley Farm that was before the existing 1880s farmstead. The original log homesite location and possible slave houses location will be pointed out. Participants will learn about Captain PBH Dudley, who established the original farm. This walk back through time traverses the original lane past 100-year-old split rail fences. One will experience the flavor of the true South while walking under ancient canopy live oaks and red cedars dripping with Spanish moss.

Allow a leisurely hour or two for this new guided walk.
Call 352-472-1142 for more details.
DUDLEY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
3rd Wednesday of the month. DUDLEY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM meets at the Visitor Center the 3rd Wednesday of each month January through November for 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. These diverse and interesting educational training programs are open to the public. Topics include: Cracker Florida, Genealogy, Florida’s Landscape Plants and Florida Pioneer Days.
Call 352-472-1142 for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Question: What is Dudley Farm?
Answer: It is a 325-acre park that is an original working farm representing the lifestyle of the 1880s-1930s. Work activities, buildings and clothing are all authentic to that time period.

Question: Will the animals be out today?
Answer: Yes, we utilize the farm animals daily in some type of activity. We have cracker cows, mules, cracker horse and Plymouth barred rock chickens.

Question: Do you grind sugar cane and make syrup here?
Answer: Yes, we start cutting the cane in November around Thanksgiving and start grinding the cane and boiling the syrup in November and December or until the cane is all used up.

Question: Are there other activities you do at Dudley Farm?
Answer: Park staff and volunteers interpret the daily farm activities including daily care of the farm buildings, animals, gardens, orchards, and even removal of exotics. There are many seasonal activities. In January, teamsters with mules and draft horses plow the soil and prepare it for planting; In March and April we plant the crops with mules and hand implements; Crop harvesting begins in September through October and November. Corn shucking, shelling, and grinding are fall activities. Rug braiding, quilting and other domestic skills are demonstrated on Wednesdays. Groups and volunteers help with farm chores and exotic removal.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park History

As you step back in time from the Dudley Farm Visitor Center, you follow the old road to Gainesville. To the north, are open pasture and croplands, but before the Dudley family settled here from South Carolina, this land supported longleaf pine and wiregrass. These pine trees supplied the lumber for the farm’s 18 buildings and provided the posts and rails for fences. Across the field is the 100 year old rail fence that surrounded the original log home site of Phillip Benjamin Harvey Dudley (P.B.H., Sr.). He established Dudley Farm before the Civil War.

His son, P.B.H. Dudley, Jr. developed the 1880s farm that can be seen today. Spanning one hundred and fifty years, three generations of the Dudley family lived and worked this piece of land which became a significant crossroads community by the 1880s. Dudley Farm represents the evolution of Florida farming from the 1850s to the mid 20th century.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park Volunteer Information

Volunteers can do many things -- greet visitors, conduct tours, help rangers remove exotic plants or maintain the natural beauty of a beach, waterway or trail.