Our Investigation of Malabar Farms

In July of 2015, we traveled to Malabar Farm State Park and participated in a public ghost tour and hunt of the main house and other buildings at the location. This tour was our third visit to the farms, and the first time we were able to investigate the main house.

During this investigation, we also investigated the Ceely Rose house, which is located on the property as well. We couldn't visit Louis Bromfield's grave because it started to rain, and the tour guides canceled going out to the graveyard, but we plan to return to the farm to do so.

During our investigation, we recorded most of it with a night vision camera. In the video below, you will help investigate and see the footage we recorded on site. If you hear anything unusual, please leave a comment on the video with the time marker so that we can revisit and review the evidence.

We highly recommend visiting the farm to take the historical tour, and afterward, participating in the ghost tour when it is available. It was quite interesting roaming around inside the "big house" with the lights off trying to capture some evidence, even with multiple people on the tour with us. Everyone who participated was very cordial and shared the same goal of trying to capture some evidence.

About the "Big House" at Malabar Farms State Park

The Big House at Malabar Farm in Lucas, Ohio, stands as a remarkable blend of rural charm, literary history, and ghostly legend. Built in the 1930s by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield, the house was the centerpiece of his visionary experiment in sustainable farming and conservation. Bromfield, a native of nearby Mansfield, returned from years abroad to establish Malabar Farm as both a working farm and a cultural retreat. The Big House was designed to reflect traditional Ohio architecture with elegant details, and it quickly became a gathering place for artists, writers, and Hollywood elite.

Bromfield’s connections to the entertainment world brought many notable guests through the doors of the Big House. One of the most famous events held there was the wedding of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in 1945. The star-studded affair added a touch of glamour to the otherwise tranquil setting and left an indelible mark on the house’s history. Stories of lavish parties and intellectual discussions still echo through the halls, giving the house a sense of faded grandeur and literary mystique.

Beyond its celebrity associations, the Big House is historically significant for its role in promoting sustainable agriculture long before it became a global movement. Bromfield’s progressive farming techniques and soil conservation efforts drew attention from around the world. His home was not just a private residence but a base of operations for educating others and advancing his environmental vision. The rooms of the Big House reflect this mission, filled with books, artifacts, and remnants of a life spent trying to change the world from the heart of Ohio.

While the house remains a symbol of Bromfield’s legacy, it is also surrounded by whispers of the paranormal. Over the years, staff and visitors have reported strange occurrences that defy easy explanation. Some claim to hear footsteps in empty hallways, doors opening and closing on their own, and the feeling of being watched. The quiet rural setting only heightens the atmosphere, making the unexplained activity feel even more intense after dark.

One of the most persistent stories involves the ghost of a woman who is seen walking the upper floors of the house. She is often described as wearing period clothing and appearing near the bedrooms late at night. Though no official identity has been confirmed, some believe she may be connected to one of the early residents of the land or possibly a spirit attached to an antique piece in the home. Her appearances are said to be brief but unmistakable.

There are also tales of disembodied voices echoing through the halls when the house is empty. Staff members preparing for tours have reported hearing conversations or music coming from unoccupied rooms. Upon investigating, they find nothing there. These phantom sounds seem to reflect the house’s vibrant past, when gatherings and parties were a regular occurrence. Some believe the spirits of former guests have never quite left.

Temperature fluctuations and cold spots are another commonly reported phenomenon inside the Big House. Guests have described walking through an otherwise warm room and suddenly feeling a chill that seems to come from nowhere. Paranormal investigators who have visited the property have recorded spikes in EMF (electromagnetic field) detectors and captured unexplained audio phenomena, further fueling belief that the house is spiritually active.

Adding to the mystery is the land itself. Before Bromfield’s time, the area around Malabar Farm had its own dark history, including tales of Native American displacement and early settler hardship. Some theorize that the spiritual unrest may be tied not just to the house but to the land beneath it. Whether ancient energies or more recent tragedies, the soil seems to carry a weight that adds to the unease felt by many visitors.

The attic of the Big House is often described as one of the most active locations for paranormal events. Staff members avoid it after dark, and some tour guides have reported seeing fleeting shadows or hearing whispers coming from above. Paranormal teams have also focused on this area during investigations, claiming it houses an energy that feels different from the rest of the home—heavier, older, and more intense.

Despite its haunted reputation, the Big House doesn’t feel malevolent. Most visitors and investigators describe the presence as more curious than threatening. If spirits do reside there, they seem to be tied to memory and legacy rather than unfinished business or malice. The energy is reflective, as though the house itself remembers the people and events that once filled it with life.

Today, the Big House is maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is open for public tours. Visitors can walk through its many rooms, view Bromfield’s personal belongings, and learn about the farm’s role in conservation history. Though the tours focus on the historical significance of the property, docents often acknowledge the building’s haunted reputation, especially to curious guests who ask the right questions.

Whether drawn by history, celebrity lore, or the possibility of a ghostly encounter, the Big House at Malabar Farm continues to fascinate all who visit. It stands as a living monument to Bromfield’s vision and the stories—both real and spectral—that remain etched into its walls. The house may be quiet now, but for those who listen closely, echoes of the past still speak through its creaking floors and shadowed hallways.

Please let us know down in the comments if you have visited this location before and share your experiences with us. We would love to hear about your adventure.