About This Location
Malabar Farm State Park preserves the estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield, who created this working farm in the 1930s as a model for sustainable agriculture. The Big House became a gathering place for Hollywood's elite - Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married at the base of its grand staircase in 1945, with Bromfield as best man. The farm continues to operate today, offering tours, farm experiences, and a glimpse into both agricultural and Hollywood history.
The Ghost Story
While the Big House draws visitors for its celebrity connections, the property's most chilling ghost predates Bromfield's ownership. In 1896, teenager Ceely Rose poisoned her family's breakfast, killing her parents and siblings. Though Ceely was committed to an asylum where she eventually died, her spirit is said to haunt the location where her family's home once stood on the property. On nights with a full moon, visitors report seeing Ceely's ghost peering from windows and wandering the grounds. In the Big House itself, tour guests have reported sudden feelings of overwhelming sadness, while staff hear glasses breaking and doors closing when no one else is present. Louis Bromfield himself has been spotted watching tours, apparently pleased that his beloved farm continues to educate visitors. USA Today recognized Malabar Farm as one of the nation's most haunted locations.