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Faust County Park

DESCRIPTION: Faust County Park is home to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House (see Fact Sheet for Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House), St. Louis Carousel, a historical village, the Saint Louis Symphony Music School and Thornhill, the estate of Frederick Bates, Missouri's second governor.

ADDRESS: 15185 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017

LOCATION: West St. Louis County

GETTING THERE: From downtown St. Louis, take I-64/40 west to the Clarkson/Olive exit. Turn right onto Olive and proceed about one mile. The park is on the left.

PHONE NUMBER: 636-532-7298

WEB SITE: www.stlouisco.com/parks/faust_home.html

HOURS: The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to a half hour after sunset.

  • Thornhill tours are by appointment only.
  • The grounds of the historic village are open to pedestrians during regular park hours. The buildings are open noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday mid-May to early November when historical reenactors in period costume give interpretations of life during the 19th century. Guided tours of the village focus on the restoration process, the cultural heritage of various types of construction and the lifestyles of the families who lived and worked there. Tours are $2 for adults and $1 for children and can be scheduled by calling 636-532-7298.
  • The Butterfly House hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Memorial Day through Labor Day and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. the rest of the year. The Butterfly House is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The outdoor garden can be rented for weddings and special occasions.
  • Hours for the Carousel are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

ADMISSION: Admission to the park and village (except for pre-arranged tours) are free.

  • Admission to the Butterfly House is $5, adults; $4.50, seniors; $4, children 4-12 and free, three and under.
  • Carousel rides are $1; children under 3 are free when they ride with a paying adult.
  • Thornhill tours are by appointment only and are $3, adults; $1.50, children.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Thornhill, the 1819 estate of Missouri's second governor is located in the park. The site includes eight buildings--the house, two barns, a summer kitchen, a smoke house, a distillery, an ice house and a granary. Some of the buildings were built in the early 1800s while others were built in the 1900s. Also on the grounds is the cemetery where the former governor and his family are buried. Tours are 1 1/2 hours in length and are by appointment only.
  • St. Louis Carousel is housed in its own climate-controlled facility on the grounds of the park. Built around 1920 by the Dentzel Company of Philadelphia, the carousel is composed of more than 60 exquisitely hand-carved horses and deer. The carousel was a fixture at the St. Louis Highlands amusement park on Oakland Avenue where Forest Park Community College now stands. The amusement park burned down in 1963, but the carousel was rescued and later purchased by Howard C. Ohlendorf who donated it to St. Louis County. It was operated in Sylvan Springs County Park until 1979 but after many years of being exposed to the elements it had seen better days. The Faust Cultural Heritage Foundation restored the carousel and raised funds to pay for a building to enclose it at Faust Park. The carousel building includes an exhibition area and is available for rental when not in public use.
  • Nine 19th century buildings comprise Faust Historical Village. The buildings-all authentic to the area and period-were moved to the park from other locations. They include a carriage house, a typical form of German construction from around 1880, two barns, a blacksmith shop, two smokehouses and a log cabin with two log-box rooms connected by a breezeway.
  • More than 600 students ranging in age from newborn to over age 80 study at the Symphony Music School in the Faust Mansion. The school took up residence in the renovated building in 1994 after it was formed through a unique alliance between the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and CASA.
  • The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is also located in Faust Park. See the Fact Sheet for the Butterfly House for details.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Faust Park holds several special events each year including a spring planting festival, free summer concerts, a blacksmithing festival, summer camp sessions, a historical haunting and winter holiday events.

HISTORY: Thornhill was the home of Missouri's second governor, Frederick Bates. It is the oldest standing governor's resident in Missouri. The estate was later owned by Leicester Busch Faust, the descendant of two prominent St. Louis families, and his wife Mary Plant Faust. The home and outbuildings were designed by Tom P. Barnett, the firm which designed many prominent structures in St. Louis including the new St. Louis Cathedral and One Portland Place. The house is in the unusual Pueblo Revival style. The couple donated 98 acres to the county leading to the creation of Faust Park in 1996. Upon Mrs. Faust's death in 1996 an additional 102 acres was donated to the park. Visitors may stroll the grounds of the estate during park hours.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: Faust Park is handicapped accessible.

GIFT SHOP: The Carousel building has a shop with items with a carousel theme, and Madame Butterfly Gift Shop at the Butterfly House features items with a butterfly theme.

WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are several restaurants in and around Chesterfield Mall which is about one mile west of the park.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Jim Foley, Park Superintendent, 636-532-7298, Jim_Foley@stlouisco.com.

 

Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com