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Grant’s Farm

DESCRIPTION: Grant's Farm, the former homestead of President Ulysses S. Grant, is the only house still standing that was hand-built and occupied by a U. S. president. It is also the ancestral home of the Busch family of the Anheuser-Busch brewery and one of the Budweiser Clydesdale breeding and training facilities. More than 1,000 animals from six continents live in the 281-acre wildlife preserve on the property. Visitors can travel by tram through the wildlife preserve and then visit the Tier Garten area which has a petting zoo, animal exhibits and shows and the Bauernhof courtyard complex, a 19th century farmstead with stables and a carriage house.

SLOGAN: Where Imagination Runs Wild

ADDRESS: 10501 Gravois, St. Louis, MO 63123

LOCATION: Just south of the city of St. Louis.

GETTING THERE: From downtown, take I-55 south to the Reavis Barracks Road exit. Turn west on Reavis Barracks which becomes Mackenzie and follow it to Gravois. Turn left on Gravois and continue on it to Grant Road. Turn right onto Grant Road and then right into the parking lot.

PHONE NUMBER: 314-843-1700

WEB SITE: www.grantsfarm.com

HOURS: Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Spring: April 9 - May 11
Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.,
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Summer: May 13 - September 1
Thursday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.,
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Holiday Mondays (5/26, & 9/1) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fall: September 3 - November 3
Wednesday-Friday 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free. Reservations are no longer necessary. Stroller rentals are available. ($4/single, $6/double).

PARKING: $5 per car, $19 season parking. School and tour buses park free.

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 600,000

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The Deer Park is home to animals from six continents.
  • The Tier Garten gives visitors an up-close look at many types of animals.
  • Visitors can feed the goats, camels and other animals in the Tier Garten.
  • The carriage house in the Bauernhof contains the Busch family's carriage collection with vehicles dating back to the 1700's.
  • Visitors can see some of the famous Clydesdales now synonymous with Anheuser-Busch, and some of the awards they've won in the Clydesdale Stables.
  • A Clydesdale/Dalmatian show gives visitors an up-close look at a Clydesdale and a chance to learn about Dalmatians.

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: Children will especially enjoy the ride through the animal preserve and the petting zoo and goat-feeding area in the Tier Garten. Also of interest are the animal shows held in the Tier Garten area and the Clydesdale/Dalmatian shows held in the stable area.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Grant's Farm sponsors a number of special events each year including:

  • Clydesdale Hitch Visit in May where the full team is harnessed in front of the farm.
  • A Fire Engine Muster in September with a display of antique fire engines and water shoots across Mirror Lake.
  • Pets as Partners Day and Animal Action Days are also held in September to celebrate domestic and service animals.
  • Civil War Weekend with Civil War re-enactors and Pumpkinpalooza with a pumpkin decorating contest are held in October.

HISTORY: Ulyssess S. Grant was given 80 acres of land as a wedding gift when he married Julia Dent in 1848. He built the cabin himself in 1855 and although he lived in it for only a short time, he farmed the land around it for more than 30 years. In 1885, the home passed out of the Grant family and was owned by various people. August A. Busch Sr. purchased 216 acres of the farmstead in 1903. Four years later, he purchased Grant's Cabin and moved it from Old Orchard, MO where it had been since being displayed at the 1904 World's Fair, to Grant's Farm about a mile south of its original location. In 1913, Busch began developing the property into a country estate in the grand European style. The first animals brought onto the estate were deer, horses and cattle. August A. Busch, Jr. inherited his father's love of animals and greatly expanded the variety of species to include African elephants, gibbons and parrots. He opened Grant's Farm to the public in 1954, and it continues to be operated by Anheuser-Busch.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: Grant's Farm is fully handicapped accessible.

GIFT SHOP: There are several gift shops at Grant's Farm. Label Stable at the edge of the parking lot specializes in items bearing the logo of the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The General's Store at Grant's Station offers a variety of Civil War books, toys, stuffed animals, t-shirts and other gift items with the Grant's Farm, Clydesdale or Anheuser Busch logos. Bud World in the Bauernhof features merchandise with the Anheuser-Busch logo. Garten Gifts in the Tier Garten offers a variety of stuffed animals and other items for children.

WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are two restaurants in Grant's Farm, both with outdoor seating. The Garten Inn is located in the Tier Garten area and the Brat Haus is located in the Bauernhof area. Specialty carts in the Tier Garten area feature ice cream and other snacks. Samples of Busch products area available in the Bauernhof area.

WHAT'S NEARBY: White Haven, the plantation owned by Grant's in-laws, is across Grant Road and historic Hawken House and Sappington House are also nearby.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Andy Elmore, 314-525-0817, andy.elmore@anheuserbusch.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