Historic farm buildings at  Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Visit this picturesque living farm in Newberry, Florida and experience for yourself what life must have been like on a 1918 farmstead. This unique farm is located 14 miles NW of Gainesville in Alachua County, Florida.

This 325 acre Florida state park features an authentic working farm with 18 original restored buildings that date from the 1850s on through the 1940s as well as gardens, livestock, a nature trail, picnic areas and interpretive exhibits.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park offers guests a chance to discover a real Florida homestead and feed chickens, plow the gardens, grind corn, pump water or just relax in a rocking chair along the farmhouse’s spacious porch.

Activities

Pack a picnic lunch and spend a relaxing day visiting the past at this unique state park. Dudley Farm Historic State Park’s historic buildings, exhibits, visitor center, picnic area and trail will provide more than a full day’s entertainment for you and your family.

Guided tours, seasonal activities and more are offered throughout the year and information on these are available inside the visitor center as well as maps and guides. The park is also a favorite spot for weddings and other large gatherings and special occasions. Contact the park office for more information.

Here are some of the many activities that you can do during your visit to Dudley Farm Historic State Park:

Visit the Historic Site at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Discover the historic farmhouse, barns, stables and more during your visit to Dudley Farm Historic State Park. The park features the Dudley family’s homestead that contains 18 original buildings built between the 1880s and 1945.

These restored buildings include the family farmhouse, dairy shed, smokehouse, syrup mill, stables, tobacco barn, hay barn and an old general store. Reenactors bring the farm to life through tending livestock, completing chores and interacting with guests while dressed in period clothing.

The beautiful gardens feature heirloom roses, larkspur, amaryllis and coreopsis that bloom between March and May each year. And the visitor center showcases exhibits such as hand stitched quilts, an 1835 family Bible and other personal items from the Dudley home.

Hiking at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Explore the peaceful woodlands surrounding Dudley Farm by taking a walk along the park’s nature trail, The Pause and Ponder Trail. This 0.3 mile loop passes grape vines, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife as it flows throughout the mixed forest. Pack a picnic and hike along this picturesque trail that begins and ends in the picnic area.

Birding at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Don’t forget to pack your binoculars and bird lists, peaceful Dudley Farm Historic State Park is a great place to birdwatch. During your visit you may see hawks, egrets, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, wild turkeys, bats, woodpeckers, Red-eyed Vireos, osprey, bald eagles, Yellow-billed cuckoo and Florida scrub-jay.

Nature and Wildlife at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Learn about heritage farming and see some of heirloom breeds up close during your visit to Dudley Farm Historic State Park. The park’s landscape is a prime example of an early Florida farm with corn, sugar cane and sweet potato fields,
fruit and pecan trees, pinewoods, grape arbors and gardens.

Chickens, turkeys, cracker cows, horses and mules live on the farm. Other wildlife that you may see throughout the park include deer, tortoises, birds and snakes.

Pets at Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Pets are allowed within Dudley Farms Historic State Park but must be kept on a hand held leash no longer than 6 feet.

Please supervise your pets and keep them within the designated areas. Pets are not permitted on the farmstead or in any park buildings.

Camping Near Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Historic dudley Farm is only open during the day and the park does not offer any overnight accommodations at this time. Here are a couple of campgrounds not too far from Dudley Farm Historic State Park:

  • Manatee Springs State Park – 11650 NW 115 St, Chiefland

    This nearby state park has 80 campsites for RVs or tents with electric and water hookups. The park also has two primitive group camping areas for youth groups. These campsites fit up to 35 people and feature a portable toilet, outdoor shower, drinking water and a fire circle.

  • Ichetucknee Springs Campground – 245 SW Breckenridge Lane, Fort White

    Old Florida style family campground surrounded by 100 year old oak trees. RV sites have electric and water hookups and all sites have a picnic table and fire ring.

  • Moonshine Acres RV Park – 10089 US Highway 27, Fort White

    This family campground occupies land that was once owned by a local moonshiner and the park features remnants of that time: a log cabin clubhouse, general store with antiques and memorabilia and an “old barn”.

    The spacious campsites have electric, water and sewer hookups and a picnic table and fire ring.

Park Location

Dudley Farm Historic State Park
18730 W Newberry Rd
Newberry, FL 32669
Phone: 352.472.1142

Website

Map

Video

Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Dudley Farm Historic State Park: