During the late 1800s, Samuell’s farm was a remote farm in eastern Dallas County. He developed a living farm that included fishing ponds, a petting zoo, and a syrup mill. Samuell also wanted the property to be used as a city park. He bequeathed 600 acres of land to Dallas. The city bought the property in 1938 and developed it into a city park. The property still features scenic hiking and biking trails, fishing ponds, picnic areas, and a volleyball court. It is located at 100 US-80, Mesquite, TX 75149.
Samuell Farm’s history has been complicated. In the late 1990s, it became a dumping ground for trash. A worker on the farm was fired for roughing up a first-grader and for allegedly stocking feathered carcasses in the farm freezer as evidence. This is fun. Another worker claimed that the farm manager ran down wild fowl. And Samuell’s house, which is a historical landmark, was sitting on a cracked foundation.
Samuell’s family eventually moved to Mesquite, Texas. Samuell had a remote farm in eastern Dallas County that was the country soul of his bequest. The home is now a historical landmark, and a part of the Dallas history. But Samuell’s farm has been neglected for years. The city has been trying to sell the property for years, and it has been considered a nuisance.
The city has spent the last two decades trying to clean up the farm. Samuell’s house has been in disarray, and a lot of street signs have been hauled away. Samuell’s barn was burned down in 1991, and three goats and a miniature mule were killed.
Samuell Farm was the site of a number of Civil War reenactments. This ruffled the PETA crowd and rubbed some civil rights activists the wrong way. The farm also hosted gunfights for school kids and company picnics. The reenactments were ill advised.
Samuell Farm has been the subject of an 11-year crusade by one of its unofficial guardians, Pat Melton. She began the campaign in 1999. She has been fighting to keep Samuell Farm open and a place where families can bring their kids for generations to come.
The city is currently looking for nonprofits to make improvements to the park. Those nonprofits could include planting a tree farm, installing more restrooms, or building a new playground. The park also needs to be better utilized. Check this out.
The park is a 2.4-mile loop trail that is moderately trafficked. The restrooms are not open, and water fountains are empty. Despite the lack of restrooms and other facilities, Samuell Farm still offers a number of things to do. It is a great place to bring your dog for a walk, and you can even enjoy some shaded picnic areas. There is also a healthbeat gym at Samuell Farm.
Samuell Farm’s recent history reads like a ridiculous story of city employees. The city tries to sell the property, then treats it as a nuisance, then tries to clean it up, and then tries to sell it again. It’s a tale that reads more like an absurd story of city employees than a story about a park.
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