Clark's Elioak Farm

[1][2] The name, Elioak, refers to a type of silty clay loam common to the slopes and summits of hills in the northern portion of the Piedmont Plateau.

In 1850, the family began purchasing its own acreage in the western portion of Howard County, starting with Wheatfield Farm.

Clark moved into the 18th century stone slave quarters with his new bride in 1946, initially adding a kitchen and bathroom, then two more bedrooms and hot water in 1950.

The Friends of the Enchanted Forest, a nonprofit organization, raised pledges totaling $380,000 (~$653,666 in 2023) in 1999, but efforts to reopen the park at its former location were unsuccessful.

[13] Clark's Elioak Farm became the leader of efforts to save and restore the Enchanted Forest with the purchase of Cinderella's pumpkin coach in August 2004.

[15][16] Most of the Enchanted Forest structures and figures remaining on the shopping center property in 2004 were donated by the realty company to the restoration project at Clark's Elioak Farm.

[17] Moving and restoring the Enchanted Forest pieces has been a slow and painstaking operation, involving artists, construction professionals and more than 100 volunteers over the years since the project began.

[12] The Old Woman's Shoe and the Three Bears' House, structures made of concrete, were cut in half and loaded on separate trailers for the move.

In an interview with Sun reporter Janene Holzberg, Martha explained that the inspiration to write the book came to her while riding the tractor, baling hay at the farm.

She donated a copy of her book to each of Howard County Public Library's six branches shortly after introducing it at her farm's store.

[2] Martha's brother, Jamie Clark, founded the internet service provider ClarkNet inside a barn at the farm in 1993.

It sells sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, watermelon and cantaloupe that are actually grown on Clark's Elioak Farm.

[21] From April through September, the petting zoo and Enchanted Forest portion of the farm are open from Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission sold at 4 p.m.