Nestled in the hills of Pleasant Valley, Malabar Farm was built in 1939 by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield and was his home until his death in 1956.

His passion for horticulture developed when he was in France, and it took him on two long trips to India, which were the inspiration for one of his most critically acclaimed bestsellers, The Rains Came (1937).

Bromfield chose architect Louis Lamoreux of Mansfield to help him design and construct a 19-room Greek revival style home, that he dubbed the "Big House".

[3] The 32-room Western Reserve-style homestead, where Bromfield wrote many of his books, attracted film stars, artists, politicians, writers, and conservationists annually.

Malabar was often visited by celebrities, including Kay Francis, Joan Fontaine, Ina Claire, Mayo Methot and James Cagney.

In September 1994, 150 volunteers from the Timber Framers Guild of North America raised a new barn in resemblance of the original.

This was closed in late 2017 by Hostelling International due to diminished public interest and use after running continuously since 1979.

Under various management philosophies at ODNR, sporadically, visitors could purchase fresh, local produce which is cooled by flowing spring water.

The miller's house, mentioned in the Pleasant Valley collection of ghost stories, was the 19th Century home of a young, mentally challenged girl named Ceely Rose.

[9] Annually in October, the Ceely Rose Play is performed in the park's timber frame barn, as part of a ghost story trilogy.

On this same episode, they also spend time inside Louis Bromfield's "Big House" at Malabar Farm, again trying to document reported paranormal activity.

An evening Square Dance occurs monthly in the Big Barn with a live band during the warmer seasons.

The traditional square dance style with informal attire welcomes all experience levels and ages.