Development Plans Revealed for The Dirden Farm

I would like to thank our Board of Trustees for their foresight and dedication in reimagining the Dirden Farm to further our goals of transformation and improvement. After our successful Historical Marker Dedication Celebration, held on April 19, 2025, we immediately began to collaborate on our next steps for encouraging preservation, education, and community at the site. We unanimously agreed to develop a Visitor Center, Sculpture Garden, Botanical Garden, and hiking trails with a Zen Meditation area, all to honor the legacy of our family.

The Visitor Center will also serve as a gallery space with exhibitions and displays that illustrate how formerly enslaved people began to build their lives as free people. The Sculpture Garden will reflect commissioned works of art, specifically attributed to the Dirden family, including displays of the original home, water well, outhouse, and other symbolic pieces that will visually inspire visitors to contemplate what family farm life was like in the 1800s.

Additionally, a Botanical Garden will be established to highlight the native plants of Texas. Hiking trails throughout the property’s 22 acres are also being designed along with a Zen Meditation area to be located by the creek.

The Board plans to provide a vacation rental space in the future that may permit some visitors to enjoy extended stays on the property. With the planning phase now finalized, the project will advance to the Jacksonville City Council for formal review and approval, marking a critical milestone toward implementation.

We are extremely excited about our progress so far on these initiatives. We continue our fundraising efforts to ensure the project can move forward without delay. Our target date for opening is May 2028.