Last 19th century farm in Grapevine

Before Grapevine became known as the Christmas Capital of Texas and known for its many wineries nestled in historic downtown, a part of the city's history was being built at Nash Farm in the 1800s.

The farm's history dates back to when Tarrant County was just a vacant prairie waiting on settlers to establish homes.

Henry and Saleta Suggs took advantage of the empty land by moving to Grapevine from Missouri and establishing a log cabin on more than 100 acres.

Thomas Nash and his wife Elizabeth and their first three children along with Thomas' brother William bought Nash Farm in 1859 from the Suggs family for $500.

In 1869, the Nashs built their house and painted it in a rich green trimmed in gold. "We were able to determine the original color using a microscope and we saw it was green," Nash Farm Manager Jim Lauderdale said. The farm boasted more than 400 acres with a variety of crops and animals before the Nash family left.

"The farm was 450 acres which is four times the size of an average farm in North Texas at that time," Lauderdale said.

The Nashs would give some of their land for the right of way to be used for the Cotton Belt Railroad in 1888. The farm would remain in the Nash family until 1927 when it was sold to local Carl Yates. The home would be occupied by many owners and renters until the remaining 5.2 acres would be purchased by the Grapevine Heritage Foundation in 1997. A capital campaign was started in 2004 to restore the farm and its historical characteristics. Raising $800,000, the farm was restored four years later.

"While this is not the Nashs' belongings inside the home, we wanted it to look like the Nashs never left," Lauderdale said. "However, there are three historical elements to Nash Farm. The house is in its original location, the small cemetery where two grandsons of Thomas and Elizabeth Nash rest and the barn, which was built in 1907. The original barn burned down and I think it was because of natural causes."

Nash Farm was listed in the national register of historic places in 2010.

In 2014 it was recorded as a Texas historic landmark, forever preserving Nash Farm.

Nash Farm

626 Ball St., Grapevine, 817-410-3558, Hours: Winter: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Summer: Mon.–Fri. , 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat.–Sun. , 9 a.m.–5 p.m.