Blind Buck Valley Farmstead

Originally from New York City, Faith Parker and her late husband Judson bought the Farm House and the 4.6 acres it was sitting on, which included the red barns, in March of 1985. Up from Manhattan visiting friends who lived down the road, they stumbled on the house for sale, which at that point was a complete wreckage. But what the realtor called a mess they saw as a fixer-upper with loads of potential. The original house or “Little House,” which is the area that is now the downstairs guest room/bathroom and the room above it, was built in 1795. The rest of the house or “Big House” was built in 1805 with post and beam construction and a slate foundation and roof.

At that time, the surrounding valley was a working dairy farm owned for several generations by the Greeno Family. The Park family enjoyed playing with the Greeno’s cows even though they would sometimes escape onto their lawn and leave large treats for them to step in. In 1993, they were saddened to learn that the farm could no longer be sustained and the valley was being turned over to the government. Potential buyers started to come and look at the property for golf courses and housing developments. They saw what the future could look like if any one of them were to buy the property and couldn’t imagine this gorgeous valley being filled with houses and buildings. On a suggestion from friend, with many laughing at them, they made a bid on the land and to everyone’s great surprise, it was accepted. Faith and Judson Parker were now the proud owners of 180 acres that you see around you.

In 1994, while their eldest daughter Nicole was off at college, Judson, Faith and their youngest, Sarah Grace, decided to move up from Manhattan and into the house full time. They spent 8 wonderful years living in the house, slowly renovating it. Visiting Steininger’s on Main Street in Salem, betting on horses at Saratoga Race Track, and skiing at Bromley and Stratton Mountains were just a few of their favorite pass times. Judson and Faith returned to New York City when Sarah Grace went off to college but they have continued to enjoy holidays and vacations at the farm, along with Nicole, her husband Jeff, and their three boys, Sam, Ben and Luke.

In 2010, the Parkers met the Hunt Family – Marty and Lisa, and their kids Justin, Samantha, Ashley, Courtney, Rachel and Khloe, and two grandkids, Luke and Jameson. As a family with generations of farm experience, they teamed up with the Parkers to bring farm life back to the property, and Blind Buck Valley Farmstead (BBVF) was born. Currently, BBVF is a working farm, cultivating hay for livestock, and is the home to a family of goats, bunnies and a variety of chickens.  The Farm produces delicious eggs, free-range chicken and grows vegetables, fruits and herbs in a large garden, which we enjoy ourselves and share with guests. The Farm also boasts a Christmas Tree Farm where you can pick out your own tree and get Holiday wreaths and trimmings.

Sadly, in January of 2016, after a long battle with congestive heart failure, beloved patriarch of the Parker family, Judson Garrett, passed away peacefully at the wise age of 94 years old, with Faith and Sarah Grace by his side. Losing him was incredibly hard, but his memory lives on through the moments shared on the farm, and in the expansive lawns on the property he loved to mow and care for. After losing him, and as each member of the family continued on with busy lives, school and jobs in different corners of the country, the Parkers decided that they wanted others to experience and enjoy the property in the same way they had for so many years. Enter the BBVF Farm Stay – a unique retreat experience in their tranquil little corner of Upstate NY.

The Parkers, Ives and Hunts put endless care and love into everything they do at BBVF. They understand you have countless locations to choose from when planning a vacation or purchasing your produce, and truly appreciate you choosing BBVF.