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THE PARK
Located just across the Delaware
state line, this is a true Godzilla of canine hiking. Traversing
its 5,613 acres are over 75 miles of multi-use trails. Fair Hill
was formerly owned by sportsman William du Pont, Jr. and was
one of the largest private land holdings on the East Coast. Fair
Hill was developed as a horse farm and still operates in that
capacity today while open to the public and operated by the state
of Maryland. In recent times Fair Hill gained notice around the
world as the home of ill-fated Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro.
WALKS
Trails through the fields are
typically double-track (old dirt vehicle roads). Singletrack
trails dominate in the forested areas. Many roll through golden
hayfields as befits Fair Hill's stature as a leading equine training
center. The stiffest climbs are in the vicinity of the Big Elk
Creek but most of the trails are like walking a steeplechase
course.
The Big Elk Creek surges through the property and is spanned
by many trail bridges, including one of Maryland's six remaining
covered bridges. The Big Elk Creek Covered Bridge was built in
1860 at a cost of $1,165. When it was reconstructed in 1992 after
sustaining extensive damage from heavy trucks, the tab was $152,000.
Fair Hill is also a good place to walk past house ruins. The
Big Elk Creek runs swift and shallow through the park - deep
enough for trout to swim but not for dogs.
BONUS
Flying concentric circles outward
from Philadelphia, Hollywood location scouts for Oprah Winfrey's
movie project, Beloved, spotted the Fair Hill terrain
and selected it as the backdrop for the film's rural scenes.
A ramshackle 19th-century tenant farm was constructed and much
of the movie shot here. The producers decided to leave the movie
set intact, to deteriorate naturally. You can wander among the
fake buildings and even knock on the styrofoam stones.
DIRECTIONS
Fair Hill is just west of Newark, Delaware. Take Route 273 across
the Maryland-
Delaware State line until the first four-way intesection, Appleton
Road, about 1.2 miles. There is parking down either side of Appleton
Road. The Park Office is on Route 273, behind the grandstands
for the Fair Hill Race Track.
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