Grant's Farm

A presidential cabin, a Busch family estate and a private menagerie turned St. Louis institution.

Grants Farm

Grant's Farm layers two famous American families onto one property: Ulysses S. Grant's nineteenth-century farmstead and the Busch family's twentieth-century estate and wildlife preserve.

The Story

Ulysses S. Grant lived and farmed in this part of St. Louis County before the Civil War, and the log cabin he built in 1855—Hardscrabble—eventually became part of the property now known as Grant's Farm.

The Busch family acquired the property in 1903 and reshaped it as a family estate, wildlife preserve and architectural showplace. The Bauernhof, built in a Bavarian style, reflected the family's German heritage and brewing identity.

Grant's Farm opened to the public in 1954. In 2021, five members of the Busch family assumed operations, continuing a property that combines presidential history, brewing history, animals and family mythology.

The Busch family's history at Grant's Farm has included tragedy as well as inheritance battles. In 1934, Anheuser-Busch president August A. Busch Sr. died by suicide at Grant's Farm. Decades later, ownership of the landmark became the center of a bitter family dispute: Busch siblings advanced competing plans for its future, including a proposed sale involving the Saint Louis Zoo and a competing bid from Billy Busch. The fight reached probate court in 2016, with family members arguing over how the property could best remain intact and open to the public.

What Remains Today

Grant's Farm remains owned and operated by members of the Busch family and includes historic buildings, animal areas and the relocated Hardscrabble cabin.

Visiting Information

Grant's Farm operates seasonally with ticketed experiences and events. Check its official website for current dates, reservations and parking information.