What legacy do Moss Mountain Farm brides participate in?
A Historic and Beautiful Property with Ambitious Goals
Moss Mountain Farm is the private, country estate of P. Allen Smith. The property has been used as a set for his award-winning television and has been published in nearly every major publication in the United States for its organic gardens, spectacular views, kind and welcoming team members, and transparent horticultural practices. Because Moss Mountain Farm is a home first and foremost, a genteel, accessible, family environment pervades the visitor’s experience.
Our History
The legacy of Moss Mountain Farm is deeply rooted in Arkansas’s history. First settled by the Quapaw tribe, the property was later traversed by explorers during the early 19th century by Thomas Jefferson’s Philadelphia Society to map an expanding nation. Farmers later developed the property until it was settled by its namesake family, the Mosses. In the early 2000s, Mr. Smith pieced together several parcels of land in the far western corner of Pulaski County and began his work installing gardens sensitively developing the land.
The Farm’s Purpose and Accomplishments
Today the farm is an epicenter of learning, organic farming teaching practices, television production, design, and most recently a laboratory for green building. Mr. Smith opens his home on a limited basis for the public to learn in the form of guided tours, cottage rentals, and private events.
The farm is involved with several important environmental initiatives, whose product extends well beyond the confines of the farm’s gates. Mr. Smith scales his organic and health-focused gardening and building practices through national television, a TED-Talk, on-site learning experiences, publications, and tours with Moss Mountain Farm as the primary example of his work.
The farm is also home to two important conservancies. The 501(c)3 Heritage Poultry Conservancy is located at Moss Mountain Farm and preserves the genetic material of rare-breed poultry, the birds whose genetics helped feed a growing nation and which may be called upon — similar to a seed bank — to help reconstitute vigorous new poultry breeds for a healthier world.
The Noisette Rose Conservancy in the Hidden Rose garden is a large collection of over 30 varieties of the Noisette Rose that Mr. Smith has been able to acquire and safeguard. As the first American rose, its genetics are important to the country and a beautiful example of American ingenuity and aesthetics.
The farm allows a maximum of 15 weddings a year, with no more than one wedding taking place on any one weekend. Wedding clients not only enjoy “the best of the best of Arkansas” in a private and gracious setting, their patronage assists the farm with its conservation efforts.
An Unique and Ancient Design
Unique amongst American properties, Moss Mountain Farm is a Ferme Ornée, or in English “an Ornamented Farm”. This concept has ancient roots and has been used historically to describe a country estate laid out, particularly for aesthetic principles, and partially for farming. While rare in America, Ferme Ornées have historic roots in Patrician Rome and were built as escapes from the great city which was sweltering hot during the summer. Later this same concept was employed throughout aristocratic Europe as refuges from disease and pestilence often encountered in urban environments. Most notably, and perhaps with the greatest aplomb, the Ferme Ornée later found expression in the English Country House — a beautiful home outside of London surrounded by grounds, leisure and productive gardens, beauty, and joy.
Gardens are intended to inspire and calm guests simultaneously. Our many gardens lend themselves to a diversity of activities to make each event unique and special.
The Ferme Ornée as implemented by Mr. Smith at Moss Mountain Farm is a refuge in the Natural State, where herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, perennials, annuals, pastures, roses, and ancient trees comprise the landscape and surround the visitor with sweeping vistas up and down the Arkansas River from its bluff-top perch.
Size and Scope of Farm
The farm comprises over 650 acres of contiguous land, an island, and is largely sited 300 feet above the river plane, with over 1 mile of frontage on the Arkansas River.
Mr. Smith’s residence is located within the Main House of the property, with multiple dependencies serving the interest of the farm’s guests including the Grange Hall (an indoor, climate-controlled dining room), the Southern Living Cottage, three additional cottages for guest accommodation, a tent, large parking grounds, a staging area for over-sized tents and temporary structures, public restrooms, a groom’s retreat, and catering locations. More than 6 locations are cultivated garden spaces for guests to select amongst for their special events.
Farm Address:
23700 Ross Hollow Rd
Roland, AR 72135
Event Correspondence & Payments:
P.O. Box 164870
Little Rock, AR 72216
Photography and Videography Attribution Statement. We value the community of creatives who make our events possible and strive to highlight their contribution both before and after our events. Many of the moving and still images on this site are products of that community and we wish to highlight their work. Please join us in celebrating the following photographers whose work appears on this page: Whitney Bower Photography, Stephanie Parsely, Erin Wilson Photography, Lela and Lyla Photography, and Courtney Utley Photography.
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