After Nearly a Century, Duke Farms Opens to Public
Visitors will be able to explore ‘living habitats’ and experience environmental stewardship.
It's an easy day trip from Essex County. Saturday’s grand opening of Duke Farms marks the first time in nearly 100 years that the public will have access to almost 1,000 acres of the historic Hillsborough property. Changes to the 2,740-acre tract have been made at a cost of more than $45 million and are in keeping with the Duke Farms Foundation’s mission of “being a model of environmental stewardship in the 21st century and to inspire visitors to become informed stewards of the land.” Once the home of renowned tobacco heiress and recluse, Doris Duke, the estate on Duke Parkway West was the vision of her father James Buchanan “Buck” Duke, a life-long conservationist who wanted to create a haven for native flora and fauna and purchased …
