HISTORY
PAST
Established just seventeen years after the last Indian attack in Bourbon County, Greenwood, as it was called in the past, was settled by the Garth Family, who in 1810 built an imposing Federal Home. This house was at the heart of a farming operation whose fine soils allowed the family to become one of the most prosperous in Kentucky. The property remained in the original family, through descent, until acquired privately in 2003 by the previous owners, Bill and Carole McAlphin. The original house has been painstakingly maintained and modernized over the years, undergoing its last major renovation 2007.
PRESENT
Gayle and Tom Benson purchased the farm and adjoining properties in 2016. Benson Farm is now a country estate with a magnificent home at the heart of a state of the art thoroughbred breeding operation. Five years of planning and construction, with no expense spared, resulted in a property of great beauty and ideal operation.
ABOUT
Benson Farm is located in Bourbon County, the heart of Kentucky Horse Country, and home to some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds. Just 35-minutes from Keeneland and 1 ½ hours from Churchill Downs, Benson Farm is ideally placed to make a significant impact in the equine industry.
The farm is 1,000 acres and in addition to fields and paddocks for horses, wheat and soybeans are grown at different times of the year. The original house was built in 1810 and has been painstakingly maintained and modernized over the years, undergoing its last major renovation in 2007. Gayle and Tom Benson purchased the farm and adjoining properties in 2016.
The house features private owner quarters, four guest suites, media room, wine cellar, library, breakfast room and a formal dining room.
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Chapel
The Chapel, which seats 40 people, was blessed by Archbishop Gregory Aymond from New Orleans. It houses stained glass panels depicting 8 saints and is from St. Georges Church in London circa 1895. The pews are vintage and were sized and refinished to fit the chapel. The antique crucifix is hand forged iron circa 1900 and is from an abbey in Mâcon, France. The painting and statue are from Italy. The wooden cross is hand made by Wayne LaJaunie.
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Office Building
The office building features a trophy room with saddle towels, gun room, private office space and a private guest room upstairs. The office is often used for watching live games, races and the occasional poker game and bourbon tasting.
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Barns
There are four barns on the property: Creek Barn, Chapel Barn, Hill Barn and Willow Barn. There are also two walking rings.
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Guest House 1
Originally the farm manager’s home, the guest house was renovated to include 3 spacious guest rooms, 2 baths, a full kitchen, breakfast room and living room.
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Guest House 2
Formerly a kennel for hunting dogs, the upstairs was converted into guest accommodations including a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room.
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Guest House 3
Following a major renovation of the more than 100 year old house, Farm Manager, David, lives with his wife Theresa and two girls. The front of the house features two guest suites with private baths. Limestone fountain with classic design from 1700’s France with bronze sculpture.
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Tom’s Lake
Constructed in June, 2017. 1800’s tobacco barn in the background. The lake was stocked with various species of fish and is a favorite seasonal destination for ducks and geese.
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Treehouse
Built in 2007, made from repurposed lumber of the main residence and barns.
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Copper Run Creek
Copper Run Creek runs through the entire property and, after joining with other streams, eventually empties into the Mississippi river.
GALLERY
Ha-Ha Wall - Designed as commonly seen in European thoroughbred estates, this wall was constructed in the garden yard outside the back door of the main house, it was designed to allow the horses to come right up to the rear of the house without sloping to the slab level for guests to enjoy.
Swimming Infinity Pool - Heated pool adjacent to the Ha-ha field. In addition to horses, while relaxing in the pool it is common to see rabbits, wild turkey, deer and other animals in the field.
Swimming Infinity Pool - Heated pool adjacent to the Ha-ha field. In addition to horses, while relaxing in the pool it is common to see rabbits, wild turkey, deer and other animals in the field.
Living Room - The walls are covered in oak paneling from Nerquis Hall in Wales circa 1740. The ceiling was inspired by an English country estate and is custom molded plaster. The roof atop the Living Room is made from 16,250 riven slate tiles. Both the paneling and slate were sourced from Architectural Heritage in Gloucestershire, England. The room features a painting of Tom Benson wearing his Super Bowl winning suit on the front lawn of Benson Farm.
Formal Dining Room
Formal Dining Room
Marble Fireplace - A regency white marble statuary chimneypiece, which sits in the dining room, was originally housed in the study at Morven, a home in Virginia circa 1820. The marble is believed to have been acquired by Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the property owners and is originally from Italy and is similar to the mantel at Jefferson’s Monticello. The chimneypiece is decorated with acanthus sheaths and floral garlands surrounding a maidenform.
Sitting Room Grandfather Clock - An Avenell of Alresford clock, found in the sitting room, is circa 1750 and was acquired in New Orleans.
The Hippodrome - The tile wall in the gym is hand painted with the legendary Côte d’Azur Racecourse near Cannes and Nice. If you look closely, you will notice both the current and previous owners of the farm have been painted into the piece.
The Chapel, which seats 40 people, was blessed by Archbishop Gregory Aymond from New Orleans. It houses stained glass panels depicting 8 saints and is from St. Georges Church in London circa 1895. The pews are vintage and were sized and refinished to fit the chapel. The antique crucifix is hand forged iron circa 1900 and is from an abbey in Mâcon, France. The painting and statue are from Italy. The wooden cross is hand made by Wayne LaJaunie.
The Chapel, which seats 40 people, was blessed by Archbishop Gregory Aymond from New Orleans. It houses stained glass panels depicting 8 saints and is from St. Georges Church in London circa 1895. The pews are vintage and were sized and refinished to fit the chapel. The antique crucifix is hand forged iron circa 1900 and is from an abbey in Mâcon, France. The painting and statue are from Italy. The wooden cross is hand made by Wayne LaJaunie.
Office Building - The office building features a trophy room with saddle towels, gun room, private office space and a private guest room upstairs. The office is often used for watching live games, races and the occasional poker game and bourbon tasting.
Office Building - The office building features a trophy room with saddle towels, gun room, private office space and a private guest room upstairs. The office is often used for watching live games, races and the occasional poker game and bourbon tasting.
Fountain Outside of Office - The Antique stone double vasque fountain has an antique trough and one stone spout. It is from St. Remy de Provence France and is estimated to be 300 hundred years old.
Waterfall on Northwest Property
Bridges - Limestone bridges over roadways on the farm.
Barns - There are four barns on the property: Creek Barn, Chapel Barn, Hill Barn and Willow Barn. There are also two walking rings.
Barns - There are four barns on the property: Creek Barn, Chapel Barn, Hill Barn and Willow Barn. There are also two walking rings.
Old Tobacco Barn
Sunflower Field
Northwest Property - Not developed and currently growing soybeans and wheat. Northwest field, wheat planted.
Northwest Property - Not developed and currently growing soybeans and wheat. Soybean field.
MAP
Contact us.
T & G Farm of Kentucky, LLC
Benson Farm
PO Box 798
Paris, KY 40362