” Every time I go by as a passenger, I crane my neck so that I can savor the magnificence.”
— Cathy Martin
The Bean Blossom Overlook
~ by Paige Langenderfer
Keith Bradway caught his first glimpse of the Bean Blossom Overlook in 1934 with the completion of State Road 135.“ I would stop for the view at least once on each visit to my mother who lived near Fruitdale,” Bradway said.“ I greatly enjoyed the panorama which extends about three miles northwest to Oak Ridge and its continuation about six miles to the north where a gap allows the passage of State Road 135.”
Aside from the natural beauty of the Overlook, it was also a major attraction among tourists who would stop to enjoy the view, have a picnic, or even paint the scenery.
The Bean Blossom Overlook was nestled in the heart of the designated“ Brown County Parkway” along State Road 135 North between Bean Blossom and Nashville. This corridor was set aside to preserve its scenic beauty in 1932 by the Department of Natural Resources State Parks director, Colonel Richard Lieber.
In 1985, the DNR gifted approximately 150 acres of land that included the Bean Blossom Overlook, to the Brown County Parks and Recreation Department to ensure the property remain in local stewardship. Since that time, very little has changed. However, the maturing hardwoods continued to grow, blocking the once majestic view of the countryside.
As a founding member of the Brown County Park Board, Cathy Martin was involved when the state highway department transferred ownership of the three land parcels of land in 1986.
After the land transfer, the board took bids to gently timber the land. The money raised from the timber sale were used to supplement money raised by the park board members as a match from an anonymous donor. After numerous citizens and local groups met the match, the park board was able to purchase the approximately 40 acres known as the Piefer Farm.
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30 Our Brown County • July / August 2018