Beloved Mead Farm In Stamford Listed For Sale

STAMFORD, CT — Mead Farm, one of Stamford's most beloved properties, has been listed for sale by Corcoran Centric Realty at $4.5 million.

Located at 107 June Road in North Stamford, the residential and working farm sits on 4.84 acres and abuts the Mianus River and includes the Greenwich Riding & Trail Association's network of trails, the listing description says.

There are 26 horse stalls, two heated tack rooms, a feed room, grain silo, hay loft, grooming stalls, shed row, welcome stalls, med-room and a rider's club room. There are also four riding rings, five paddocks, two run-ins and a detached garage/workroom.

The home on the property offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, an office which overlooks the outdoor paddocks and a sunroom with views of the riding trail.

For years, Mead Farm has offered various year-round horseback riding lessons and programs, summer programs, events like birthday parties and long and short-term boarding.

"My children rode horses and went to camp at Mead Farm when they were growing up. I understand the special meaning this place has with so many people in lower Fairfield County and consider it an honor to represent the seller," said Jeff Jackson of Corcoran Centric Realty, in a news release. "The farm is a wonderful combination of rustic beauty and practical convenience. Mead Farm is also an excellent investment if the new steward of this historic property wants to continue the thriving business."

George Mead purchased the farm from his mother-in-law for $3 million in 2007 with visions of leaving it to his two children. But his kids are now close to graduating from college and have other aspirations.

"They just don't have the willingness. They're able, but not as willing because they see other opportunities once they graduate from agricultural related programs," Mead told Patch. "I didn't want to really burden my kids. It's a great place to live, it's a great lifestyle, we make money and it's a worthy cause. But my kids are seeing things differently."

Mead said he plans on retiring and moving down to the Carolinas or Florida.

The farm has a rich history. Prior to it becoming an equestrian teaching facility in 1928, it served as a depot for ice deliveries down from upstate New York, according to Mead.

Horses would pull carriages packed with ice, stop at the farm and transfer the ice to other horses for delivery into what was then the town of Stamford.

Mead said he hopes the future owner will use the farm for what it's being used for now, while also elevating it to the next level.

"If you want to be outdoors, other than snow skiing, and you want to interface with animals, this is sort of a unique offering in the Stamford area. There aren't many places like us," Mead said.

The new owner can step right in, Mead explained. Included in any sale will be the farm's nine horses, along with horse tack, or equipment, mailing lists and software used to keep track of customer history.

Mead said he's enjoyed interacting with the community over the years. He said scores of children and adults have become passionate about horses as a result of going to Mead Farm.

He said there have been roughly 6,200 people who have passed through over the last decade-plus to ride horses, including children from several royal families and rock bands.

"We aspire to be everyone's first equestrian experience. We're not a show barn, we're a lesson barn," Mead said, noting there's a lot of camaraderie among horse enthusiasts. "This is, for most kids, their so-called currency… They form a passion."

As a former banker, Mead used to travel the world as part of his job. He's enjoyed working and living at the farm for the last 15 years.

"I thought this is a great place to be, especially if you want to be with your family and you want to mix with your community," he said. "This is pretty good. It's better than getting on a train and commuting to Wall Street, that's for sure."

See the full listing here, and learn more about Mead Farm.