ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Grant`s Farm, a favorite attraction in St. Louis for more than 60 years, will stay open and free to the public forever, according to the Busch family.
Fox 2 and News 11`s Dan Gray reported from Grant`s Farm where he talked with members of the Busch family about the new agreement.
The historic piece of property has been at the center of a family feud among Busch siblings and in court for the past three years, but Wednesday the Busch family says Grant`s Farm is returning to its roots.
The landmark was named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who received the land as a gift from his father-in-law after marrying Julia Boggs Dent in 1848.
August A. Busch Sr. bought the land in 1903.
Grant’s Farm opened to the public in 1954.
The 270 acres of beautiful land and exotic animals will now be owned by four adult children and one grandchild of August “Gussie” Busch Junior. His daughter Trudy Busch Valentine told Dan, “We think the future is great for Grant’s Farm and the people of St. Louis.”
The four siblings Trudy Valentine Busch, Peter Busch, Beatrice Busch von Gontard and Andrew Busch along with Robert Hermann junior, grandson of August “Gussie” Busch did not disclose a purchase price, but said they have submitted an offer to the court to buy it from the Busch family trust. Peter Busch told Dan. “It will be free and open to the public for the foreseeable future. Our deal has always been in perpetuity and we`ve been given that opportunity and we’re going to follow through.”
The four siblings originally wanted to sell it to the St. Louis Zoo, but the zoo backed out. A fifth brother, Billy Busch wanted to put his brewery on the property. A legal fight followed but today the four siblings are happy and confident about the plan to buy Grant’s Farm.
“We couldn`t think of a better outcome and we hope Billy will join us. The invitation for him to join us has been open for all those years,” said Trudy Valentine Busch. Her brother Peter said, we`re on a new path and again with our strong partnership with AB-INBEV we are where we are where we want to be right now.” The Busch siblings say they are hoping for court approval soon on their plan to buy the historic property. The fifth sibling, Billy Busch who has been opposing his siblings about the fate of this property says he is considering joining them in their efforts to buy Grant’s Farm but has not made a final decision.
