Welcome to Landrum’s Homestead & Village
Nestled in a pecan grove on Mississippi soil, Thomas Landrum and his family built a village. They believed future generations would benefit from seeing how their ancestors lived. Board by board…and nail by nail, they built a replica of a late 1800’s settlement. Neighbors became curious…and wanted their families to see the village, too. In response to their interest, Thomas Landrum and his family opened the village to the public.
Today Landrum’s Homestead & Village, located in Laurel, Mississippi, is a destination for people across the United States who want to take a step back in time. The Landrum family invites you to come take a walking tour of the past!
We started out manufacturing handcrafted pine furniture for every room in the house. But, while the product reflected Laurel’s history in the timber industry, the store lacked much of a reason for customers to linger. The first building project, a cabin, coincided with a store holiday promotion.
“We had a big Christmas event that started the weekend after Thanksgiving,” Upton says. “Dad raised the sides of the cabin that day, and that was the start of the homestead.”
One project led to another and soon exploring the new buildings became part of the customer experience. “People would say, ‘I’m going out back to see what Tom has done,’” Upton recalls.
The homestead began to grow and evolve into a unique tourist attraction.
Today Landrum’s Homestead & Village comprises more than 85 buildings and displays. Visitors of all ages find something of interest to explore. There’s a one-room schoolhouse, a nature trail and wagon rides, gem mining, a laser shooting gallery, antique farm equipment, a maze, a fire tower, a general store and trading post, and a “mystery house” where guests appear to defy gravity. The chapel, reception hall and other pavilions can accommodate practically any gathering, from weddings to corporate events.
Learning opportunities are everywhere. Scheduled groups watch demonstrations of blacksmithing, steam-engine operating, corn grinding and biscuit-cooking on a woodstove. Partnering with U.S. and Mississippi forestry agencies, Landrum’s also features exhibits about the local timber industry and the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps in reforestation.
With three major events – Christmas at the Homestead, Christmas Day Camp and Christmas Candlelight Tour – happening between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the holiday season is a particularly enchanting time to visit. Tiny lights illuminate the buildings as guests experience live entertainment, handmade crafts, caroling, candlelight tours, hot chocolate and visits from Santa.
Whatever the season, Tom Landrum’s vision remains very much alive. “He wanted a place where families and individuals could come together and have a great experience, learn something and have fun,” Upton says.
Upton and her family – including her mother Anne, brother Bruce, sister Susan, and son Josh – continue welcoming guests from all over the world. And the homestead shows no signs of going away.
“All these years later, we’re still adding to it,” Upton says. “It’s a project with no end.”
