My name is Gail Smith-Bowman.  I currently live in Springboro, Ohio but grew up in the Middletown area.  As a child, my parents always took us to Fantasy Farm on picnics along with my cousins.  This was before Kings Island and the other big parks.  But, even if they had been open, we could not have afforded their prices - and we loved Fantasy Farm.  We always took a big picnic in a wicker clothes basket - us kids were allowed to run free while the parents talked and played cards.  They never worried about us - and we reported back to them every few hours. 

In 1968 I was 15 and able to get a job - guess where the first place I went to apply - yep, Fantasy Farm - and got hired right away.  I was thrilled.  Edgar paid us 95 cents an hour and I felt rich.  He was strict - we had to wear blue coulottes (skorts as they are known today) and red checked blouses which we had to pay for out of our first check.  We had name tags that were in the shape of a farm tractor - I believe I still have mine at my parents house.  He walked around at night and made sure we were doing our jobs - at the time, his son, Lindy, actually ran it - Lindy's sons - David and Reed also worked there - only saw Edgar about once a week, as he was old then. 

I worked there in 1968, 1969 and 1970 - and then I came back about 1973 and worked at night as I was also working another day job.  I would love to hear from someone that worked there during those years.      Back