Bowie Old Farm Show:
For the old farm show conducted the last Saturday in September, we use ~25 acres of land on both sides of Parker Bowie Rd. at the museum and arena. Electrical and water hookups are available for vendors and over night guests. The arena area is used for horse shows and tractor games. The area surrounding the museum is used for display of antique tractors, antique vehicles, hit & miss engines and children rides. The areas on the opposite side of Parker Bowie Rd. are reserved for livestock events including plowing, harvesting, syrup making, and gospel singing. Blacksmithing, quilting, and other colonial demos are close to the museum. Horse drawn wagon rides are throughout the area. Vendors are welcome on both sides of the road. Parking is on site and/or at the adjacent athletic complex. We have added a covered music stage across the road from the museum. Down cedar trees were removed from the trails, sawed on site and used to build the stage by volunteer members.
Thomason Bowie Foundation: (contact Gary Jordan at 864-348-3675, Katelin Ulmer at 864-554-6751, or Ken Jordan at 864-314-5082)
The following facilities are available throughout the year:
Site 1 on Cemetery Rd:
A beautiful picnic pavilion with tables, fish pond with a bridge to a gazabo, and also features restroom facilities. A very popular site for weddings.
Site 2 on Old Lownesville Hwy.:
Picnic pavilion with tables and bathrooms, 6 miles of wooded walking trails. An haunted trail event is held each halloween to benefit the local fire department.
Museum and Fellowship Hall:
A two story barn like structure with old farm equipment on display on the first floor, fellowship hall to seat ~100 people on the second floor, full kitchen, and bathrooms located on Parker Bowie Rd.
Arena:
We have a lighted arena located behind the museum for horse and other livestock events.
Horseback Riding Trails:
About 10 miles of riding trails throughout ~200 acres of beautiful woodlands containing stately hardwood trees.
Campsites:
Overnight camping with electric and water hookups are available on a first come-first service basis for $11/night donation.
Parker Bowie Athletic Complex:
4 fully equipped ball fields with paved parking on a 34 acre site donated to the Iva Recreation Association.
Mrs. Bowie’s Residence:
A rare collection of homemade antique clocks, furniture, and a donated collection of rare books on the civil war. The adjacent pastures have several llamas and a herd of cows.
Open House Tour: