When I think of the name Henry Ford, I immediately associate it with the state of Michigan, the place where he was born, raised, and later came up with his famous invention of the automobile. There are numerous places near Detroit that you can visit to pay tribute to this important entrepreneur, but did you know that you can also get a glimpse of one of Ford’s creations in Sudbury, Massachusetts?

In 1923, Ford set out to build a tiny colonial village in the little town of Sudbury.
Terry Goodyer/flickr
His plans for the village included building a church, grist mill, and dam. The first two structures were successfully constructed and still remain standing; however, the dam project proved to be a flop and was abandoned by Ford in the 1940s. Parts of the dam still exist and can be seen on a hike on a hike through Sudbury's Nobscot Reservation.
The hike, named Ford’s Folly, is a loop trail that is a little over a mile and takes about 30 minutes to walk.
Emily Hornay/All Trails
It is an easy, kid-friendly walk. Park at the Nobscot Conservation Land lot. The trail is across the street.
You can safely walk over the dam through a path made by fences.
Emily Hornay/All Trails

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This 30-foot dam was built with the use of oxen and lots of manpower. Ford’s staff spent over a decade trying to figure out a way to get it to successfully hold water.
Bob Gropman/All Trails
The project was unsuccessful and the dam still remains barren today.
While walking on the trail, you may encounter some new friends.
Naum Gurevich/All Trails
Keep a lookout for the decaying car at the bottom of the dam.
Lynne M./All Trails
No, this automobile was not left here by Ford, but is more likely a result of a teenage prank.

Have you taken a hike through Ford’s Folley? Please tell us about your experience. Other Sudbury spots with ties to Ford include the Redstone Schoolhouse, the Grist Mill, and the Wayside Inn.

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Ford's Folly, 62 Bigelow Dr, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA