established in 1964
A family run farm that became a local staple for pumpkins, Christmas trees, school field trips and family memories.
Coming from humble beginnings in 1964, with a dream of a Christmas tree farm bringing joy to families during the holidays. Barbara Ann Warren had a dream that she built from the dirt up. She hand planted the Chiristmas trees at Loblolly Acres, craftly worked with local vendors to curate the quaint Christmas shop of her dreams, and from there she expanded. In 2001, she was lost unexpectedly in a car accident
This brought in the next generation, Cheryl Epps, daughter of Barbara, developed, with her love of the holidays and experience and passion for education. From here, Loblolly became the top school tour destination in the fall and christmas with thousands of Delaware students learning through fun and interactive experiences of the life of a farm. With the shut down of the states, Cheryl, at Loblolly Acres, along with her significant other, Clem began building the wedding venue of her dreams.
HOME TO MANY
Over the years, four generations of family have taken care of this land and continue to do so today.
Chickens, guineas, horses, sheep, alpacas, and cows are just some of the furry and feathered friends you’ll see here at Loblolly.
Cheryl & Clem
Angela Zielen Epps on the Sycamore Stage - Flat Ridge Photography
fast forward to 202o
“We had been doing this for such a long time, the pandemic gave us time to pause and revisit how we have changed as people and include the next generation who was joining the business,” Cheryl Epps, owner and operator since 2001
That included Angela (Zielen) Epps, a professional ballet dancer with First State Ballet Theatre and Cheryl’s daughter in law. Angela, childhood sweetheart of Cheryl’s son, Adam, grew up experiencing the farm and when asked to join the family business she came with a vision to create a nonprofit that would bring the arts to Kent County. In 2022, she created a 501 (c)3 non profit to The Art Society at Loblolly Acres to follow her dreams of bringing the arts to Central Delaware with a grand vision to serve and inspire the community of Delaware. See all of the events The Art Society at Loblolly Acres has since brought to Kent County in addition to countless weddings and celebrations. Joining them is Cheryl’s daughter, Dr. Megan Epps, who is a local chiropractor and host of the 302 Podcast (recorded at Loblolly!) with a passion for serving the Delmarva community to bring to light the full evolution of Loblolly Acres, from Christmas Tree farm, to the go to event destination and wedding venue in Delaware. “Loblolly has been a part of so many people’s memories in their childhood with school tours and the Christmas tree farm,” Cheryl said. “Now we want to be a part of their memories now that they are grown and have their own families.” Just like that, memories are being made for new families at Loblolly.