The property known as Nixon’s Farm was purchased in 1956. But the story begins much earlier. Roosevelt and Mildred Nixon both came from North Carolina, in a hostile and segregated south. The opportunities for success were very limited for ambitious, young blacks and so they headed north immediate after World War II, met and married in Baltimore, and began raising a family.

Both were highly entrepreneurial, and by 1953, they had a successful grocery store, a gypsy cab service, and several rental properties. But they hungered for land. Nixon’s Farm was originally a traditional farm, with livestock, silage, and produce. Then, however, destiny began to play its hand.
In the 1950’s, there was no place for blacks and Jews to go. Every place was segregated or restricted. So dad’s business associates – most of whom were black or Jewish – urged him to renovate for the recreational use of their families. Roosevelt was the founder of the Small Businessmen’s League in Baltimore, a group of blacks and Jews who had been denied membership in other business clubs. As a result of this encouragement, Nixon’s Farm turned its focus to recreational use. Corporations, private groups, and families now hold events on this famous property.

After father’s death in 1972, the business expanded to include hosting corporate picnics, retreats, wedding receptions, and family reunions. Until 1978, however, Mildred Nixon only rented the grounds and allowed caterers to use her property. She had several disturbing experiences, however, which made her realize that substandard food reflects poorly on the location, and that consumers do not distinguish between food and facility.

Fortunately, Mildred Nixon is an excellent cook with a passion for food. Soon, her signature dish, southern fried chicken, was developing an enviable reputation.

In 1987, Randall Nixon, disillusioned with the practice of law, joined the family firm, carving out a role in the areas of marketing, sales, and non-food operations. He also began the process of systematizing the business with computer automation, job descriptions and a coordinated schedule of work.

In addition, the system was put in place to create a mechanism whereby sales and operations could work cooperatively.

All great businesses should have three characteristics: vision, people, and systems. Our vision is that we work at touching people in extraordinary ways through food and facility. We are both “high tech” and “high touch”. Our approach is to provide the Best Total Solution. We intend to envelop the customer with a comprehensive range of services, either directly or through leveraging alliances. While our competition may be selling features, or price, we sell the proposition that, all other factors being equal, we provide the best total solution to the customer's problems. Our people are outstanding, and we seek to learn, taking advantage of the skills they possess while providing a nurturing, family-oriented environment. We also glean the skills that our employees have into the process of continuous improvement, producing a more consistent product. Our systems are what set us apart from our competitors and place us in the front ranks of outstanding businesses.

Principal influencers have been impressed by the systemic, orchestrated management system of Nixon’s Farm. Our objective is, through continuous effort, to be actively involved in systemically improving the quality of the product. They understand that every frustration is the result of the absence of a system, and that orchestrated patterns are natural and organic.

Signage and careful landscaping guide guests to their appropriate locations. At critical checkpoints, Nixon’s Farm personnel provide guest information through rehearsed scripts. Literature is placed at these checkpoints detailing guest services, and function locations.

Our objective is to train new employees so well and so systemically that they are able to perform relatively complex tasks within three hours of their arrival. This enables us to hire young people, and give them the opportunity to develop employment skills. Many of our former employees have returned as customers, and have provided a steady stream of prospective employees and referrals.

Long known as The Place for company picnics, we finished the renovations on our Historic barn in 2001. The gleaming hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and expansive French doors are now the perfect compliment to your holiday party, corporate retreat, team-building event, or retirement dinner. To enhance your event, we have expanded our menus to include theme parties, wine tastings, murder mysteries, and cocktail parties. This beautiful new facility makes Nixon’s Farm a year ‘round destination for all your corporate events. If an all day sales meeting, followed by a murder mystery intrigues you, we can do it. How about a seminar on productivity followed by a wine tasting with assorted cheeses around the world, or a springtime unicorn hunt to celebrate a big sales quarter? Whatever you need, call us for your next event.

Outdoor recreation is one of the highlights of any visit to Nixon’s Farm. The emphasis is on group activities, including California-style volleyball, basketball, softball, and horseshoes. Also available are solitary pursuits, such as fishing & hiking. Untamed deer, possum and rabbit still roam freely over the land. Beaver inhabit the river banks of the Patuxent River, which generously runs through several portions of the farm. Roosevelt Pond is stocked with catfish, bluegill, and bass. And over 40 acres of woodlands feature white pine, sycamore, beech, and cherry trees, all with spectacular views.