as the warden. Even after Farquhar's killing prisoners were allowed relative freedom to work the ranch on horseback. Since 2008 about 75% of the property has been purchased by Alabama's Forever Wild Land Trust and re-designated as state recreation land. A convicted murderer escaped from the prison facility in April 2012. Bill Adair, the district attorney of Walker County, Alabama, stated in the Jasper Daily Mountain Eagle that he opposed placement of convicted murderers on open ranchland. The prison ranch closed on July 31, 2013. Property The property is in unincorporated Hale County, Alabama, in the Black Belt area. The Black Warrior River and Alabama Highway 69 South bounded the property, which was about south of Greensboro, and south of Tuscaloosa. The prison had baseball fields, duck ponds, and picnic pavilions. The prison housed the system's second largest cattle operation. Richard Fausset of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2006 that the dormitories were "spartan". Prior to the 1994 murder, the warden's residence was about from the prison barracks and connected to the gates of the property through a narrow road. Operations A 1994 article in the Tuscaloosa News stated that the prison was "more like a plantation than a prison". The prison had no fences, and unlike in other prisons, prisoners had access to fresh air. The Tuscaloosa News stated that family members of prisoners at Farquhar posting on Prisontalk described the prison in a manner similar to that of the 1994 article. In 2006 Fausset stated that "Transferring there is considered a privilege." Posters on Prisontalk stated that prisoners and their families could walk on the grounds or enjoy food cooked on a grill. One forum member describing herself as a mother of a prisoner stated that visitors were not searched and that the prison was "a country club compared to others". In 2006 Fausset stated that the prison work was "demanding". Sale In 2002, businessman Elbert Allen Drummond donated US$51,750 to Bob Riley's gubernatorial campaign. Later, he was able to acquire land sold from the former Farquhar Cattle Ranch. Critics questioned the donation, even though Drummond denied any wrongdoing. References External links Farquhar Cattle Ranch (Archive) Defunct prisons in Alabama Buildings and structures in Hale County, Alabama 1956 establishments in Alabama 2013 disestablishments in Alabama