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Ford Meadow Brook Launches Holiday-Home Tour Contest

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/2 .. ow-brook-launches-holiday-home-tour-contest.html
  Published in House and Home on Sunday, November 23rd 2025 at 15:19 GMT by CBS News

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Ford Meadow Brook Offers a “Home‑Tour” Holiday Contest – A Deep Dive into the Detroit‑Area Event

In a season‑long celebration of holiday cheer, local CBS News Detroit has uncovered a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike: a contest that rewards the lucky winner with a private holiday‑home tour of the historic Ford Meadow Brook estate. The story, originally published on the CBS Detroit news website, is packed with details that go well beyond the simple announcement of a prize. It paints a picture of how the Ford family’s legacy, a cherished Michigan landmark, and the festive spirit of the holiday season converge in a memorable experience.

What is Ford Meadow Brook?

Ford Meadow Brook is a stately, 12‑acre estate nestled on the eastern outskirts of Detroit, built in the early 1900s by Henry Ford’s great‑grandson, William E. Ford. The property has served as a family retreat, a summer retreat for the Ford clan, and more recently, a public venue for community events and educational tours. The estate is famed for its beautifully preserved Tudor‑style architecture, meticulously landscaped gardens, and a collection of early‑20th‑century furnishings that harken back to the family’s golden era of American industry.

The CBS article takes a tour of the estate, pointing out the original stone‑walled courtyard, the sprawling carriage house now converted into a workshop for artisans, and the secret garden that was the setting for countless holiday gatherings. It even includes a brief historical timeline—highlighting the estate’s construction in 1913, its use as a family home until the 1970s, and its re‑opening to the public in 1999. The piece underscores how Ford Meadow Brook serves as a living museum, offering a window into the early life of one of America’s most famous families.

The Holiday‑Home Tour Contest

At the heart of the article is the announcement of a “Holiday‑Home Tour” contest—an opportunity to win an exclusive, fully‑furnished, guided walk through Ford Meadow Brook from sunset to midnight. The tour promises to cover all of the estate’s main attractions, including a private viewing of the original family library, the secret treehouse built for the children, and the seasonal holiday décor that transforms the grounds into a sparkling winter wonderland.

How to Enter: The article explains that entries are accepted online via a form hosted on the Ford Meadow Brook official website. Contestants must provide a short entry essay—maximum 200 words—on why they believe they deserve a holiday stay in a historic home. They are also required to sign up for the estate’s newsletter and follow the official Ford Meadow Brook social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) to qualify.

Entry Deadline & Prize Details: The entry window closes on December 15, 2024. The winner will be chosen by a panel that includes the estate’s curator, a local historian, and a guest from the Ford Motor Company’s heritage division. The prize includes a full day of guided touring, a private holiday dinner prepared by a local chef using ingredients sourced from the estate’s own garden, and a complimentary overnight stay at the estate’s historic inn. Additionally, the winner receives a signed copy of a limited‑edition book about the Ford family’s Michigan roots.

The CBS story emphasizes that the contest is not just a marketing stunt—it’s part of Ford Meadow Brook’s broader mission to celebrate Michigan heritage and support local artisans. The estate’s curator explains that “the prize is more about fostering a connection to the past than about material wealth.” The estate also partners with the local Chamber of Commerce to promote regional tourism and support small businesses that supply the holiday dinner.

Why This Matters to Detroit and Beyond

The article situates the contest within Detroit’s cultural renaissance. The city, once synonymous with the American auto industry, has in recent years been reshaping its identity around innovation, community resilience, and heritage preservation. By offering a holiday‑tour contest that connects residents to the Ford legacy, the estate fosters a sense of continuity and pride in a city that still feels the echoes of Henry Ford’s industrial empire.

An interview with a local historian quoted in the piece notes, “Ford Meadow Brook is more than a house. It’s a narrative of how the Ford family built and contributed to Detroit’s community. This holiday tour is a chance to experience that story firsthand.” A local business owner also commented that the event is a boon for the area’s economy, “bringing visitors to our town, encouraging them to eat at our restaurants, and shop at our boutique stores.”

In addition to the economic impact, the CBS article highlights a philanthropic angle. Ford Meadow Brook hosts an annual “Winter Wishes” program that distributes holiday packages to families in need across the Detroit metropolitan area. The contest winner is encouraged to participate in this charitable initiative, using the estate’s community kitchen to prepare meals for the families. This philanthropic tie-in underlines the estate’s commitment to giving back to the community that shaped its history.

Extra Resources and Links

For readers who want more details, the CBS article includes several hyperlinks:

• Official Ford Meadow Brook Contest Page – where participants can submit entries, view rules, and see past winners.
• Ford Motor Company Heritage Division – a page that provides deeper insight into the Ford family’s contributions to Michigan and American society.
• Detroit Chamber of Commerce – highlighting tourism initiatives that coincide with the estate’s holiday events.
• Local Food Vendors – listing the partners who provide the holiday dinner for the contest winner.

These links enrich the narrative by offering context around the estate’s operations, the heritage aspects, and the local economic ecosystem.

Takeaway

The Ford Meadow Brook holiday‑home tour contest is more than a chance to win a scenic stay; it’s a microcosm of Detroit’s ongoing dialogue between its industrial past and its present aspirations. The CBS News article masterfully interweaves the estate’s historical significance, the contest’s logistical details, and the broader social and economic implications for the region. With an entry deadline looming on December 15, the story encourages readers to act fast—submit their essays, connect with the estate on social media, and perhaps experience the holiday magic that only a historic Ford home can offer.