Kline Creek Farm is one of our favorite hidden gems in Chicago’s western suburbs. We love that this working 1890s era farm connects us with nature, history and our larger community. For our most recent visit, we spent five and a half hours there! That was just the latest of many days our family has spent in this wonderful place. We are eager to share our love of Kline Creek Farm with you as well as our favorite tips for your future visits. So, please come back in time with us. We think you will enjoy the trip.
What is Kline Creek Farm?
Kline Creek Farm is a “living history farm.” It preserves and presents a farmstead from the 1890s and the agricultural history of DuPage County, Illinois. You and your family can experience life on a farm as it would have been well over a century ago!
Kline Creek Farm is part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The structures of the farm, include a farmhouse, icehouse, barn, animal enclosures and other structures all restored to represent life on the farmstead in the 1890s. Costumed interpreters work on the farm (this is a working farm!) and relate its history to visitors like you. The farm is home to cattle, sheep, chickens, horses, pigs, bees and a collection of cats all named “Mousetrap.” At Kline Creek Farm, talented blacksmiths demonstrate their craft and beekeepers share the long tradition of their work.
Various events throughout the year celebrate the cycle of the seasons, and work continues on this farm as it would have over a century ago. As visitors, you can observe, learn, ask questions, and even take part in the work of the farm.
Why Visit?
A visit to Kline Creek Farm has so many benefits for families. Kids can learn and experience where their food comes from. Families can enjoy time together in a beautiful (mostly) outdoor setting. Everyone can visit with animals and connect with history.
We love visiting Kline Creek Farm for the ability it gives us to unplug and spend time in a place connected to nature and the cycle of the seasons. We have prepared corn for planting and harvested it. We have met tiny newborn lambs and watched fleece being meticulously prepared after shearing. Even in the barrenness of winter, we have delighted in maple sugaring time and Victorian Christmas traditions.
Our kids love to visit the animals on the farm, and we like the expansive setting. Kline Creek Farm is an inexpensive and fun family outing with hands-on learning. Plus, there is plenty of room for wiggly kids to stretch their legs and even try their hands at farm chores. (Wait until they hear what kids their age were expected to do on a 19th century farm!)
Where is Kline Creek Farm?
Kline Creek Farm is in West Chicago. If you are not familiar with the Chicago suburbs, it is probably worth pointing out that West Chicago is not part of the city of Chicago. It is a city itself located west of the city of Chicago in DuPage County. The farm is at 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago between North Avenue and Geneva Road. The farm is surrounded by the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve and connected to Timber Ridge Trail. Parking is free; the farm entrance and parking lot are both located on the west side of County Farm Road.
Hours and Cost
Admission to Kline Creek Farm is free with a suggested donation of $5 for each visitor over the age of three. It is a part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. You can also support the farm by making purchases in the visitor center gift shop, donating online or volunteering your time.
Kline Creek Farm is generally open Thursdays through Mondays from 9am to 5pm. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. When Kline Creek Farm is closed, the buildings will be closed to visitors and a gate will be shut across the entry trail. Keep in mind that dogs are not allowed. Other rules and general information are on the website here.
Our Tips for Visiting Kline Creek Farm
Our family loves visiting Kline Creek Farm in every season. This was and is a working farm, so farm life goes on no matter how cold or wet it might be outside. With that in mind, we suggest that you…
Dress for the Weather and For a Day At the Farm
Kline Creek Farm is a working farm, and the buildings are authentic to the 1890s. You visit will mostly take place outdoors or in buildings without modern heating and cooling. There is a lovely modern visitor center with a cozy gift shop, bathrooms and water fountains. Outside of the visitor center, you will be happiest if you are wearing a hat and clothing appropriate to the season plus sturdy shoes that can handle mud or snow. We also suggest sunscreen and (in the summer) possibly bug spray. There is also a good chance you will get dirty, so dress accordingly. If you are bringing younger children, you might even like to carry a change of clothes or shoes.
Check the Calendar
On the subject of changing seasons, Kline Creek Farm hosts some fun and fascinating seasonal events. We have been to sheep shearing, corn harvesting, and maple sugaring events. There is also ice harvesting, spring-themed farmhouse tours, sleigh rides, food preparation, herding dog demonstrations and much more. The farm tends to be busier during these special events, but we think they are well worth your time. In our experience, the sheer size of the farm grounds makes event crowds easy to navigate.
We like that Kline Creek Farm is so attuned to the changing seasons, and we enjoy immersing ourselves in this natural reality through the various special events. You can check the website for Kline Creek Farm to see what opportunities are coming-up. Keep in mind that the farm webpage is part of the larger Forest Preserve District of DuPage County website, so you may see some events from other sites mixed-in. The Kline Creek Farm Facebook page is also a good source of information.
Outside of the scheduled events, you may want to keep an eye on that Facebook page to see when farm babies start arriving! We love visiting during lambing time in the spring.
Bring a Lunch (and Hand Sanitizer)
If you have read other articles on this website, you probably know that we regularly pack a lunch for our visits to various attractions. We do the same when we visit Kline Creek Farm. Weather permitting, we enjoy our lunch at one of the picnic tables dotted around the grounds.
While you might find items like honey or raw eggs in the gift shop, there is no restaurant on site and nothing within reasonable walking distance. We like to pack our lunch so we can make a lengthy visit to the farm and enjoy dining in this bucolic setting. Plus, it helps us feel a little closer to the hands-on nature of farm life.
We do suggest bringing hand sanitizer or wipes along with your lunch! While the visitor center near the entrance has simple but modern bathrooms, the facilities near the picnic tables in the center of the grounds are considerably more rustic. We have been grateful to have hand sanitizer to use after farm “chores” and before enjoying our lunch.
Be Prepared for Lots of Walking
We love that the features at Kline Creek Farm are so spread-out. Even on popular days, we find that this makes for a rejuvenating visit. However, this also means we do a lot of walking during our time at the farm. In addition to wearing comfortable and sturdy walking shoes or boots, you might want to bring a stroller or child carrier. This depends of course on the ages of your children, but more times than not, we have been happy to have our jogging-style stroller with us.
The paths between the farm’s buildings and enclosures are mostly gravel. If you have an umbrella type stroller with smaller wheels, you may find navigating the farm tricky. Strollers with larger wheels should be fine, but again, they will probably get dirty.
If you are in the mood from some extra walking, you can check-out the trail maps for the DuPage County Forest Preserves. The trails at Kline Creek Farm connect to the Great Western Trail.
Ask Questions About Kline Creek Farm
The volunteer and staff farmers we have encountered at Kline Creek Farm are fantastic. They are knowledgeable and generous in sharing that knowledge with words, demonstrations and hands-on learning. During your visit, we encourage you to ask questions!
Thank you for reading this article about Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago.
We hope you have found the tips and information here helpful and that you are planning a visit soon. For more attractions in the western suburbs of Chicago, check-out Wildly Fun Tips for the Play Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Get Your Kicks at This Route 66 Tribute Playground and Free and Cheap Family Fun in Oak Park, Illinois. And, for more fun in Chicago, see Chicago & Beyond. Finally, please consider subscribing to our free newsletter below, and get our latest posts right in your inbox. Thanks again for reading!
