We visited this farm and historic village today for the first time with a group of friends, kids age range from 1 to 13.
The farm contains a number of authentic historic buildings including a small working blacksmith, one room school house and home belonging to pioneers.
Each building is furnished with authentic furniture and equipment, however they are not generally laid out as they would have been. For example one home had a bed where the parkour would have been due to the upstairs being inaccessible to the public.
The buildings have people in traditional dress educating you and demonstrating activities as you come through. They had interesting information and fun facts for the kids. In some cases there are activities you can take part in such as candle making at certain times and chopping wood.
There are also a number of fair like attractions including a train ride, paddle boats, tractor ride, children pedal cars and pony rides. The ponies are small sweet animals who looked well cared for but bored... there is a 70 pound weight limit to be aware of.
There is also a play ground area which is designed in a fun way to look like an old town. with houses and wooden walkways: it has a number of slides, climbing equipment and a zip wire.
There is also a small farm area which at the time we went contained a pig, turkey, chickens and new chicks, a calf and rabbit.
There are numerous picnic areas, but depending on the size of your group you may need to reserve an area in advance. There are three well spaced toilet blocks which were clean and stocked, but at the busiest point there was a queue. All areas appeared to be accessible for disabled persons as there are wide paths and ramps, however most rides would probably be inaccessible.
Opens seasonal from the start of May until the end of October. See website for opening hours.
Overall as a parent I rate it:
9/10 = I thought it was fun, nicely laid out, easy to find, a reasonable price and had a good variety of activities for younger children. I did feel there could easily have been more for older children which would extend the range of people it attracts. The only thing I currently felt truly appealed to a 12 year old was the pedal boats and the historic buildings and activities in them. I would also have preferred an authentic layout to the historic buildings so the kids could really imagine what life was like. (they furnish it but not authentically, which they told us) I enjoyed the museum. Overall I WOULD go again and WOULD recommend to families with children up to about age 8. This is a FULL day out.
12 Year old rating:
6/10 = Mainly this was fun because we were with other kids. The historic houses and museum were sort of interesting and I liked chopping wood. I thought everything else pretty much, was too young. It could have had bigger pedal cars/go karts for older kids and maybe trampolines or a maze. Something more enjoyable for my age as it was for little kids. I WOULD go again with friends as its still a day out, but WOULD NOT recommend for my age.
7 year old rating:
9/10 = I had fun. I liked the train ride and tractor ride and playing in the playground. I also liked the pony ride although it lasted about 1 minute. I didn't care about the old houses or chopping wood and carousel was really slow. I would love to see animal feeding or a petting zoo area. I WOULD go again and WOULD recommend for my age.
2 year old rating:
10/10 = The youngest loved the train and tractor, loved the slides, carousel and pony ride and also looking at the animals. He WOULD go again and WOULD recomend for his age.
TOP TIPS
- Take a picnic
- Look for online deals and special events
- Unless its quiet when you arrive, leave the pony ride and carousel until near the end after everyone has been on. It gets quieter later in the day.
The farm contains a number of authentic historic buildings including a small working blacksmith, one room school house and home belonging to pioneers.
Each building is furnished with authentic furniture and equipment, however they are not generally laid out as they would have been. For example one home had a bed where the parkour would have been due to the upstairs being inaccessible to the public.
The buildings have people in traditional dress educating you and demonstrating activities as you come through. They had interesting information and fun facts for the kids. In some cases there are activities you can take part in such as candle making at certain times and chopping wood.
There are also a number of fair like attractions including a train ride, paddle boats, tractor ride, children pedal cars and pony rides. The ponies are small sweet animals who looked well cared for but bored... there is a 70 pound weight limit to be aware of.
There is also a play ground area which is designed in a fun way to look like an old town. with houses and wooden walkways: it has a number of slides, climbing equipment and a zip wire.
There is also a small farm area which at the time we went contained a pig, turkey, chickens and new chicks, a calf and rabbit.
The park also hosts and interesting museum with 12 old fashioned shops.
At various times of year they host events which can include activities from pioneer times including making cornbread and sewing.
There are numerous picnic areas, but depending on the size of your group you may need to reserve an area in advance. There are three well spaced toilet blocks which were clean and stocked, but at the busiest point there was a queue. All areas appeared to be accessible for disabled persons as there are wide paths and ramps, however most rides would probably be inaccessible.
Opens seasonal from the start of May until the end of October. See website for opening hours.
Overall as a parent I rate it:
9/10 = I thought it was fun, nicely laid out, easy to find, a reasonable price and had a good variety of activities for younger children. I did feel there could easily have been more for older children which would extend the range of people it attracts. The only thing I currently felt truly appealed to a 12 year old was the pedal boats and the historic buildings and activities in them. I would also have preferred an authentic layout to the historic buildings so the kids could really imagine what life was like. (they furnish it but not authentically, which they told us) I enjoyed the museum. Overall I WOULD go again and WOULD recommend to families with children up to about age 8. This is a FULL day out.
12 Year old rating:
6/10 = Mainly this was fun because we were with other kids. The historic houses and museum were sort of interesting and I liked chopping wood. I thought everything else pretty much, was too young. It could have had bigger pedal cars/go karts for older kids and maybe trampolines or a maze. Something more enjoyable for my age as it was for little kids. I WOULD go again with friends as its still a day out, but WOULD NOT recommend for my age.
7 year old rating:
9/10 = I had fun. I liked the train ride and tractor ride and playing in the playground. I also liked the pony ride although it lasted about 1 minute. I didn't care about the old houses or chopping wood and carousel was really slow. I would love to see animal feeding or a petting zoo area. I WOULD go again and WOULD recommend for my age.
2 year old rating:
10/10 = The youngest loved the train and tractor, loved the slides, carousel and pony ride and also looking at the animals. He WOULD go again and WOULD recomend for his age.
- Take a picnic
- Look for online deals and special events
- Unless its quiet when you arrive, leave the pony ride and carousel until near the end after everyone has been on. It gets quieter later in the day.
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