Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village

By Christine Escobar

Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village is a living history museum located in the western suburb of Aurora on 54 acres with a lake, ponds and a meandering stream. The grounds also contain an arboretum with over 200 varieties of trees and many gardens, floral displays and historic agricultural gardens.

Blackberry Farm is known as a favorite of families with preschoolers, and includes five large museum collections, outdoor walking paths, gardens and rides for children. The farm hosts many special events throughout the summer and fall.

The museum collections include the Carriage House, the Farm Museum, the Early Streets Museum and the Huntoon House. These contain a collection of late 19th century artifacts. The Early Streets Musuem is an interesting way to show preschoolers how people in years past lived before electricity. It houses 11 Victorian era stores including a music shop, a pharmacy, a general store, a photography shop and a toy store. Preschoolers will love peering in the windows at the various displays. There is also an authentic one room schoolhouse where children can sit in old fashioned desks to see what school might have been like in the 1800's.

What Preschoolers Will Enjoy At Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village

Admission to Blackberry Farm includes unlimited rides on both the scaled down open air train, the tractor-drawn hay wagon ride, rides on an old fashioned carousel and pony rides. Children and adults may ride on the train and hay wagon together. The bright red train departs from an old train depot station which is open to visitors.

While waiting for the train, children can explore the inside of the station where system maps, tickets, furniture and other artifacts give them a glimpse of train travel in the past. Park your stroller at the station before boarding the train, which travels around the park and through a short tunnel. Riders have the option of staying on the train or exiting halfway to hop on the tractor-pulled wagon ride. After riding the wagon, visitors can return aboard the train back to the station.

Preschoolers will have lots of fun riding their own kid size pedal tractor in the Farm Play Area and scooping up corn with toy farm equipment. Follow the covered bridge across the stream and you'll find a carousel and pony rides for kids 70 lbs. and under. Fishing is also free with paid daily admission on Blackberry Farm's Lake Gregory. Visitors should bring their own equipment and bait. Visitors age 16 and up require an Illinois fishing license. Guests wishing to fish must register at the front desk.

What Parents Should Know About Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village

Sandwiches, salads, snacks and beverages are available at the north end of park at the Summer Kitchen. Picnic areas are provided throughout the park. Picnic reservations are required for groups. A drinking fountain and restrooms are located in the Village Center by the General Store, near the barn and picnic area #1. There is also a drinking fountain located by the carousel. Accessible restrooms are located at the entrance. A gift shop, located in the town square, carries handcrafted textiles and pottery made in the park, as well as an assortment of other gift items for all ages. 

Details

Address: 100 S. Barnes Rd. Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 892-1550
Phone:(630) 892-1550
Hours: (Regular Season): open daily May 1 to Labor Day Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pony rides and pedal tractors open when school is out of session for the summer. After Labor Day, the park is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday through September 30. Pumpkin Weekends are October 6 through October 28 hours for these weekend days will be 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The park will also be open Columbus Day Monday October 8, 2007. 
Admission: Fox Valley Park District resident children & seniors: $3.75
Non-residents children and seniors: $6.00
Adult residents: $4.25
Adult non-residents: $7.00
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