Klein Creek Farm in West Chicago, Illinois - a Review

If you are fascinated by agricultural history dating back into the 1800's there is a fantastic living history farm located in West Chicago, Illinois. Klein Creek farm is located about forty five minutes straight west of Chicago and is located at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve on County Farm road. The farm is only a small portion of the 1,110 acre Dupage County Forest Preserve.

Living close to West Chicago, I have known about this farm for decades and have never paid a visit until a few weeks ago. The farm was actually a private family farm up until being purchased by the Forest Preserve in the 1960's and later re-opened as a working farm in 1989. On a warm sunny Sunday afternoon, the family had some spare time to kill so we all piled into the van and took a short ten minute ride out to Klein Creek Farms.

The entrance to Klein Creek Farms is on the west side of County Farm road. The parking lot is quite large and leads you to a path towards the Timber Ridge Visitor Center. This small structure has informative agricultural exhibits as well as a gift shop, restrooms, and a drinking fountain. The visitor center and Klein Creek farms is also connected to Illinois bike paths so trail maps are available if traveling via bicycle. This is also the place to grab a self guided tour map for your walk towards the farm which is just west of the visitors' center.

Klein Creek Farms - The Farm House

The small hike down the path leads you to the restored farm house depicting life in the 1890's. The house tours are available every hour during open farm hours. It is through guided tour only will the visitor gain access to see the inside of the restored home and detached summer kitchen house. Across from the home is the small but abundant garden plot that features several types of vegetables and fruits that are planted, maintained, and harvested by the Klein Creek volunteer force. Behind the home are the chicken coop, ice house, and a wagon house that depict necessities to assist the self sufficient farmer during the period.

Klein Creek Farms - The Livestock

We walked into one of the large barns to be greeted by the incessant mooing of Angus cattle. The cattle seemed unfazed by our small tour group and would only sound off when we turned our backs to them. They seemed to give us a good laugh despite talking behind our backs. The other side of the barn featured some beautiful plow horses that appeared to be taking a well needed rest after they were trotting out on the paths throughout the forest preserve.

The north side of the barn featured more animals such as dairy cattle and Southdown sheep. The sheep and cattle out in the pasture pretty much ignored our presence as we walked past them. They appeared more interested in grazing that posing for a tourist.

Klein Creek Farms - Agriculture

There is much to learn about agriculture when coming to Klein Creek. The farm shows how hay is made, how the fields are plowed, and how water is pumped out of the ground and serves the animals. The water pump contraption is quite awesome as the pump is aided by a windmill affixed to the top of the barn so there is no manual cranking needed. I would like to repay a visit to this farm during the harvest season to understand all the work involved with harvesting oats and corn. The farm displays scores of antique garden and harvest tools that one would be hard pressed to find at the home and garden center.

Klein Creek Farms - The People

The people are what make Klein Creek Farms a fun experience. They spend their time and effort making the farm a huge success by treating it as if it were their own. I like the fact that the staff wears costumes replicating those outfits that would be used by the early settlers of the era. The staff is friendly and very informative.