There’s so much to see and do at the Farmstead, you just may need to come back another day!
These attractions are included with admission:
- Animals
- Bank
- Barbershop
- Blacksmith Shop
- Dairy Barn – Cinemoo Moovie Theater
- Kanza Earthen Lodge
- Schoolhouse
- Play Areas
- Push Pedal Tractors
There are additional fees for these attractions, visit the City’s website for details:
- Mining
- Fishing
- Milk Goat Bottles
- Wagon Rides
Purchase food and souvenirs at
- Dairy Barn concession stand
- General Store
- Ice Cream Parlor
- Farmhouse Concession
Hand-dipped ice cream is only available at Alex and Emily's Ice Cream Parlor located next to Vic's General Store.
Visitors will go back in time when experiencing the parlor's 1900s back bar which was originally located in Spring Hill, Kan., along with additional furnishings that include period artifacts.
The Hoffman Family Foundation named "Alex and Emily's Ice Cream Parlor" in honor of their grandchildren.
The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead has just about any animal found on a Kansas family farm in the 20th Century - cows, goats, sheep, pigs, ponies, draft horses and miniature horses, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, bison, longhorn steer, prairie dogs, bobcats and birds of prey.
While you're here, take part in some of our hands-on activities including feeding the goats and petting the horses after taking a wagon ride.
Animal donations: Unfortunately, we are unable to take additional animals. Operation Wildlife is able to assist with wild animals. Contact them at 913-631-6566.
Click the image above for a virtual tour of Ben's Bank!
Ben's Bank was a new addition to the Farmstead in 2010. This historic bank, dubbed "Ben's Bank," is in honor of former Metcalf Bank President Ben Craig's father - also "Ben."
Farmstead Passbook
While at the bank be sure to say hello to the bank teller and pick up your Farmstead Passbook that will lead you on your adventure around the Farmstead. Throughout the park there are nine discovery stations featuring questions about each location; write your answers in your passbook to solve the riddle and return to the bank for your prize. Passbooks are available at no charge.The 5,000 square foot Dairy Barn has an open truss system with an all rough cedar interior, a stamped and stained concrete floor to simulate wood, a concession stand, the Cinemoo Moovie Theater and restrooms.
Staff care for calves of the major dairy breeds in and around the barn.
Cow Milking
Attend a live cow milking twice daily in the Dairy Barn. Visitors can learn firsthand where the milk we drink comes from and some interesting facts about cows and the dairy industry.- 9:30 a.m.
- 4:30 p.m.
Cinemoo Moovie Theater
Be sure to visit the updated Cinemoo Moovie Theater to learn about the history of dairy in Kansas.There's no waiting here. Cast your old-fashioned cane pole into Grandpa Bob's Fishing Pond and pull out a fish from our well-stocked pond.
The pond has an abundant amount of fish, including sunfish, hybrid bluegill and catfish, and is perfect for children of all ages.
It is catch and release at Grandpa Bob's pond. No outside poles allowed.
Set among our apple orchard, just east of the Mining Camp, is a replica of a 1900 one-room country schoolhouse.
While the construction materials are new, they capture the architectural features of the past. For example, when suitable windows and doors couldn't be found, they were custom made to duplicate those used in 1900.
The interior is a blend of re-creations and antiques. The slate blackboard and coat hooks came from an abandoned school in Kansas City, Kansas.
The desks came from all over the United States and show signs of years of learning. Another great find is our working pot-bellied stove. If these antiques could talk, what stories we would hear!
The one-room country schoolhouse is closed during history tours, which are generally during the week, in the morning.
The Regnier Family Foundation named the Schoolhouse in honor of their mother Helen Regnier.
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is home to a demonstration blacksmith shop. A blacksmith is there to show all who stop to watch what it takes to turn metal into utensils or art. You're sure to learn something! John's Blacksmith Shop is named in honor of John Deere, founder of the company bearing his name, who began his career as a blacksmith. We thank the John Deere company for its contribution to the building of our blacksmith shop.
The Indian Encampment and earthen log lodge is a historically accurate, culturally sensitive replica of a small Kanza Indian village.
The Kanza, now known as the Kaw Indian Nation, were indigenous to northeast Kansas when the first European explorers arrived. They built permanent earthen lodges clustered in villages. They used teepees during their semi-annual bison hunts.
The primary structure is an earthen lodge with an interior diameter of 40 feet. It is constructed entirely of wood from tree trunks for support and covered with smaller trees and thatched grasses with a top layer of soil.
The center structure is constructed of cottonwood trees 14 feet tall and 14 inches thick. The outer ring of the lodge is constructed with mostly hedge and hackberry tree trunks 10 feet tall, 8 inches thick.
The lodge, which is flanked by two 18-foot-tall teepees, is used as an instructional facility for group tours, historians and guests of all ages.
The Indian Encampment is closed during history tours, which is generally in the morning on weekdays.
Find "gold" at our mining camp under the windmill, just west of Helen's one-room country schoolhouse.
Using a sifter at the mining trough, guests can pour their "rough" and move it around in the water to see what wonderful gems they can discover.
"Rough" is a bag of sand with genuine gem stones. Each bag comes with an identification card with pictures and names of the gem stones that could be found.
The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead has three play areas for visiting children.
Red Barn with Slide
For all ages. Nestled among the rabbits, sheep and calves is one of two replicas of a little red barn from the 19th Century. Children can make their way up to the barn loft (via steps) and go down one of our two barn slides.Rotary Prairie Playground
For ages 7 and under. This farm-themed playground includes a fort, a fountain, a miniature log cabin, a sandbox with sand shovels, slides, a climbing tractor and a seating area with sun and shade shelters. Enjoy Dominic's Water Feature while in the Rotary Prairie Playground too - near the duck pond.Morgan's Playground
For ages 4 and under. This playground, built in memory of Morgan Pollak, has swings, slides and other amenities for the little tykes. It is located near the Prairie Pavilion.Tot Lot
For ages 4 and under Another playground just for the little ones is located just across the path from the Rotary Prairie Playground.On your mark, get set . . . pedal!
Bring all of your little ones out to race around our famous push pedal tractor track, located across from Grandpa Bob's Fishing Pond.
Children can pick their favorite child-size metal tractor and take it out for a spin on the circle track.
The tractors are tuned daily by a Farmstead volunteer.
There is no fee to ride the tractors.
Stop by to see artifacts from an early 20th Century barbershop featuring barber chairs and utensils. Knowledgeable guides will point out the interesting tools of the trade. The Hoffman family funded construction of the barbershop.
Step back in time to experience a place where farmers came from miles around to purchase their supplies and sell crops. During the turn of the century, the general store also served as the local post office and drug store. It was the most visited establishment of a typical early town and is the focal point for the Farmstead.
Modeled after the Conser General Store that originally operated in this area, the new general store features historically correct interior fixtures and finishes. These include shelves, display racks and sales counters that showcase merchandise as would be found in the early 1900s.
In addition to being a replica of an actual early 1900s general store, this facility will also feature an area of nostalgic items for sale such as
- Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead merchandise
- old-fashioned wooden toys
- plush farm animals and John Deere apparel
- old-time candy and taffy
- and more
Original Kansas travelers moved about the state on wagons to reach their destinations. You can relive this when you take a ride on a wagon pulled by a team of beautiful Belgian draft horses at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.
The wagon, driven by a member of the Sharp family, takes visitors on a relaxing 10-15 minute hayride through the woods on the perimeter of the Farmstead.
Little ones on the ride should keep their eyes open for rabbits, squirrels, deer and even an occasional bobcat.
There is a nominal fee to ride.