goebbert's pumpkin farm

I’ve had the worst birthday party there for my 5 year old. I have gone to many kids’ parties and organized a couple myself and this one was by far the bottom. If you are considering this place for your party- DON’T!!!!!! Go anywhere else. 1) When I got there, I kept on being re-directed from place to place to put my cake into the fridge. I even got a response that they don’t put people’s cakes in the fridges. 2) My guests had no idea where to go, no signs and some employees just simply were telling them- they don’t know. 3) I was handed a thousands of tickets to give to each parent for their kid because every activity required a ticket. 4) I received no help at all. After reading their contract, it didn’t occur to me because everywhere else you get help so you can talk to your guests and be with your kid for 5 min, not there. I had to hand out tickets, explain how the tickets work, serve pizzas and drinks, clean up, go get the cake, light up so I can share at least this 2 minutes with my child, just to switch to quickly cut and serve the cake, and finally to clean up. If my husband wouldn’t be there- my kid, the birthday boy- would have to stay with me the entire time and not participate in anything. 5) My guests parents were calling me that they are not allowed past the gate because they have no tickets, only kids had tickets. If I were to purchase additional tickets for adults- I would have to drop like $700-$800 for this 2 hour party. I was boiling at that point. 6) TOTAL RIP-OFF- no food for adults, no drinks either, lousy pizza and smallest juice box I’ve ever seen for kids, activities are 1-time only and last like 4 minutes each (can’t believe it costs $4/person to jump on the pillow for 4 minutes)

Several of us in our family spent the day here. Everything is extremely overpriced. They are charging a ridiculous amount for things other pumpkin farms offer for free in their attempt to sell their pumpkins. It costs a family of four over $100 for a one day outing.Pros:- There was lots of stuff for kids to play in and ride on- The best port-o-potties around- Hand washing stations- A designated area for baby care (diaper station and a private place for feeding)- Apple Cider donuts- Hot Apple Cider- They have monkeys, owls, goats, giraffes, yaks, camels, and cheetahs...Many exotic animalsCons:- Sadly depressing animal enclosures- Charging extra $ for so many activities, which is included with admission at other places.Want to visit the animals? - $8Want to FEED the animals? - $3Want to a ride an animal for 30 seconds? - $5Want to go on a Hayride, anything at all - $5Want to visit the haunted house - $5 Want a Bottle of water? $2.25Want some Kettle corn? - $6I'm not sure where to place "pumpkin eating dinosaur." Sure, it's really cool and unique, but I know a lot of kids who are terrified of this thing, and it makes a visit a little unpleasant when you have a toddler clinging to you totally scared the entire time.At least half of the store is stuff made by bigger companies and sold there at a high markup. The pies are the same you can get at a mainstream chain grocer but they are sold here with a steep markup. The decorations you can buy here are the same you find anywhere else.Bottom line: Too expensive for what they charge.

First, let me say that this will be a review of Goebbert's Pingree Grove, Hampshire, Ill. farm, as I searched through TripAdvisor and couldn't find a listing. Owned by the same folks at South Barrington, this has almost the same things, but with less crowds. We tried the Hampshire farm this year, as we had read that traffic was horrible in the area of South Barrington. There are plenty of things for kids, and for the adults - just watch the kids have fun, and have fun with that. The day we went was a little on the chilly side, so we didn't do everything there, but we did spend 3 hours and there were a couple of other things left to do. The hayride to the pumpkin patch was fun and bumpy. The trainride was great for the kids. We did the paintball booth, and watched the pumpkin cannon. The big corn maze and the animal areas were also on our list and the kids had a great time with the animals. The character cut-outs for photographs are a lot of fun and then there is the mandatory photo of the kids with the growth chart and the year of the visit. When we needed to be warmed up, we went into the cafe and had some apple cinnamon donuts. I have to echo the review which mentioned the port-a-potties. They were among the cleanest and best maintained that I have been to visit. I hope they don't change that vendor. Bring a stroller or a wagon to carry the kids, though they do have two wheel push carts which will hold smaller kids and the requisite pumpkins. The carts are easy to pull or push, as my 8 yr. old grandson had a fun time carting his little sister and his cousin around. Great place to go and not unreasonably priced. See you next year!

We have been going to Goebbert's every year for about ten years. As with anything outdoors at this time of year, weather is iffy. This year was cold and windy (no one's fault) however, all five of our grandchildren wanted to ride on the camel. We bought the tickets and the first one to ride was our 5 yr. old grandson. Halfway through the ride the camel went wild!! Started jumping, snarling, etc. Luckily, he held on to the chain that was across the front (there is no safety strap) and Papa was able to get to him before he fell off and got very seriously hurt, either from the fall or the animal stepping on him. Please do not let children on these animals - they are wild and can be dangerous!!!!! The handler did his best but these animals are very large and apparently unpredictable. J&P Galivan

We hadn't been to Goebbert's in a few years but decided to give it a try with our five year old son. I had read online that we should arrive early to avoid delays in traffic due to construction on Higgins--great advice! We were among the first few people to enter around 9 a.m. Our admission included all of the amazing animals and the awesome play activities. For $5 extra we added on a wagon ride! Everything was so neat and clean, clear pathways to and from all of the activities. We LOVED the pumpkin eating dinosaur, which interacted with all of the people watching by looking back and forth, talking and making noises--our son was overjoyed by the burps :) We loved the old favorite cutouts to put our faces in and really had fun taking pictures in all of the scenes and on the giant rocking chair. The porta-potties were honestly the cleanest (and coolest!) I have ever used--they flush (!!!), have sanitizer for the seats, sanitizer for your hands and even little potted plants on a little shelf. Everything was fresh and delicious at the cafe during our lunchtime, and very affordable. We had a wonderful time and will certainly be back next season! Sorry we stayed away so long!

We love taking the grandkids and my nieces and nephews every autumn. It has become a family tradition. Nothing better than having fun watching the young ones have fun.

PETA ppl. are at it again sabotaging the network! Goebbert's is an exceptionally fun time for the whole family, and it has been around for more than 45 years. These people take exceptionally good care of the traveling zoo that comes to the grounds once a year. While the animals are indeed caged, they seem to enjoy visitors a lot, like any other zoo where you can feed certain animals by hand. Animals include giraffes, bear, tigers, exotic birds, and more! Goebbert's is known for being a delightful pumpkin farm during its fall festival which begins a few weeks before Halloween, The attractions at the farm include a Haunted House, Exotic Animal Zoo, camel rides, pony rides, hay rides, pig races, and recently a new children's park. Buttered corn on the cob, produce, and fall pastries are the mainstay. Goebbert's also operates a second farm north on Route 47 in Huntley, not too far from the original farm. That too has fun exhibits for family and friends. Hey PETA, Bite me! Go Goebbert's!!!

Very excited to go to this place and do some pony rides with our daughter and other activities. It all looked great and started off well but things quickly changed once inside the zoo part. First up were these giraffes in a small ( for their size) pen. They have a viewing platform to feed them which was far over packed and people with tons of carrots that they had no interest in. We felt so bad and just depressed seeing these beautiful guys in this pen and having to deal with the masses of us coming through. After that it just got worse with all these exotic animals and some bears that just have no business being locked up in these small pens. The worst part is that no one else seemed to care. There was this gorgeous African eagle just sitting facing the corner. These beauties are supposed to be soaring through the air hunting and not locked up in a cage. Finally some woman hoisted herself up on top of the fence so she could reach a baby bears paw, which she did. Where is the supervision for the protection for these animals?? Kids with parents letting the run wild banging on exotic bird cages. This place is our of control and we feel so bad for contributing to its on going success.

Lots of fun very expensive but the kids loved it. I worry a little about the animals, they seemed happy they seem happy

Goebberts is a wonderful place to visit for children. There are many things to do. But.....bring alot of money. It's $10 per person to enter Animal Land which has a barns of animals, giraffes that could be petted and fed, corn maze and playgrounds. But it costs you $3.00 for the feed. It also costs $5 per person/per ride to ride a camel, a pony, a 5 minute jumping pillow, and a kids haunted house that takes 2 minutes to get through.

It was very crowded and expensive on Sunday. Goebbert's did an excellent job handling the large crowd. It was ten bucks per person for admission to the main attractions and another five bucks per person for the haunted house. The petting zoo, the pumpkin eating dinosaur and the pig races made it feel more like a county fair. I had fun with two of my nieces, they loved it.

We went here with our 2 young kids 1 and 3 and had a blast on a Tuesday afternoon. Discounted admission to the zoo and kid areas was a plus. Kids favorite area was the corn box and mine too. Great petting type zoo also. Tons of animals. No patch to actually pick pumpkins and prices are very high for them. This is the third year we have been and we always enjoy the other activities but save our pumpkin purchases for more reasonable priced locations.

We live up in Lake County, near McHenry, where there are many REAL farms. Pumpkins, corn, apples, etc. I suppose this place is "famous" because it's closest to the city of Chicago and city folk just don't know any better. We went because we were meeting up with city folk friends that... had to tell them... didn't know any better. This place is just a giant farmers market, with some rides and a bunch of animals. Now, mind you, the animals were great. There were far more than any petting zoo and you can feed them all. But the pumpkins are just spread out on the front patio. You don't actually go to a pumpkin patch to pick them. And corn maze is hilariously bad. They just roll a chicken wire fence through a small corn field. About the laziest attempt at a corn maze as possible. Admission is $10 per person and that doesn't include certain attractions like the haunted house or tractor ride. Those are $5 EXTRA! I have ZERO plans on going back. Seriously, people.... check to see what's up in Lake and McHenry county or what's just North of the Illinois state line. The amount you save on tickets will pay for the extra gas and the 10X more fun the family will have at another farm.

Goebberts is bound to lose its customer base. They're charging an ungodly amount for things other pumpkin farms offer for free in their attempt to sell their pumpkins. A family of four may have to pay $100 for a one day outing. I feel like Goebberts has slapped local families, that have supported them for years, in the face. They charge $10, per person, to play on a regular slide and swing! Their traditional cut outs are now fenced in requiring a $40 admission for a family of four to get their picture with the "Peanuts" cut outs. We politely asked to use their indoor bathroom, they responded, "no its now for employees only, you must use the port-a-potty". I am guessing next year they may charge an extra $10 to use their indoor bathroom. A worker said they offered free corn with the admission charge. They were out and couldn't make more. It's not like they need to go to Jewel to get more corn. They're surrounded by tons of corn. They are too many local family pumpkin businesses that still value you and not their greed. Support the other "family valued" businesses. Sadly, Goeberrts may be converted to a housing development with their new business practice.

Fantastic place to get fresh veggies and fruits and a few homemade specialties, as well as some plants and such. Love the fall festival! Great place for kids on a Saturday morning!