Days & Nights at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

When we ask KC Parent Readers about their favorite family attractions in Kansas City, the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead always gets a top mention. The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead features many wonderful attractions to help children learn and appreciate animals, nature, and the outdoors. Children love the dairy barn, fishing pond, petting zoo, goat feeding, chicken coop, and miniature tractor rides. Most of the attractions and activities are free, and the few that aren't are affordable for a fun novelty.

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS. 913.897.2360.

Regular Admission: Mon.- Thur., FREE; Fri. - Sun., $2/person; 1 & under free.

Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 to Oct. 31. During the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day), the Farmstead is open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

Hours for Special Activities: Pony rides, mining, the Fishing Pond, the one-room country schoolhouse and the Indian Encampment are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wagon rides are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends.

Tips for the Best Day at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead:

• The Farmstead is one of the metro's most popular family attractions, so it is often a bit crowded, but we've come to discover that evening hours offer the least crowded time of day to visit and most pleasant weather in the summer. The Farmstead is open until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through Labor Day!
• While admission is free (or cheap on weekends) some activities do require a fee. We often visit without participating in any of the activities that require a fee and our children still have a terrific time. However, it is fun to treat the kids to fun (plan ahead and prepare your chidren accordingly). The extra activities are: Farmstead Mining Camp (children mine for "gold" with a sifter in the mining trough) $4.50 for a small bag of rough; $7 for a large bag; Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides $3/person; children under 1 are free; Pony Rides $3 per child (Children must be 3 or older to ride ponies);  Bottles of Milk for Baby Goats $1/bottle; Feeding animals for 25cents (no outside feed allowed); and Fishing $3 per child. This includes a cane pole and four worms; extra worms are four for $1. You may purchase a Combo Pack for $10 which includes mining, one wagon ride, one pony ride, one bottle of milk for the baby goats and fishing. 
• The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is ideal for young children! Toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary aged children especially enjoy it. It is also a wonderful outing if you are hosting out-of-town guests as there is a lot to see and do.
• The Farmstead play areas include sand play, water play, miniature tractor rides, animal feeding, walking trails, and more. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with these activities in mind. Remember sunscreen!
• You may not bring outside food, other than water bottles, children's snacks and birthday party packages. Concessions are available throughout the Farmstead.
• Children will want to play at the Farmstead for an hour or more, plan your visit appropriately around meal times and naps with that in mind.
• Begin at Ben's Bank where you can pick up a FREE Farmstead Discovery Passbook, a scavenger hunt throughout 12 stations at the Farmstead. Children visit each of the 12 stations answering trivia questions in order to solve a riddle and earn a prize at the bank at the end of the day.
• If your visit allows, attend a milking demonstration in the Dairy Barn offered at 9:30am and 4:30pm daily.
• Alex & Emily's Ice Cream Parlor serves hand-dipped ice cream and Vic's General Store (a replica 1900s shop) sells souvenirs ranging from old fashioned candy to themed toys and treats. Plan ahead if you plan to buy ice cream or souvenirs and tell the kids what to expect in advance.
• Plan to visit more than once and visit the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead site for upcoming events.
• Bring a camera!

Fun Things to See & Do at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead:

• The 12-acre Farmstead offers numerous play areas for young children. Some of the playgrounds include sand and water play.
• Young children love riding the pedal tractors (free) around the track.
• The Dairy Barn shows exhibits on cows and milk. At the right time of year, you may even see baby calves. The kids enjoy milking Rosie, a model Holstein dairy cow. Milking demonstration in the Dairy Barn offered at 9:30am and 4:30pm daily.
• The Indian Encampment shows what life was like for Kansas' native people.
• There are 200 live animals for petting, feeding, and observing. You will see bunnies, geese, goats, donkeys, turkeys, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, chickens, bison, groundhogs, birds of prey, and more, representing the range of animals you might see on a Kansas farm. The petting zoo section is a great way to introduce young kids to animals and hand washing stations are provided outside each area. One of the favorite paid activities is feeding baby goats with a milk bottle.
• There are walking trails through gardens, the Butterfly Garden is a favorite with photo opportunities for kids and a play area. Children will also see flowers, a vegetable garden, and learn about agriculture in action.
• The wooded nature trail is often overlooked. It is a bit secluded, provides shade, and offers an exhibit to make music in nature.
• There are numerous buildings and exhibits including the paid attractions (listed above) and historic elements like the Bank, Old Schoolhouse, Mining Camp, and more. You are offered maps at the entrance.