Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center

Right now, it’s cold out;
this is closed for the season,
but here’s a review…
Got kids? This is a
good place to go in the fall
if you have money.
We brought our nephew
and had a delightful time
exploring around.
Some apple cider,
baked apple cider doughnuts,
and then more apples…
Pumpkins, large and small
spread out on the lawn for you
or in large boxes.
There’s a small corn maze
near the kid’s play area,
and a trampoline.
Pay a bit extra
to see the cool animals
inside the big tents.
Oh! And the giraffes!
The pumpkin-​eating dino
is sure to please kids.
Adults? Not so much.
It’s crowded with screaming kids,
and no pick-​your-​own.
Some really long lines,
everything is expensive,
a bit touristy.
I want to love it,
fall is my favorite time,
but I just don’t… sigh.

Lots of fun things for kids during the fall. A bit expensive but kids enjoy the day on a nice day

please build indoor bathrooms complete with working plumbing — or stop selling hot apple cider and hot chocolate during cold fall weather

Exotic animals belong in the wild. A bear cub (a cub… a baby…) died in front of an audience of children and parents in recent weeks. These animals are not thriving, and Goebbert’s should not be (and is not equipped to be) a zoo.
I don’t want my daughter growing up and seeing animals suffering for entertainment purposes. Please Goebbert’s, please… get rid of the animals (and send them to a sanctuary equipped to care for their needs). If you do this i very much look forward to visiting. If you don’t, those of us who care about animals will continue to spread the word about what you are doing…

We loved it kids had fun, enjoyed the animals lots to see in one day! Good price to see all that they have family enjoyed it my son love the giraffes great place to see.

I wrote a Facebook review and they blocked me, so now I’ll post here as well.
This farm has giraffes, black bears, and tigers in tiny cages. It’s clear they are depressed, malnourished and fed improperly, and overall mistreated. Exotic animals should not be in cages like this. Please patronize a farm that doesn’t exploit exotic animals to line their pockets. This is DISGUSTING. Shame on you, Goebberts. It would be so easy for you to remove the exotic animals. Why torture them? You have plenty of attractions and would still do amazing business without your sick «zoo.»

I visited this farm a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised to see the nursing station. Unfortunately, this entire day left me feeling very sad in the end. They have an entire tent filled with exotic animals, including tiger and bear cubs, that are cruelly displayed in small cages. The lemurs were huddled in a sliver of sun light trying to stay warm and looked very stressed as there located right next to the tigers. The entire experience was archaic, chaotic and totally unnecessary. Farm animals and pumpkins are way better than seeing miserable animals laying on the cold. I encourage you to support other family farms until the Goebbert family rethinks their approach.

I’ve been to Goebbert’s several times before, it was a yearly Fall pilgrimage from the city for my friends and I. I have always enjoyed the grounds, taking pictures by the big chair and pumpkins, eating delicious cider donuts and stocking up on gourds and goodies at the shop.
This year, I found a darker side to the farm. I was with friends and their young children, and they wanted to to go the animal attraction side. I didn’t realize what paying the $ 10 fee really entailed, and feel disgusted now that I helped contribute financially to the abuse I witnessed. Feeding the giraffes — while kind of neat to do — was also a little disheartening when you saw the small pen these big creatures had to reside in all day. Then we ventured into the big white tents… and my horror only grew. There were legit exotic animals in there. Lemurs, tigers, kangaroos, camels, alpacas. other animals I have never even heard of before that were native to India, Africa, etc. And all residing in tiny pens, with only hay and evergreen trees as their habitat. Not only was the size appalling (I counted 5 alpacas herded together in one pen smaller than the size of my bedroom), but there were ostriches maniacally pacing back and forth over and over again, animals that were simply alone in their pen, just standing still out of pure depression, and kangaroos just lying there in a daze. There were clearly no exotic animal handlers around to make sure the animals were okay and being treated well by the children sticking their hands into the cages to feed/​pet them. And this all occured on a slow day — I can only imagine what these poor animals must have to go through on crazy busy days! Plainly put, I was horrified. I left the tent crying and wanted to throw up. And I’m vowing to never return to this business that supports this kind of animal abuse. When I have children, I will be taking them elsewhere to get their pumpkins, as I do not want to teach them that this is how animals are to be treated. You are not a zoo, a wildlife habitat, or a reserve. You are not equipped to handle these animals properly. Shame on you for profiting on this.

I first went here on a hayride with bunch of kindergarten children, one of them being the very sweet boy of my drunken thieving whore girlfriend (can you tell how that relationship ended up?). It was really a lot of fund and every kindergarten kid was riveted the entire time.
I’m an unabashed city boy. But when I go out to the burbs on business appointments, I try to swing by Goebberts and pick up something from their expansive store.
Now I’ll admit the store is annoying because it’s filled with those cheesy arts and crafts items that Holly Homemaker fills her desperately boring and empty suburban lifestyle with, via the front door of her house. You know the kind, the home always replete with seasonable decorations, the penultimate season being autumn… then Christmas/​Winter?
So, hayride, fun. Decorations, suck, food, AWESOME. Their pies are killer! Don’t be a dope, buy several while you’re there. The apple pie is absolutely incredible. They have Breadsmith breads, which are great breakfast items, and a great selection edible autumnal gords which I never cease to find great recipes.
It really is a fun place for families. Even if you must drive an hour, it’s worth it, with lots of cut outs to catch pics of your kids doing cute things you’ll want to annoy your friends and coworkers with later. The food is fantastic too.

I’m a goebbert’s gunky.
It’s one of my «stops» every season. and it’s the ONLY place I buy my pumpkins from…
no where else…
I must reiterate — I REALLY love the pumpkins here… they offer such a colorful and unique assortment & size year after year… and I always choose my pumpkins carefully — it may sound like a petty thing, but when it comes to pumpkins,
sometimes good olé’ orange is just not enough… white, green, multi colored, redish…
and this year they surprised me with an offspring of Mr. Pumpkin & Ms. Gourd…(see pic).
I’ve endearingly named my pumpkin «Gourdkins»…it may look creepy and bumpy to you,
but I happen to think it has a TON of personality & character… and with a name like that,
it’s royalty worthy in my book…
Along with a great selection of gourds, apples, squash & flowers, especially Mum’s (lovely colors)…everything you need to decorate your home can be found here; corn stalks, hay stacks… (albeit rather pricey, compared to other farms)…
There are some other incentives for coming here too…
Homemade fudge, apple cider donuts, fresh & frozen pies, fruits and veggie’s…
Their bottled jams, honey, dressings & sauces, butter pecan maple syrup (I still have some from last year, soo good) — black, white & yellow popping corn… apple cider.
decorative goodies and treats… caramel apples… lots of stuff.
I was recently here last Sunday afternoon and was surprised at how PACKED this place was…
I’ve never been here when it’s been this crowded… and let me tell you, it was like everyone
and their mother chose this day to visit Goebbert’s…What the heck is with you people?
You would have thought they were giving pumpkins away…(or donuts for that matter).
Possibly so, because these SCHMUCKS were ALL OUT of apple cider donuts, corn on the cob, FRESH apple pies, pecan pies, fruit pies… ALL OUT!
I was not a happy Goebbert’s shopper…
NO PIE FOR YOU! NO CORN FOR YOU!
NO DONUT FOR YOU!
Now, how could they be out of corn on the cob???
While I came with my sister and nephew and planned on stopping at a few attractions, one being the Haunted house, after seeing the ginormous lines for everything, my nephew was no longer interested… I didn’t blame him. There was even a line for the Roasted Corn stand (4 times around the stand, long) and again I heard… NO CORN FOR YOU!
I always grab a homemade apple pie ($ 13/​ea) for my mom because she happens to really like them here, and it saves her from baking one of her own for the holidays… being that they were out of fresh, I grabbed a frozen pie. While not a big deal, I will admit I was disappointed they were sold out of fresh… and yes, people started flocking over to the freezer section like wild geese…
I never forget a «mini» pie for myself (perfect serving, $ 8 ea), and managed to scope out a few fresh ones left (choose from: pumpkin, dutch apple, caramel apple, pecan, mixed berry — I highly recommend this — combo of rhubarb, apple, strawberry & blueberries) Mixed berry was perfectly tart & sweet. simply yummy… Only 2 were left, so within a millisecond I literally snatched them off the shelf, feeling victorious over the pie victory, like I had never seen pie before. The Pumpkin Fudge is pretty good. I always buy some to give away… this line wasn’t too bad either…
$ 15/​lb — buy a lb. get a ½ lb. free… you get a total of 6 pieces and they offer about nine or more flavors…
No fee to enter. However, the fee for Childrens’ attractions & rides is rather hefty in my opinion… there are many other farms to be had that are more reasonable…
Yes, this place is on the pricier side, so be prepared to spend some $$ for otherwise relatively inexpensive things…
I left with no corn, no donuts, no fresh anything.
and some people bumping into me while getting through lines and going from Point A
to Point B… sheesh…and no ‘excuse me’ either…
Hopefully, it won’t be as crazy the day you choose to visit…(I recommend week day).
So yeah, this year its.
NO 5 STAR FOR YOU!
NO 4 STAR FOR YOU! Goebbert’s.

We come to this pumpkin farm every fall season. I think it’s incredible and have never had a bad experience here. Free admission and parking can’t be beat. The general store is quaint and sells some super yummy items. They have a little food shop that sells amazing cookies and pie slices. Animal land is an additional fee but you are able to see and let some truly exotic and cute creatures. It does make me sad to see the bigger animals though. Other than that, this place is always fun! If you go on a weekend during their fall fest — be prepared for traffic and long lines!

Ladies and gentlemen, ready your wallets for some fine fall fun at Goebbert’s. There is SO much to do here so prepare to spend a pretty penny and pack your patient pants because this place gets crazy crowded as soon as it opens and borders on insane around lunch time.
Some notes & highlights:
–Pumpkins/​Gourds: Nice variety of colors and sizes for everyone. I saw black pumpkins, white pumpkins, squash, bumpy pumpkins, Cinderella pumpkins, award winning pumpkins, and mini pumpkins!
–Attractions: Play spaces, giant «pillow jump», camel rides, pony rides, and more. Each attraction requires one ticket per child, and each ticket costs $ 5.
–Animal Land: $ 12/​person for everyone 3+. Includes access the equivalent of a zoo except the animals are extremely close! You’re encouraged to feed* said animals carrots or corn feed (often with a spoon). We saw pigs, goats, sheep and plenty of farm animals. There are pig races and a giant fire breathing «dinosaur.»
*$ 3 for cup of carrots,$ 2 for feed cone.
–Food: Kettle corn, burgers, corn, cider, a few types of donuts, apples, pie and more.
One really major item to add that is really concerning:
Their «Animal Land» is full of farm animals mentioned earlier but also contains animals like giraffes, black bears, kangaroos, even tigers. I first thought this was a really neat feature for people to see these beautiful animals up close but then I wondered where on earth do these animals go at night? How are they properly cared for, especially in such small spaces? Is the corn feed even appropriate for their diet? Are the babies close enough to their mothers?
This pumpkin patch has so many fun things going for it that there’s really no need to have exotic animals present. Trust me, Goebbert’s, families would flock here despite the kangaroos in an 8’x3’ space. Please reconsider your makeshift exotic animal zoo.

The past 4 years we’ve made this pumpkin farm our «go to» for fall/​Halloween festivities but we just came back from it today and it left a sour taste in our mouth.
We either didn’t notice or turned a blind eye in the previous years but we felt so bad for the animals in cages. Most of the animals sat in cages that are barely bigger than themselves. From domestic to exotic, we saw these animals pacing in circles, walking erratically, just confined into tiny spaces that doesn’t allow them to move freely what so ever. Granted, they seem to be well fed and they’re areas were clean but we just felt so bad.
Goebberts seems to have so much land and if you’re going to have a these animals, I suggest you open it up a little (a lot) and let these animals have the space they severely need.

I’m looking at this for their Fall Festival, as that is when we go to Goebbert’s each year. We’ve brought our daughter here every year, and every year it seems to get bigger and more crowded with each visit. And more expensive. Did I mention expensive? As of this year, on a weekend day, it’s $ 12 a person just to get back into the attractions… and that doesn’t even include the extra $ 5 tickets for pony or camel rides, time on the jumping pillow, etc. Or the $ 3/​cup for carrots to feed the giraffes. It adds up in a real hurry!
The animal exhibits are small, and very tough to navigate with the crowds of people trying to feed carrots to everything in sight. And the animals don’t look thrilled.
The general layout of everything is pretty rough too. Seems like they just keep packing in more things with out much thought of how to get around.
All in all, as the years have passed, the value proposition here just isn’t what it used to be. I suspect we’ll be hunting for a new place for our autumnal fun next year.

If you’re looking for a family oriented place to celebrate all things fall, look no further than Goebbert’s Farm! You can pick out pumpkins, go for a wagon ride, see animals, walk through a haunted house and taste all of your favorite fall foods in one place.
The food pavilion serves hamburgers, pizza and roasted corn if your group arrived looking for lunch. You can also try their apple cider served hot or cold, freshly made apple cider donuts and homemade apple, pumpkin and cherry pies. I’d recommend the caramel apples sold at the register since they use fresh apples from their orchard and are made onsite!
While admission to the outskirts of the farm is free, additional fees apply for rides, animal encounters, the jumping pad and Animal Land. So be prepared for the outing to cost your family more than just your pumpkins and kettle corn for the ride home.

From one of the most extensive petting zoos I’ve ever seen to feeding Burt the Giraffe, the corn maze, the pig races, the wagon rides, and all the little twist and turns inbetween, Goebbert’s Farm will make you feel like a kid again no matter what your age! Go, go, go!!!
FYIs — free parking… while you can roam parts of the ground for free, experiencing all of the «Autumn Festival» cost $ 10 during the week and a few dollars more during weekends. Each of the rides (wagon, camel, etc) will cost you separately (roughly $ 5 each)

For a local farm, Goebberts in Hoffman Estates is much more than goats, chickens, and cows. The first station has two real giraffes that can be seen from the entrance — yeah, I said giraffes. There’s even yaks, foxes, billy goats, leopards, tigers, camels, and even an ostrich. At almost all of the stations, you can actually feed the animals. This is not your ordinary farm.
Come on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds and long lines. If you come around 10:30am, they might be making their trips to feed the animals which is a plus for the children to see. There’s also magic shows, pig races, and a pumpkin eating dinosaur. This is definitely worth the $ 10 entrance fee per adult.
There’s something for everyone regardless of age. Whether you’re a toddler interested in hand feeding a live giraffe carrots, a teen who can’t have enough cider donuts, or a senior just looking for their favorite pumpkin butter, make a trip to Goebbert’s farm in Barrington this fall.

Loved it here. Hadn’t been to a pumpkin patch since I was 4! (Pre school field trip) I guess I can attribute it to being born and raised in the city. GREAT selection of fall decorations. The have giraffes, goats, yaks, camels, cheetahs… A LOT of exotic animals!!! Fun different date option! Great for families!
Fair prices. Decent snack options. My hubby got the brat and I got the cheese pizza (I would recommend to prob stay away from the cheese pizza. The crust was REALLY hard)…staff was all nice.
Will definitely come back next yr!!!

While there IS more to Goebbert’s than fall festivities, fall is their main season of business, and the time which most Unilocalers seem to review. So, before I get to that, I just have to say how much I enjoy visiting Goebbert’s in the «off» season, when it is far less busy and far less gimmicky. I like to browse the farm store, and the playground (added within the last couple of years) is a hit with little ones. Rather than wood chips, the playground is padded with rubber chips, which many parents find cleaner and more appealing.
Now, for the fall festival. I will just go at it with a list of pros and cons, since there’s much to cover.
Pros:
— The best port-​o-​potties around
— Sweet hand washing stations
— A designated area for baby care (diaper station and a private place for feeding, if you’re so inclined — I am not)
— Apple cider donuts
— How cool are those giraffes?!
Cons:
— Sadly depressing animal enclosures
— Major crowds on weekends
— Inferior pig races (check out Richardson’s corn maze in Spring Grove, IL!)
— Lousy hot dogs
— A generally lousy setup and logistical flow, in my opinion*
— A haunted house with scary music that traumatizes young children, unfortunately built by the ticket booth and, thus, unavoidable
— Charging extra $ for so many activities, especially the jumping pillow, which is included with admission at other places that have it
I’m not sure where to place «pumpkin eating dinosaur.» Sure, it’s pretty darn cool and clever, but I know a lot of kids who are terrified of the thing, and it makes a visit a little unpleasant when you have a toddler clinging to you in fear the entire time.
* this just dawned on me this evening, when I was wondering why I didn’t enjoy our visit all that much today. The attractions just don’t seem to flow well. Maybe there wasn’t much thought put into the layout, or there are so many more activities than were originally planned. It feels very disjointed and unnatural to me, if that makes any sense.
Couple that with the strangely exotic animals (everything from kangaroos to tigers) on display in no-​comfort enclosures, and the fall festival gets a sad face from me. But since I enjoy it in the «off-​season,» I’ll just say, I’ll take my family elsewhere for fall fun, and just keep it real at Goebbert’s in the spring and summer.

I recall going to this place when I was a child and had some wonderful memories of little haunted train rides and a host of other attractions that don’t seem to be here anymore. It seems like everything has been taken over by their exotic zoo where very large animals, such as tigers, are kept in small confines. Very miserable looking and not all that fun to look at. Kids like it, but of course you get charged to buy food to feed the animals… on top of the $ 15 you pay to get in per person. Ouch.
Not only that, on their website they say everything is included in general admission, but when you get to the farm, the general admission only includes a few things. Basically, they would expect you to pay $ 10 – 15 more per person to do some of the things that were falsely listed as included.
This place is money hungry. I have not been impressed or entertained the last few times I have been here. Charge a general admission that is actually general admission. Don’t have hidden fees and costs for everything on the farm!