Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
13800 Switzer
Overland Park, KS
913.897.2360
For information on hours and admission (FREE M-Th, $2/weekends), visit the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead website
As my children have grown, so has the Farmstead. If it's been awhile since your last trip, it may be time to visit again.
As toddlers, my boys loved feeding the goats and ducks as much as I loved photographing them doing so. The meticulous gardens which are maintained by the Johnson County Master Gardener organization provide a beautiful background. This talented group makes sure something is always in bloom.
The goal of the Farmstead is to show area children what 19th century Kansas farms might have looked included. They've collected old farm tools and worked them into the landscape. Only animals that are native to the Plains or that were found on area farms are featured.
While packing a picnic lunch sounds ideal for a day at the Farmstead, might I suggest instead that you take advantage of their concession stand which offers a good variety of nutritious child-friendly foods. You'll be supporting a most worthy cause when you dine in!
If your little ones are a bit nervous around large farm animals, no worry, there's plenty of playground space and more for them to enjoy. Recent additions to the Farmstead include a one-room country schoolhouse, an old time fishing pond, the Kanza Indian encampment, a mining exhibit, a nature trail and little tractors that the kids can ride around a paved track.
Now that my boys are a little older and have discovered a love for fishing, we try our luck at the stocked pond. I don't even have to bring worms or poles as both are available on site.
Admission is free though there is a small charge for fishing, horse drawn wagon rides, pony rides and a few other attractions. Don't forget to bring plenty of quarters so you can buy handfuls of animal food for the goats, ducks and chickens.
Many people don't realize that the Farmstead was renamed in 1985 to honor Deanna Sue Rose, an Overland Park police officer killed in the line of duty. Officer Rose is the only Overland Park Police Officer and the first woman officer in the state of Kansas to die in the line of duty.
Look over your calendar and make plans to spend a wonderful spring or summer day enjoying all of the little treasures hidden among the trees at this local landmark!