This Illinois Farm Has Apple Picking, A Pumpkin Patch And Goats Kids Love To Feed

Goats strolling across a bridge above your head is not something most people expect to see on a fall afternoon in Illinois. At one family farm in the middle of the state, it happens all season long, right next to rows of apple trees and a field full of pumpkins.

Kids get to feed the animals, pick their own fruit, and run around until their legs give out. For families hunting a cozy, old-fashioned fall outing close to home, this one deserves a spot on the calendar.

A Family Orchard Along Route 40 In Central Illinois

Drive a few miles north of Peoria on IL-40 and the city fades fast into open farmland. Right around the tiny community of Speer, cars start slowing down and turning into a big parking lot, and that is your first clue you have found Tanners Orchard.

The address is 740 IL-40, Speer, and the farm sits in the heart of Central Illinois farm country. What you will find there is much more than a place to grab a bag of apples.

It is a full family farm destination with U-pick orchards, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a giant play area, a corn maze, a bakery, a market, and a sit-down eatery.

Plenty of families treat it like a whole-day outing, and it is easy to see why. You can show up in the morning, pick out a pumpkin, eat lunch, and still have time to feed the goats before heading home.

Best of all for budget-minded parents, there is no general admission fee and no parking fee just to walk onto the property. You pay only for the activities you actually want, which makes it simple to plan a visit that fits your wallet.

For a quick morning or a long afternoon, it works either way.

Seventy-Five Years Of Family Farming Tradition

Back in the 1940s, when the farm first got its start, nobody could have guessed it would become a fall tradition for so much of the Peoria area. More than 75 years later, the orchard is still family-owned and operated, now reaching four and five generations of the same family.

That long history shows up in small ways. Many local grown-ups first visited on grade school field trips, and now they bring their own kids and grandkids.

For a lot of Central Illinois households, the farm has quietly become an institution, the kind of place people mention the moment the leaves start turning.

Of course, the farm has grown a lot over the decades. What began as a simpler orchard now spreads across acres of fields, play areas, animal pens, and a huge main building.

Regulars say each year seems to bring something new to discover, whether it is a fresh corn maze design or a new photo spot.

Still, the heart of the place feels old-fashioned. Staff members are known for being friendly and helpful, and the whole farm keeps its focus on simple joys like picking fruit, petting animals, and sharing a warm treat.

Grandparents Weekend even gives older generations their own special moment on the calendar.

Eleven Thousand Apple Trees Ready For Picking

Eleven thousand. That is roughly how many U-pick apple trees grow at the orchard, a number that makes most backyard gardeners a little dizzy.

Apple picking season usually runs from September through October, and as many as 17 different varieties may be ready during that stretch. Some ripen early and others later, so the apples on the branches in mid-September might be different from the ones you find in October.

That variety is part of the fun, especially for kids who like comparing sweet and tart flavors right there in the rows.

Wagon rides carry guests out to the orchard, which saves little legs for the picking itself. Once you arrive, the job is simple: find a tree, reach up, and twist gently.

Children love the feeling of plucking their very own apple instead of grabbing one from a grocery store bin.

Keep in mind that U-pick works a bit differently from the rest of the farm. There is a separate field admission fee, and then you pay for the apples you take home.

Families who would rather skip the fields can still buy bags and containers of already-picked apples inside the market, so nobody leaves empty-handed. Either way, homemade apple pie night is pretty much guaranteed.

Pumpkin Fields, Sunflowers And A Yearly Corn Maze Puzzle

Orange stretches for acres once the pumpkin patch opens in mid-September. The patch covers somewhere between 10 and 20 acres, and it stays open through October, giving families plenty of weekends to hunt for the perfect jack-o-lantern.

Wagon rides head out to the patch too, though some visitors end up walking, so comfortable shoes are a smart choice. Like the apple orchard, the pumpkin field has its own admission fee on top of the cost of whatever you carry out.

Want a shortcut? A large selection of pumpkins and colorful mums is also for sale near the main building.

Then there is the corn maze, which gets a brand-new design every single year. The full route can stretch to around 3.5 miles, and it doubles as a puzzle that guests solve along the way.

Younger kids or tired grown-ups can pick a shorter path of less than a mile instead.

A seasonal sunflower field adds one more bright spot for photos. Between the golden flowers, the tall corn, and the rows of pumpkins, the farm offers backdrops that practically beg for a family picture.

Many parents leave with a camera roll full of smiling faces and muddy sneakers.

Goats Overhead On The Billy Goat Bridge

Look up. That tip might sound strange at a farm, but at this one the goats are often strolling right above your head.

The famous Billy Goat Bridge and Billy Goat Tree House let the animals climb high over the walkways, and kids tend to stop in their tracks the first time they spot hooves clicking across the boards. It is silly, charming, and one of the most memorable sights on the whole property.

Parents often find themselves just as amused as their children.

Feeding time is the real highlight for little ones. Feed machines near the pens take two quarters per handful, so bring a pocket full of coins before you go.

The goats are eager and friendly, and they will happily nibble from small hands.

The petting zoo holds more than goats, too. Sheep, llamas, and chickens share the space, and recent visitors have been delighted by a very cute and friendly Highland cow calf.

Seeing so many animals up close gives city kids and country kids alike a fun taste of farm life.

Since the feed only costs a few quarters, this ends up being one of the most budget-friendly parts of the day. It is also the part many kids chatter about the whole ride home.

The Back 40 Fun Acres And Its Wild Play Zone

Kids with extra energy will find their happy place out in the Back 40 Fun Acres. The name fits, because this sprawling play zone is packed with things to climb, bounce, and slide on.

Giant slides, a huge jumping pad, horse tire swings, and several playground structures fill the space. There is also a straw bale maze that toddlers adore, pedal go-karts for racing, and gem mining where children pan for colorful rocks.

On special days, the area has even featured unicorns and a princess, plus butterfly releases that little ones get to help with.

Festival Days bring pony rides for children under 80 pounds, and the barrel train and grain train rides roll through for an extra dose of fun. The whole setup feels lively and bustling, sometimes almost a sensory overload in the best way.

Oversized photo props, like a giant swing and chair, keep grown-ups entertained too.

Here is a budget tip worth remembering. On weekdays, tag-along adults have been able to enter free while kids paid a small fee, but on weekends adults pay as well.

The Back 40 can close during bad weather, including extreme heat, so checking the farm’s social media before leaving home is a good idea.

Cider Donuts, Caramel Apples And Lunch At The Old Market Eatery

Warm cinnamon sugar hits you the moment you walk inside. The Apple Bin Bakery is best known for its apple cider donuts, and for many families no trip feels complete without a bag of them for the car ride home.

Caramel apples, fresh pies, apple fritters, pumpkin bars, and popcorn fill the bakery cases. The peach pie is made with fresh peaches instead of canned, and the apple cider slushy is a sweet, icy favorite on warm fall days.

You can even watch workers in the kitchen baking goodies from scratch.

Next door, the Farm Market is big enough to wander for a while. Shelves hold fresh produce, jams, honey, salsas, apple butter, pumpkin apple butter, sauces, candles, and home decor.

A sample bar with cider on tap lets you taste before you buy, and regulars swear by treats like corn salsa and pickled baby beets.

Hungry for a real meal? The Old Market Eatery serves a full lunch menu plus daily specials, with favorites such as a turkey BLT, creamy mac and cheese, and an Italian wrap.

There is seating indoors, including a cheerful greenhouse area. Outside, food stands and restrooms make it easy to refuel without heading back to the main building.

Hours, Costs And Smart Tips Before You Go

Planning ahead makes this outing smoother and cheaper. The farm lists hours of 8 AM to 8 PM every day of the week, and weekends get very busy, so arriving early in the morning helps you beat the crowds.

Entry and parking cost nothing, and each attraction is priced on its own, so you can build a day around your budget. Families planning to do almost everything can grab a Buy the Farm pass for all-day access to most attractions, though U-pick produce is always separate.

Visiting on a weekday can also save money, since some areas are free for adults then.

Bringing the family dog? Pets are welcome with a $10 donation that goes to The A.R.K. humane society in Lacon.

The farm also offers handicap parking, ramps into the main building, an accessible market, and a converted RV for nursing moms.

Wear good walking shoes, bring quarters for the goats, and set a snack budget before stepping into the bakery. Costs can add up for larger families, so choosing a few favorite activities is a smart move.

Even so, for a classic Illinois fall day full of apples, pumpkins, and giggling kids, this orchard is hard to beat.