The Country Experience
Elizabeth, Illinois 61028
Join us for farm activities!
Overview
The Country Experience began as a summer sleepaway camp, and that continues to be our primary focus. Along the way, TCE has also become a destination for school groups and teachers looking to put hands-on learning into practice, a spot for families to get away and relax, and home to really good wood-fired pizza.
Experience life on the farm with your family and friends! Our 34 acre family farm is sized and planned with people in mind, both those who live here and those who visit. We plant fruit, vegetables, and crops to create a beautiful landscape as well as feed us delicious food throughout the growing season. Our livestock are diverse, friendly, and each plays a role on the land. The Gathering Barn, a century-old barn, serves as a beautiful and rustic place to eat, meet, and play.
When you visit The Country Experience you are welcome to join us in any/all farm activities, just relax in a hammock on our rolling hills, or visit local attractions. The Country Experience is great for many different occasions: family getaways, work retreats, special events, romantic couples retreats, birthday celebrations, or any other gathering. We’re very flexible and work to meet your needs.
–Amenities: Stay in one of our four cozy cabins that easily accommodate single families or larger groups. We will configure the beds (bunk beds, singles, king mattress) to your needs! Each cabin has A/C, heat, electricity, linens, towels, ceiling fans, and screen doors and windows. Modern full bathrooms, showers and private changing rooms are located in the Gathering Barn, only a short walk from your cabin.
–Farm Breakfasts: Join us for for a family-style breakfast each morning! Our full farm breakfast offers an assortment of farm fresh eggs, local meats, baked sweet breads, toast with homemade jams, yogurt, cereals, fruit– and of course coffee, tea, and juice!
–Dinner Experience: Grill-Out dinner includes a selection of local meats, farm fresh salads, tasty sides, and homemade dessert. For your Farm Pizza Night, craft your own pizza with local meats, cheeses, fresh vegetables and herbs, and our farm’s best tomato sauce. Gather around our wood-fired brick oven to watch your pizza bubble and crisp in less than a minute. Campfire and s’mores to follow dinner!
–On-Farm Activities:During your stay we’d love to have you join us for as many farm activities as you’d like: daily animal feedings, harvesting vegetables from the garden, building a campfire, cleaning animal pens, fishing in our pond, weeding/mulching around the farm, building projects, grooming the animals.
Or — relax in our row of shaded hammocks, read a book by the pond, stargaze on the wide lawn, share stories around the campfire, take a walk around the 1-mile paved path, practice yoga with the little goats.
–Animals: We are currently home to a small herd of Dexter Cows, Boer Goats, Nubian Goats, New Zealand Rabbits, two flocks of laying hens, several Berkshire and Heritage Pigs, three Miniature Pot-Bellied Pigs, several Dorset and Shetland Sheep and, of course, Sammy, our farm dog, and the two barn cats named Batgirl and Wolfie.
–Off-Farm Activities: The surrounding area hosts a variety of fun and family-friendly events. We will share some of our favorite recommendations for nearby restaurants, shops, sightseeing, natural spaces, or tourist attractions!
Location
Features
Food
- Breakfast
- Cookouts
- Desserts
- Dinner
- Family-style Dining
- Farm Fresh Eggs
- Gluten-free
- Locally grown
- Organic
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
Amenities
- A/C
- Fire pit
- Great View
- Linens provided
- Pond
Activities
- Animals
- Barn Cat(s)
- Bonfire/Campfire
- Bottle Feeding Animals
- Bread making
- Canning or Preserving
- Children's activities
- Cows
- Donkeys
- Egg Gathering
- Farm Dogs
- Fishing
- Flower Gathering
- Gardening
- Goats
- Help with Chores
- Jam Making/Canning
- Kids Camp / Overnight
- Nature walk
- Organic farming
- Pigs
- Planting / harvesting
- Rabbits
- Sheep
- Wood Fired Oven
Allowed
- Children under 12
- Corporate Retreats
- Family Reunions
- Parties
- Special Events
- Tour Groups - Large
- Tour Groups - Small
- Weddings/Elopements
Accessibility
- Limited mobility
- Vision impaired
- Wheel chair
Units
Private Cabin
Special Instructions: Many possible cabin arrangements! All bunks, king bed, bunks and king, etc. A/C, heat, skylights and ceiling fans. Dinner and Breakfast from farm fresh ingredients, each day of your stay Linens and towels, although many children love the chance to use their sleeping bag
Rate Period | Price | |
Per night weekends only - 4 people Instructions: Each additional guests( from same family) $25/night. |
Rate Period From: 04/17 To: 11/01 | Price : $285 |
4-night Sleepover Summer Camp (Mon-Fri) - kids age 9-12
Special Instructions: Offered by the week, June-August. 3 cozy cabins and one barn cabin. Each sleeps 10. Check out website for more details https://www.thecountryexperience.com/summercamp/.
Rate Period | Price | |
Per session Instructions: Must apply. Can book two concurrent weeks. See website for application. |
Rate Period From: 06/08 To: 08/21 | Price : $985 |