Abbey Farms

Abbey Farms is a one-of-a-kind agritourism farm in Aurora, Illinois, but we prefer to think of ourselves as a fun destination for the whole family! For nearly 75 years, Abbey Farms has been creating memories with our fall festival, which includes a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and other outdoor attractions; our holiday season, which includes dozens of acres of U-Cut trees and our Christmas store; our Summer Ramble season, which includes a specialty cafe menu and live music; and, soon, our apple orchard and new winter season activities! It all began in the 1930s, when the monks of Marmion Abbey moved here and began planting trees, and it was first opened to the public in 1949. Abbey Farms is a thriving, nonprofit farm where 100% of the profits go to the monks and their goal. Summer Ramble's quiet, collected demeanor, as well as the fact that we are closed in the Spring, may create the impression that they are slower seasons on the farm. That is not the case! Farming is a year-round, full-time job! What you don't see is often the most important factor in the success of what you do see. Here's a look at what goes on at Abbey Farms every year: Winter is the time of year when we establish the foundation for the rest of the year. Whether it's apple orchards, pumpkin patches, or Christmas trees, fields must be cleared and cleaned to remove pests and disease hiding places. As the snow melts and the weather warms, we'll be able to see what we're up against and ramp up our efforts. This is an excellent time to plant new apple and Christmas trees in the fields. At the same time, we're trimming the existing apple trees to focus their energy on producing bigger, healthier fruit. We can compost and mound the pumpkin patch later in the Spring, after the last threat of frost has passed, and sow seeds straight into the earth. Isn't it true that we're always fooling around with the trees in the orchard and tree fields? Yes, we are! To ensure healthy growth and a beautiful shape, both apple and Christmas trees require year-round pruning and shaping. Summer is also when we need to be particularly cautious about insect control and water intake for all of our crops. Abbey Farms is, of course, busiest in the fall! We begin with the apple harvest — while you're collecting apples, we're cleaning up fallen fruit to prevent pests, fertilizing plants, planting new trees, and yes, trimming once again. We need to clear the field and put additional compost into the ground so it's ready for next year once you've had a chance to visit the pumpkin patch and bring home the perfect jack 'o lantern.