When our daughter was just over 2 years old, we took her to Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago. I had never been there before, this was my first visit.
While in the car heading to Sonny Acres, I made the mistake of asking for directions. My husband both laughed and had a concerned look on his face. “How do you not know how to get there?! Everyone knows where Sonny Acres Farm is!” He was in disbelief and was shocked I’d only heard his stories of his time there, yet have never visited myself.
I learned quickly that Sonny Acres has been around since 1883. The name is a play on words in reference to the seven sons of Ramona and Victor Feltes, who grew the from a small roadside stand to what it is today.
As we approached the farm, the parking lot was FULL of cars and you could smell ‘fall.’ Was it the animals, the fresh leaves, pumpkins, cider, popcorn? Hard to tell, it just smelled FALL.
I could see just how excited my husband was to show our daughter, and me, the wonder of Sonny Acres. See, THIS was tradition, THIS was what was perfect about childhood, THIS was everything.
Dear reader, I know you’ve been to Sonny Acres before. You’re from DuPage County for cryin’ out loud. You’ve been to the costume shop, bought the jam, picked out the perfect pumpkin and went on the hayride. You might be worried about what it will be like this year.
According to the Chicago Tribune, The Sonny Acres Farm was sold to Mike Fontana and Chris Joyaux who happen to be childhood friends.
I got nervous when I heard the news, mostly for my husband. Would the new owners come in and wipe away all that my husband loved and remembered as a kid?
I quickly found out the answer to the question. Mike Fontana has been quoted saying in the Chicago Tribune, “There are so many memories and traditions out there in the property. There are so many people interested in keeping it going. I want to keep it the way it is.”
There’s our answer. The newly owned Sonny Acres will remain just as your child self remembers it.
Of course, there will be SOME changes. Sonny Acres’ website boasts a new Haunted House Experience which is twice as long and twice as spooky, a new and improved Haunted Hay Ride and new bathrooms.
I can’t wait to get back to the farm this year knowing that tradition will be honored, improved and I’ll be able to enjoy my second time at Sonny Acres as much as I did my first.
