Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm’s Dino Outbreak & Unicorn Wonder combines 20+ animatronic dinosaurs, unicorns, dozens of attractions, and festive food truck fare to create an adventure for dinosaur and unicorn-loving kids (and grown-ups!).
My family and I went to check out this event in Lockport and had a great time as we explored the dino and unicorn themed attractions and games. Keep reading for more on our experience and everything you’ll want to know before you go.
This article is sponsored by Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dino Outbreak & Unicorn Wonder on the Farm
The highlight of our visit to Siegel’s was finding the animatronic dinosaurs and unicorns scattered throughout the farm. Each dinosaur has a plaque that shares information about the dinosaur, which included the type of dinosaur, period, location, and quick facts. There are many cute and accommodating photo ops with the animatronics, as well as seated dino benches to take large group photos.
My almost two and four year-olds got a kick out of the many dinos and unicorns as they moved and made noise! Their movements were lifelike, but not scary.
In addition to the animatronic dinosaurs, Siegel’s has done a great job adding stationary dinos throughout the farm. From benches to cracked-egg structures to dino chairs, I really enjoyed the attention to detail. They also make for cute and memorable photo-ops with the kiddos.
There is also a Dino Barn area with a fossil dig and additional games, including a large “Who’s Your Dinosaur” version of the game “Guess Who?”
Other Features of Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm
Although the dinos and unicorns are definitely a draw this weekend and next, Siegel’s has so many more activities and attractions to enjoy; they are spread out across the farm so it never feels crowded.
Some of our most favorites areas to spend time in were Fly n’ Farmers Trolley Lines, Maddie’s Mansion and Chalets Playground, and Lexi’s Jumbo Jumping Pillows. Also to note, there are two train attractions (one smaller in size which is included in your wristband admission price, and one much larger train attraction that loops around and through the open cornfields which is priced at an additional fee of $5 per ticket, 2 and under are free.)
This was our first visit to Siegel’s, and my kids (ages 4 and almost 2) were so excited as they ran from activity to activity to check everything out. All the attractions that we explored were included in the admission ticket, which is a huge plus! You can easily spend the day enjoying the different attractions geared towards various age ranges.
There are also hourly foam parties that are such a great surprise! They rotate the location of the foam parties and staff does a great job circulating to remind people when and where the foam parties and top-of-the-hour train rides are so you don’t miss the fun.
Near the entrance, we loved Wheels of Funland, which featured vehicles made of wood that they could climb on, pretend to drive, and slide down. In another area, two giant jumping pillows were both inflated. We all had fun jumping — myself included! The playgrounds, spider webs, and climbable tire piles were also big hits with my kids.
The Mountain Slide was another feature of the park where we spent a lot of our time. If riders are too short to ride alone, they can sit on their grownup’s lap. Just grab a burlap sack and you can ride the mountain as many times as you want. At the very top, there is an attendant readily available to help you safely set up your sack before taking off. There are 4 slide lanes to choose from. My daughter and I had a grand ol’ time flying down the mountain while catching view of the property from atop.
There was even a goat roaming alongside the mountain as we climbed up and a chicken coop at the base of the attraction for added amusement. There were plenty of other attractions available, too. For a fee, the gem mining station gives you the chance to find fossils, gemstones, or even crack a geode to take home with you. We spent about 2.5 hours at Siegel’s, and could have easily stayed longer if my littlest one didn’t need to get home for a nap.
Food & Snacks
You don’t have to look far for food at Siegel’s! There were Kona Ice, Rainbow Cone, and a food truck set up by the back barn where parties are held. My kids had the Mac n’ cheese and it was delicious! There were also other food stands within the farm to get snacks and drinks, including Zach’s Smoke Shack for BBQ, Cottonwood Cluckers Frying’ Shed for everything poultry and yummy side dishes, and I even spotted an Ice cream and iced coffee stand. Plenty of large picnic tables and open spaces are set up for easy gathering and spots to eat.
Bathrooms & Changing Station
There are bathrooms in several places throughout the farm. They are designed to look like outhouses and have hand sanitizer within each one. In the antique building, there is a nursing and baby changing area. There are also fresh water and soap hand washing stations in case you need to wash something or thoroughly wash your hands.
Hours and Prices
Dino Outbreak & Unicorn Wonder is from 10:00am – 4:00pm on July 26-27 and August 2-3, 2025. Tickets are $24.95 for ages 3 and up; kids under 3 are free.
Recommended Ages
This event is fun for all ages! My nearly 2-year-old was fascinated by how the dinos and unicorns moved, while my older child loved the dinosaur-themed activities. The unicorns were magical too. My husband and I liked reading the fun facts about the dinos and watching our kids as they ran around and discovered all of the activities. It truly was a wonderful daytime weekend activity for all!
Best Days/Times To Go
We got to Siegel’s shortly after the Dino Outbreak opened (10:00am), and more families came as the day went on, but we never felt it was too crowded or had to wait long to enjoy the attractions.
Accessibility
Since there is so much space on the farm, you can find many quiet areas. Most of the farm is flat without steps or stairs. However, keep in mind that the ground is all grass or gravel, so strollers and/or wheelchairs with heavy-duty tires are easier to push around.
Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm
17250 S Weber Rd.
Lockport, IL 60441
(815) 741-2693
Can’t get enough of dinosaurs? We’ve pulled together all the best Chicagoland dinosaur themed places! Check out our Ultimate Summer Guide for more ideas of fun this summer, too.