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50 acres
1 site
1 Tent
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Fishing
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River, stream, or creek
Field
Farm
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Location
Newark, Illinois, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Meredith G.Joined in June 2021
Response rate: 100%Response time: Within 2 hours
92%
42 ratings · 37 reviews
Ann Marie A.recommends
September 19, 2022
private creek site
Camping with Horses! Yaaay!
Our campsite was perfect! Located right across the creek over a wooden pedestrian bridge. Every night around 8pm, the horses would cross the bridge/creek and walk through the trees near our campsite and then gallop over to the far side of the field. Such a beautiful sight! A freight train would pass once in awhile as well. Luckily all 3 of us loved the train and no one complained about the noise or the ground rumbling lol. I signed us up on Thursday night for the Trail Rides, and Friday was sold out. Saturday had spots but we couldn't ride together, so be sure to purchase at least a week in advance! The trail ride experience can be different depending on the person leading the group. My campmates did the Daytime Trail Ride, and told me that they were given the choice of taking the "adventurous" or the "scenic" trail. I took the Sunset Trail Ride (which included a bonfire) but was not given a choice of adventurous or scenic which really wasn't a big deal to me. I noticed that the trail groups did not always stop in the field (where our campsite was) to take pictures, so I requested that we make a photo stop and our group leader, Beth, was totally down to take pictures of me with Billy (the fast one that likes to tailgate lol). There was a lightning storm the last day of camping so keep an eye on the weather! We were there in early September. There will be a puddle to walk around before the bridge unless you have galoshes! Don't forget the mosquito repellent! I would go again!
Jeremiah H.recommends
September 4, 2022
private creek site
Camp with the horses!
Beautiful farm and setting. The horses grazed right as we were cooking dinner and walked right near the site, which was pretty cool. They were all well behaved and we kept our distance. There are train track right next to the site and were used pretty regularly, but no later than 8pm during our stay. I wouldn't take anything larger than a teardrop trailer across the bridge. The campsite was peaceful and private.
Sarah S.recommends
August 20, 2022
private creek site
My kids and I had an amazing experience here; the creek is filled with crayfish and the hosts provided nets and buckets for catching critters, and the horses roaming the property at night, running past our fire, was a once in a lifetime experience! Highly recommend!! 🙌🏼
Myriam S.recommends
August 14, 2022
private creek site
This was an unforgettable stay! We loved the horses galloping by, the creek to explore, and the scenery was so beautiful and peaceful. Make sure to book a horseback ride if you’re camping there! The only down side was the traffic noise at night. Otherwise, a perfect site!
Andrew K.recommends
July 26, 2022
private creek site
Perfect HipCamp site
This campsite was so cool! It is not your average campsite and why I love HipCamp. Not only did we have everything we needed just a 10 min walk away, (fresh and cold) drinking water and clean bathrooms, this unique site has friendly roaming horses and an elevated train track. There are also goats and sheep by the land entrance. Campsite is nice and primitive with a fire ring of rocks and a picnic table. Plenty of wooded area to explore and a beautiful creek.
Meredith was a great host. Hands off and quickly communicative when needed. I will be booking again!
Dan H.recommends
July 17, 2022
private creek site
Rustic, quiet and relaxing.
Sydney P.recommends
July 7, 2022
private creek site
Beautiful Quiet Campsite!
This location is beautiful! Will definitely be using this place again. Secluded, pretty, and an adventure to get to the camping site. Can’t wait to plan another night here again soon!
Molly Y.recommends
June 29, 2022
private creek site
Horses, Fireflies, Magic!
This is such a special place! I parked in the shade near the creek and had total privacy. The horses came for an evening visit and I watched them from both sides of my tent. Shortly after dark, thousands of fireflies put on a show! Meredith was friendly and helpful. This camping spot was a manageable distance to downtown Chicago and my start or Route 66.
Cindy A.recommends
June 20, 2022
private creek site
Beautiful horse farm and creek. Helpful host, we had a wonderful time.
Jim B.recommends
June 12, 2022
private creek site
Secluded camping
Meredith’s campsite was secluded in the woods providing us with complete privacy. We operate with solar so being off grid is no problem. We had a great stay and we would definitely return.
Princess P.recommends
June 2, 2022
private creek site
We had so much fun here!! Definitely recommend camping and horseback riding!!
Drew J.recommends
May 21, 2022
private creek site
Fantastic - camping, stream, horses
Fantastic location! What a great spot to get away. Not only a great camping spot and next to a wonderful stream but also loved having horses all around! Can’t say enough wonderful things about this location and our stay. 100% will be back and would encourage anyone considering this site to say YES!
Pippin R.recommends
October 24, 2021
private creek site
We loved this site! It felt cozy and private and had everything we needed :)
Becky I.recommends
October 18, 2021
private creek site
Wonderful campsite!
This place was awesome! Meredith was easy to talk to,, we set up our camper on the lot and were the only ones there. So magical! The horses were there by our camper every night. We went out early morning Sunday before the sun rose to see them before they went in for the morning. Such a neat place to see, like around, and take pictures. The train trestle was beautiful! The train did come through but it only adds to the ambiance of things. I would highly recommend this place, it’s an experience our family will talk about forever.
Julie B.recommends
October 3, 2021
private creek site
Original Family Camping Trip!
My family and I will always remember this trip: the horses passing by our site free roaming in the evening and early morning going to and from the pasture, our dog frolicking in the creek, our adventurous horseback trail riding around the property, and a 3 mile hike at a Silver Springs State Park nearby! (The bathroom being a jaunt away at the barn and the train tracks being right overhead were not as exciting, but just added to the memories! 😜)
William S.
October 2, 2021
private creek site
The site is primitive with no water, electric or bathroom. We had a nice view of the tree lined creek and We loved meeting the horses at night as they came down to the lower pasture for the night.
Yadira L.
September 28, 2021
private creek site
What an experience….
This was my mistake, I mis interpreted the pictures but there is an active freight train track insanely close to the campsite. About 15-20 feet next to it and it passes 2-3x at night. The hours? 9pm, 3am and around 5. In addition, I often got the hint that the host was not happy to have people on ground (note- we were quiet, clean and respected our surroundings and animals) i got the hint that it seemed like a chore to answer my questions (e.i. Where are the bathrooms, where is the water, where can we hike/set up. I very much like knowing what I can and cannot do to respect each other). I asked several questions prior to the day of and none where answered until after I got there. Example- i asked to confirm the address, this was confirmed two hours after I had arrived. I only found the place thanks to google. Lack of communication is lack of professionalism and lack comfort and welcoming. I understand they are busy however to last days without a response is problematic for those of you who follow planning and scheduling.
However it wasn’t all bad. The creek was great and refreshing, it was great waking up to the horses walking through the bridge at 9pm and 5am or 6am. Enjoyed the horse ride however I timed it (because I had a schedule set) its not an hour long. I loved the hiking and random cows gazing out in the fields. It was nice and relaxing.
My advice is if you have a nervous dog, do not bring it with you. The train is incredibly loud and this is the home of many horses that come around all the time, which is amazing! My dogs loved it however my sister’s dog did not and that is not the horses fault but ours.
Overall, would recommend if you don’t mind being woken up by the train and seeing multiple people pass by multiple times a day and if you don’t have a dog who gets scared at night by random noises. The creek, hiking, animals and bridge was amazing.
Susan A.recommends
September 28, 2021
private creek site
Beautiful
This was so beautiful! The host greeted us when we arrived and then let us be for the rest of our trip. We woke up to sounds of horses chomping grass outside the tent which was delightful! The train did come through at 4:30am but it didn't make the coping any less amazing. There is a porta John to use, and a fie pit
Amy P.recommends
September 26, 2021
private creek site
Perfect getaway on the creek
Meredith has a beautiful farm with some amazing horses! The young lady in the barn gave me directions to the site, told me where to find bathrooms and warned me about the train.
I arrived with just enough time to set up camp before sunset and enjoyed my dinner at one of the provided picnic tables.
Hearing the horses coming was honestly one of the highlights of my stay! It was already dark and since the moon hadnt risen yet, it was pitch dark! I sat on the back of truck and watched them munch their way through and over the footbridge! Total surreal moment!
The train did come thru twice. 1st at about 1030pm and then again at 4am. A few times during thr night i heard horses coming back thru, under the light of the moon!
If you are a lighter sleep or don't want to be awaken by the horses, a simple pair of earplugs would do the trick, but honesty, the hores are part of the charm amd the reason why I stayed here. I'll definitely come back!
Kevin P.recommends
September 12, 2021
private creek site
Quiet, cool, convenient
Meredith’s place is great, and I highly recommend it. The spaces for camping are quiet, private (away from the main buildings), and appropriately close to the bathroom. She also offers access to potable water. The fire pit has picnic tables and even a couple of folding chairs. The horses and the train are a pretty cool touch, too. We also appreciate Meredith’s “leave everything better” message; we should all try our very best to camp by it.
All in all, we had a great time and will likely come back.
Melissa R.recommends
September 11, 2021
private creek site
Creek play
My kids loved the creek. So much exploring to do!
Jennifer M.
September 8, 2021
private creek site
A magical time with the horses
I'm so glad we stayed here because camping at a horse farm is a unique experience! I am grateful for the beautiful and powerful images of the horses at dusk and dawn around our tent. These are memories I will always cherish and I don't know where else I could have experienced this!
Things we learned that might be helpful to know:
1. There is a footbridge just before the campsite with two picnic tables and a fire ring. We decided it might not be a good idea to drive a big SUV over the bridge. So, we ended up hauling our stuff on foot over the bridge. Smaller cars could definitely drive over. It's fun to watch the 15-30 horses come over the footbridge at night and return at dawn.
2. We needed to move some horse poop so we could set up our tent. It was OK because we had a campfire shovel.
3. The campsite is next to a picturesque, old wooden train bridge. It's beautiful! Our first night in the camp we heard a train at 9:30pm and 6:30am. The second night it was 2:45am. If you don't mind being woken up, it is an amazing, surreal experience to be enveloped by the sound. We stayed awake that morning and enjoyed the experience of the horses around our tent as the sun came up!
4. We learned via internet that horses only sleep 3 or 4 hours over the course of 24 hours and have excellent night vision. It was amazing and impressive to hear them chomping, snorting and sometimes running around in the darkness outside our tent!
5. In addition to having some excellent shade trees at the campsite, the little creek is ice cold! We set up camp in a heat index of 108! Two folding chairs by the picnic table are excellent for sitting in the creek, which is shallow--about ankle deep in most places. In the afternoon, it's in the shade and minnows like to jump--sometimes completely--out of the water to eat insects, One dusk, a beautiful Green Heron landed on a branch to eat minnows while we sat at the picnic table! We also saw crayfish.
6. When you enter, you drive past 2 sets of open red gates. The second gate will be closed with a chain at dusk when the horses are let out for the night. The first night we had to leave to cool off after setting up camp. After dinner, we returned in a downpour shortly after dark and mistakenly thought the second gate was locked. After trying to reach our host for 10 minutes, we decided to get a hotel room and come back in the morning. She texted us that the gate is not locked! But, I think we would have been too unsure on our first night of how to drive back down to our campsite in the dark, through the horses, in the downpour.
7. We took an amazing horse back ride at sunset on our second night through several creeks and beautifully wooded areas with lush, old trees. These same trail rides came by our camp every day. (We were warned the trail rides would be running all day on that particular Saturday.) There are areas to camp if you can drive over the footbridge that seem more private. They look beautiful and lush, but there is no picnic table or fire ring anywhere but by the footbridge. I believe the trail rides still might pass your tent and you will probably hear Fox River Drive traffic no matter which campsite you choose.
8. In the mornings, we saw so many hummingbirds just a short walk from our tent--sometimes four at a time. We saw all of these birds while camping here:
Indigo Bunting
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Robin
Eastern Kingbird
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Green Heron
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
House Finch
European Starling
Dickcissel
Gray Catbird
House Sparrow
Blue Jay
Robert A.recommends
September 7, 2021
private creek site
Awesome
Horses 👍
Creek 👍
Overall experience 👍 👍
Joe J.
September 6, 2021
private creek site
We had a good time staying Meredith‘s Farm! Seeing the horses come out at night was magical and we camped right next to a small creek which we were able to sit by and soak our feet in to keep cool (it happened to be in the 90s every day we stayed there). We chose to do a sunset horseback riding as well and it was also a lot of fun. Going through the pastures and across the creek and through the forest on horseback was a great experience. We did have one Night where we went out for dinner and came back after 8 o’clock and the gate was closed and we did not know how to get back in to our camp. Meredith later explained that the gate was not locked and we could just Open the gate and drive in, but with the horses out and it was raining we didn’t want to take the chance so we stayed elsewhere for one evening. My recommendation is if you are going to stay here and want to go off the farm definitely plan on being back before 7pm and you’ll be just fine.
We did do some birding while we were there and saw a number of different types of birds on the property including the number of indigo Bunting‘s, a bunch of ruby throated hummingbird‘s, hawks, swallows, Blue Jays, chickadees, Robins, Cardinals and a green heron which landed right in front of us and did a little fishing in the creek.
Overall it was a good experience and again, seeing the horses at night as they strolled through camp was amazing experience.
Suriyya L.recommends
September 1, 2021
private creek site
Horse Farm Excitement
My 3 sons (13, 10, 6 yrs) and I just had the adventure of their lives at this site. I'll start of by saying it is probably not for everybody. Theres, flies, theres noise and the gounds not soft but if you're able to get by all that you can have the best time. We stayed for 3 days, 2 nights at a primitive site on the bank of the creek that runs through the property. The first thing you notice is the train tressel sitting above the site. I saw comments before about a train and I thought it was trains in the diatance... actually we were right next to an active train line. Even though it was infrequent, it added a challenge we werent expecting and almost cost us the trip because it really spooked the kids when the train came through at 10p and 3a or so on our first night. We had seen one earlier in the day that helped to prepare us for what was to come and since by that time the kids had had a taste of what the site had to offer, they were willing to tough it out for the remainder of our stay. And what it offered was alot!
We didnt bring fire wood so we scanvenged for down branches and logs and kept a fire going where we had eggs, pancakes, beans and franks, hamburgers and so on. There was potable water by the farm and the 6 gals i brought brought back to camp plus what water we had in the cooler was enough for our purposes. We brought a cooler of food that we kept in Jeep in the shade. The ice kept everything cool the entire time. Once we got to our site we had the farm to ourselves most of the time. The owners would come in the mornings and evenings to let the horses in and out and infequently to do trainings or guided tours, but that was always off in the distance by the farmhouse.
The kids enjoyed exploring the creek bed and surrounding area, picking almost ripe cherries, going up to the farmhouse to play with the cats and feeding the horses, there where even a couple of friendly chocolate labs we were lucky enough to meet. We were thrilled to be camping at a site where the horses come to drink when going out to pasture for the evening so each night we would have horses in our camp! It was great seeing the kids interacting with each other and nature without a wifi signal or electronic device in sight. We booked a trail ride and had an exciting ride through the property where we even galloped a bit and wrangled some cows that had gotten into the wrong field. Meridith and her family were really welcoming, responsive and really showed us good time. We got exactly what we were looking for plus some "push-through", growth moments that made it a challenge. We loved it and will definitely be back!
Val E.recommends
August 15, 2021
private creek site
Peaceful One Nite Stay
It was a perfectly private and magical experience. Around 8 PM, the horses mosey past the camp grounds to a different pasture. Getting to the camp grounds was a bit tricky with a big travel trailer but worth it. Although we only stayed one night, I would recommend this site.
Pamela P.recommends
August 8, 2021
private creek site
Unique place. Staying in the area with the horses was a first and really fun. Loved the spot for the kids, especially with the train tracks and creek to play in. Since it’s a horse ranch, the fields had plenty of paths and clearings to explore with our kids without any issue.
Pete H.recommends
August 5, 2021
private creek site
A Magical Spot. A Rare Treat.
This is truly a magical spot. Absolutely awesome! We stayed along the creek and enjoyed our occasional equine visitors very much. They're so calm and just beautiful as they clip clop across the bridge! You can hear them whinny in the distance at night, along with the owls, crickets, frogs and coyotes. How cool is that?! All by a running stream and classic train trestle. Some horseback riders did pass nearby, but not through camp. It's fine. Everyone is friendly and there are plenty of trails to explore. The porta potty at the barn was very clean and the pump water was cold and delicious, not like you might expect from well water. There are several places to camp along the creek, but be aware, the train did fly by in the middle of both nights and it is seriously loud. Dry wood is plentiful in the area and there's plenty of shade and places to hang a hammock. The ground is a bit uneven, so watch your step. We did find 2 level areas for our tents. I highly recommend this spot, especially if you want to get away from crowded campgrounds. Thank you, Meredith!
Kerri S.recommends
August 2, 2021
private creek site
Nice stay on a horse farm!
Great stay at the barn with our 5th wheel! Many horses roaming around to visit and got a quick mountain bike ride in on the trails by the creek.
Sean K.recommends
August 1, 2021
private creek site
This was great!
My family loved this place! The kids had a great time playing in the creek and we all loved the visit from the horses! Very private and peaceful, would definitely recommend. We camped down by the creek, brought our own fire pit and toilet.
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