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Hidden Gem

Wheeler Historic Farm

6569 S 2600 E, Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, UT

A working piece of nineteenth-century farm life preserved amid the suburbs, where kids meet the animals and the past feels close.

Wheeler Historic Farm is a beloved living-history farm and public park in the Salt Lake Valley, a green pocket of the agricultural past preserved amid the suburbs of the Wasatch Front. Once a thriving dairy farm established in the late nineteenth century, it is now maintained as a county park where families come to meet farm animals, tour the historic buildings, and experience a slower, rural way of life.

The farm offers a gentle, welcoming outing, with animals to visit, a restored farmhouse and barns, hay rides, and seasonal events throughout the year. Free to enter and easy to reach, it is a favorite with local families and a charming stop for visitors wanting a taste of Utah's farming heritage without leaving the city.

What Travelers Love

  • Farm animals to visit, from cows and horses to chickens and pigs
  • A preserved historic farmhouse and barns from the late 1800s
  • Hay rides, seasonal events, and hands-on farm activities for kids
  • A free, green place for a family stroll close to the city

Worth Knowing

  • The grounds are free to wander; some activities and events carry a small charge
  • Weekends and seasonal festivals are busiest, so weekdays are quieter
  • It is a working farm, so respect the animals and follow posted guidance
  • Seasonal highlights include fall festivities and holiday lights, which vary by year

Learn about Wheeler Historic Farm

A dairy farm preserved

The farm was established in the late 1800s by the Wheeler family and grew into a successful dairy operation, complete with a fine farmhouse, barns, and outbuildings. It reflected the modern agricultural methods of its day and the prosperity a well-run farm could bring.

Rather than being swallowed by suburban growth, the farm was preserved as a public park, keeping its historic buildings and rural character intact. Today it stands as a window into how Utah families farmed and lived a century and more ago, kept alive amid the surrounding city.

Animals and family fun

The farm is home to a variety of animals that delight visiting children, including cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and ducks. Seasonal chances to help with chores, see milking, or meet baby animals in spring make it a hands-on experience.

Beyond the animals, the farm offers hay and wagon rides, open green space for picnics and play, and a calendar of seasonal events, from harvest festivals in autumn to holiday activities in winter. It is the kind of place families return to again and again as children grow.

History you can walk through

Visitors can tour the restored Wheeler farmhouse and the barns and outbuildings, getting a sense of daily life on a working farm of the era. Interpretive touches and living-history activities help bring the past to life, showing how food was raised and families made their living from the land.

The blend of genuine historic structures and active farm life gives the park an authenticity that a static museum cannot match. Walking the grounds, it is easy to imagine the valley when farms like this one, rather than subdivisions, filled the land.

The Salt Lake Valley and the seasons

The farm sits in the Salt Lake Valley beneath the Wasatch Mountains, land that is the ancestral homeland of the Ute, Shoshone, and Goshute peoples, who lived in this country long before Mormon pioneers began farming it in the nineteenth century. That deeper history underlies the valley's agricultural story.

Wheeler Farm is a year-round destination, but each season brings its own character, from baby animals and green pastures in spring to harvest events in fall and festive lights in winter. Its free grounds and easy access make it a reliable, welcoming outing whenever visitors find themselves in the valley.

Closest Boutels

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Alpaca Inn

Honorable Mention

90 S 1st E, Lava Hot Springs, ID

(208) 776-5200

138 miles away|Learn More ›

Stargazer Inn

Boutel

115 S Baker Ave, Baker, NV

(775) 234-7323

166 miles away|Learn More ›

Jackalope Motor Lodge

Boutel

407 E Pine St, Pinedale, WY

(307) 200-9642

185 miles away|Learn More ›

Details

Address6569 S 2600 E, Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, UT
Websitewheelerfarm.comLink opens in a new tab.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wheeler Historic Farm?

Wheeler Historic Farm, in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray, is a preserved late-1800s dairy farm now run as a living-history farm and museum by Salt Lake County. It offers a hands-on window into early Utah farm life, with a historic Victorian farmhouse, barns, farm animals, and seasonal activities set on pleasant grounds with creek-side paths. Free to wander and rich with family fun, it is a beloved local spot that connects visitors to the region's agricultural roots.

What can you do at Wheeler Historic Farm?

You can meet and often help feed the farm animals, tour the historic farmhouse, take a wagon or tractor ride, watch cow-milking demonstrations, and visit the seasonal farmers market. The farm is especially popular for its seasonal events, including fall pumpkin and corn-maze activities and festive winter holiday lights. With grounds to roam and a creek to explore, it easily fills a couple of hours of relaxed, hands-on family time.

Is Wheeler Historic Farm free, and is it good for families?

General admission to walk the grounds and see the farm is free, while specific activities and events, such as wagon rides, seasonal festivals, and the holiday lights, carry their own fees. It is a wonderful family destination, giving young children a chance to see farm animals up close and experience old-fashioned country life. The mix of free open space and optional paid activities makes it easy to tailor a visit to your budget and interests.

When is the best time to visit Wheeler Historic Farm?

Spring through fall is ideal for the animals, wagon rides, and outdoor activities, with autumn a highlight thanks to popular pumpkin and harvest events, and December drawing crowds for its holiday light displays. Because the farm's biggest draws are its seasonal events, checking the current calendar before you go helps you catch a festival or special activity. Everyday visits to see the animals and grounds are pleasant throughout the warmer months.

What is near Wheeler Historic Farm?

The farm sits in Murray, in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, making it easy to reach from Salt Lake City and the surrounding suburbs. It is close to the mouths of the Cottonwood canyons, with their world-class hiking and skiing, and to the valley's shopping and dining. That central location makes Wheeler Historic Farm a convenient, wholesome family stop when exploring the Salt Lake City area.

Nearby

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