Alicia J.
Yelp
My boyfriend and I have driven by this place a zillion times, and always meant to stop. So, we finally drove in to see what was what.
I like the vibe of this place. It's kind of tucked back from the road, so you have to follow the signs. The museum section (free) is a neat little exhibit showing the history of Lakewood. They have some cool stuff on display, and for someone who knows little to nothing of Lakewood, it was cool to get a glimpse into the history of the city. They have a number of old buildings around the very large property, most of which they have restored. You can take a walking tour for $5, or, if you get there at an off time like we did, you can just grab a brochure and walk around the grounds at your leisure, for free. When you take the walking tours, though, you get to actually enter the buildings to check them out.
The woman who was working there spent some time with us, explaining what the site was all about, and was really friendly and informative. They have a number of events throughout the year, which we will return for (Cider Days!). They even have an amphitheater where they hold shows, and you can rent it out for events.
A nice way to spend an afternoon. I'll definitely return for a walking tour, as some of the buildings looked pretty cool.
Oh, and the gift shop is really, really awesome. A huge mishmash of toys a lot of people will remember from their childhood, and an eclectic mix of various decorations. Hard to describe, but definitely a fun store to walk through.