Lambs Farm
Encyclopedia
Lambs Farm is family attraction in Libertyville, Illinois
which consists of a petting zoo, pet shop, miniature golf course, several small amusement rides, a restaurant, and a country store. A non-profit organization
, it provides jobs and housing for over 250 adults with developmental disabilities.
Lambs Farm was founded in the 1960s by Corrine Owen and Robert Terese. Owen and Terese had been teaching at a school for developmentally challenged adults, and were discouraged by the limited opportunities available to such people. In 1961, they opened a pet store near Chicago
's Gold Coast and employed twelve of their students, who enthusiastically helped tend to the animals. Four years later, Owen and Therese acquired a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) farm in Libertyville with the help of W. Clement Stone
and began developing the current Lambs Farm facility. By the late 1980s, Lambs Farm was hosting over 300,000 visitors a year, making it the third most popular attraction in Lake County, Illinois
(behind Great America
and the Ravinia Festival).
The farm takes its name from John 21:15, in which Jesus
tells St. Peter, "Feed my lambs."
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
which consists of a petting zoo, pet shop, miniature golf course, several small amusement rides, a restaurant, and a country store. A non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, it provides jobs and housing for over 250 adults with developmental disabilities.
Lambs Farm was founded in the 1960s by Corrine Owen and Robert Terese. Owen and Terese had been teaching at a school for developmentally challenged adults, and were discouraged by the limited opportunities available to such people. In 1961, they opened a pet store near Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Gold Coast and employed twelve of their students, who enthusiastically helped tend to the animals. Four years later, Owen and Therese acquired a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) farm in Libertyville with the help of W. Clement Stone
W. Clement Stone
William Clement Stone was a businessman, philanthropist and New Thought self-help book author.-Early life and work:...
and began developing the current Lambs Farm facility. By the late 1980s, Lambs Farm was hosting over 300,000 visitors a year, making it the third most popular attraction in Lake County, Illinois
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
(behind Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
and the Ravinia Festival).
The farm takes its name from John 21:15, in which Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
tells St. Peter, "Feed my lambs."