We camp in Indiana a lot so Fair Oaks is on our way. It can be a zoo and hard to get food and the gift shop is tacky, but it really clean. I rec'd a divide and conquer--one person get in the ice cream line (best strawberry milkshake ever) and another one buy cheese ( particularly rec'd the aged gouda). Try the food if the food line is short--grilled cheese and French onion soup are very good, but only if the line is short.
It is a good place to stop with kids because they can run around a bit.
Awesome place especially for kids 0 to 10 yrs! The new pig barn is awesome, shows the whole process from artificial insemination to birth to weaning... Kids can watch the real pigs as well as do an ultrasound on a fake pig etc. The dairy barn bus tour is great as well, the giant milking carousel amazing... My boys 1.5 and 3.5 yrs were impressed, adults can learn a thing or two as well, there is lots of kid's entertainment like a climbing wall, inflatable, little John Deer tractors to ride and more. Food is worth trying, not too expensive, ice cream is fantastic. We will make a trip here every summer from now on, it's about 1 hr from Chicago.
Review Source:This place is a ton of fun for families. Â THere is so much to do and learn as well as awesome, fresh food. Â The only drawback I would say is the pricing of the food is borderline ridiculous, but as mentioned it cannot get much fresher than this place. Â Absolutely worth a visit as you are cruising by on 65!
Review Source:Tried this place based on the many glowing reviews, but was very disappointed. The wait for food was too long. 30 minutes in line for lunch, and then another 30 in line for ice cream. And the food was nothing special. My 8 yr old can make a better grilled cheese, and my other daughter threw away her ice cream! Panera bread makes way better sandwiches, and cold stone creamery or oberweiss make way better ice cream. None of my 4 kids liked their food. The chili and Cuban sandwich were tasty, but not worth 30 min in line to order and then another 20 min waiting for the food to be ready.
I never regret trying out a new place, but i dont think I will ever be going back. Dairy Queen is tastier!
It was very clean though!
I drive to Ohio often to visit family, and I ALWAYS stop at Fair Oaks Farms. Much cleaner than any truck stop and the munchies can't be beat!
If you ever find yourself here, you definitely need to try the grilled cheese - so warm and ooey gooey - it's perfect! The ice cream is also great - thick, rich and creamy... just the way I like it.
There are so many MOOre options... I can't come here enough!
They have a delicious Cuban sandwich and very tasty chili. Â Of course, all is covered in delicious CHEESE! Â I wish I could give this place more stars but (1) the cheese is actually made in Wisconsin (fail) and (2) the food is very pricey. Â However, it is very delicious.
If you are not a huge eater, split a sandwich. Â They are very large. Â I think it is cool that they do not serve soda -- you can get juice, tea, or, of course, milk! Â They also blend up pretty fabulous milkshakes.
This is a great place to stop on a road trip from Indy to Chicago, as it's about halfway. Â Also, if you have pets, you can sit at one of the outdoor tables and enjoy the beautiful landscaping and cute little koi pond. Â Make sure to save room to taste all the cheese (for free!) and pack a cooler, cause there is no way you will make it out without buying a block or two.
Well my family lives in the Chicago suburbs and I currently live in Louisville so I end up passing the farm a lot. The milk is awesome and better than milk found in grocery stores for making yogurt. The ice cream is amazing and tear inducing. Ask the people making ice cream shakes or cones for good combinations.
It might be a little pricey but the quality is there.
The tour was fun when I went with my mom. Cows love to do interesting things. It is an industry farm that is typical of how people get their milk. I like that they treat their cows ethically.
So, if you would like to see an industry, come here. I f you want to actually see an old school farm, step in poop, smell nature, don't bother. Â Go somewhere else. Â
If you want to learn about the "new" type of farming, this is an informative place to go. Â You wll see how cows are moved in, milked, moved out to eat, moved in to be milked, moved out to stalls to eat, and continue the circle.
You do get to see the birth of a baby cow if you would like to see that... Â Hmmm, not really. Â All cows are behind glass. Â :-(
I stopped in the restaurant there and had a grilled cheese - so, so. Â However, the Butter Pecan ice cream was outstanding!!! Â It was thick and smooth and wonderful. Â The child size cup was plenty.
Stopped here on our way to Nashville TN. We were the only 4 people in the store to order food. In the line you go thru to order, there are coolers with beverages and pre-made sandwiches etc. The coolers have doors on them that lift up. Now I don't know about you, but in my experiences, if there is a cooler in the line that opens, you can open it and grab a drink. Not here. I thought the lady  behind the counter was going to kill me. DON'T OPEN THAT she RUDELY YELLED at me. Why would the  thing open if I can't open it. If you don't want the customers to open it try putting a sign that says "Do Not Open" or ask me nicely instead of yelling at me you miserable person.
Their "almost famous" grilled cheese it not that good. It's made on panini bread that is not really buttered, instead just slapped with a few thin slices of cheese into the panini press. Over priced and not that good, more of a tourist trap.
The chocolate milk I was screamed at for taking was good though, like really good so they get 3 stars instead of 2.
above average for a rest stop if you need to pull over for a break. tourist trap, gimmicky, tchotchkes but good for restless kids (climbing wall in shape of giant milk carton, bouncy area, play area and birthing view area costs $). decent ice cream. nice that the production area and food lab are on view for visitors. production area was under renovation while we were there. some nice outdoor tables to sit at. cheese sampling. I would not go out of my way to visit but a nice stop if you're travelling between CHI and IND.
Review Source:Just off I65S on the way from Chicago to Indy. Â We stopped because we saw the well-done signage along the road.
Yes, the grilled cheese is world class. Â Yes they serve Starbucks and Tazo Tea. Â Yes they have great ice cream. Â Yes they have great cheese choices to take along. Â Yes the BR are super clean.
They got it going here!
I am reviewing the cafe only. Â I can't count the number of times I have passed by Fair Oaks Farm when traveling between Indianapolis and Chicago over the years and today, I finally stopped for the first time to check out the cafe for lunch. Â What a pleasant surprise and I am so glad I finally checked it out. Â I had one of their grilled cheese sandwiches with cheddar and roast beef. Â It was a really tasty sandwich and giant. When I first ordered, I thought the prices was a little high for a walk-up counter, but when you consider it can be shared by two it is really a good deal.
The only down-side to the cafe is that it is overrun with visitors. Â You have to wade through the gift shop and lots of people to put in your food order. Â There were plenty of food choices for the whole family. Â I was traveling alone today but I am sure I look forward to stopping on our next trip when my husband and kids are along. Â It is most definitely family friendly.
They have a huge cheese counter and provide free cheese samples. Â I didn't have time to sample any cheese (other than the cheddar on my sandwich) but I am looking forward to trying some of the options on my next visit.
This place is dangerous. Â Exceptionally...wonderfully...delightfully dangerous.
I stumbled upon it after seeing tanker trailers on the side of the road for a few miles advertising it while driving from Chicago to Indy, and got curious. Â Little did I know that I was going to walk into a combination of the rocky island of the sirens and the land of the lotus eaters.
Anything dairy you could want - they have. Â The milkshakes are exquisite. Â The sandwich press will make anything you want, as long as there is cheese in it. Â The true killer, though - the cheese sampling. Â
The ladies will tempt you - "Would you like to try a little Sweet Swiss or some Gouda?" Â Soon, you'll have sampled one of everything, and suddenly you find yourself with an armful of some of the best aged Gouda and dill Havarti your tongue has ever tasted, packaged and bagged for you. Â But wait - there's MORE! Â Old-fashioned pretzel-bread loaves, and you should just buy that small container of butter for the road too. Â $100 or so later...you know that once you finish your current stock, you'll want more.
Be sure to mention if you're not from around there, and one of the lovely ladies will be happy to give you a coupon entitling you to an extra *pound* of free cheese on your first Internet or phone order. Â Fair Oaks Farms is nearly 800 miles away from my home, and I can still feel its pull.
My cardiologist will not be amused at the outcome, but he doesn't need to know this little secret.
We drive between Indianapolis and Chicago often and for years have passed the ads to this place. Â We had some extra time one weekend and decided to give it a try. Â Thought it might be more like Grandpa's Cheese Barn in Ashland, OH (see my review of that) but were sadly disappointed. Â Lots of kitschy items for sale, but in a crappy Cracker Barrel Gift Shop sort of way. Â This place seems to thrive on attracting folks from Chicago who may have never seen a cow in real life before. Â To add insult to injury I tried their 5 y/o cheddar and it wasn't even that good. Â Oh well. Â At least now we know.
Review Source:On the way to Chicago, I saw about a bazillion billboards advertising Fair Oaks Farms, so I decided to stop on the way home. I only went to the food area, but the employees were very helpful -- and generous with samples! The cheese was all delicious. I ended up with asiago, sweet swiss, mozarella and farmers. They also serve ice cream and feature their milk. Because I bought four packages of cheese, i received a free batch of crackers. I can't wait to dig it!
The farm itself looks very large -- I wish I had had more time to check things out!
We had SUCH a good time here!!
My friend and I met up with our kids (four of them total ages 7, 5, 2, and 1) and they had a fabulous time!! Â They have so much for the kids to see and do. Â None of them were ever bored!
So when we got there, we immediately stopped into the cafe for lunch (ice cream was coming later). Â It's a little pricey for what it was, but that didn't bother me because it was delicious. Â I got a 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich, 1/2 salad, and water (they have a fountain machine but no pop...boo), and my daughter got the chicken quesadilla and a chocolate milk. Â Our total was $16 for the two of us. Â The food was very good, and of COURSE the cheese was delightful!
So then we mooooooved onto the fun stuff. Â We took the bus tour of the farm and saw all of the calves (insert AWWWWW track here) and some cows in labor (oh dear GOD, it was a once in a lifetime event. Â Let me repeat--ONCE in a lifetime because I never want to see that again!!).
They also have a big room where the kids can explore everything about cows, milking, etc. Â They have cute music videos about dairy playing in the background. Â They've also got a climbing area for the kids that they loved.
The kids had a great time, and all of the food was good!
Definitely buy some cheese and ice cream on your way out! Â The mint chocolate was fabulous, and the habenero cheese was delightful! Â VERY spicy!! Â Well, at least it was for this white girl!
It's a great time for the whole family!! :)
With a brother living in Chicago, sometimes you need a good place to stop for lunch. My mom and I finally made it here last summer and we recently returned on our way back from Chicago. This place hops at lunch hour. I mean seriously! We waited at least 20 minutes just to order. It is a little bit more expensive for a grilled cheese, but they are really delicious. My mom and I split the Havarti Pepper sandwich which was so creamy and smooth with a nice bite to it. I love the opportunity to try different cheeses and butters. We ended picking up some butter and I picked up some fresh cheese for home.
I will recommend skipping the sandwiches and going straight for the ice cream or shakes. They are super smooth and just delicious and brilliant. I heart their shakes. We haven't explored the grounds much or done any of the fun experiences, but this would be a great stop for families. We see a lot when we're there because it's an educational experience with food. What could be better?! In the end, I love my dairy and will keep coming as long as my brother stays in Chicago!
Holly cow!! Never crossed my mind before that visiting cows could be so much fun.
Yes, it is not free ($10 for an adult) - but this was the most educating tour to the farm I have ever been! (not that I have been to that many farms ...)
The property is humongous - and there were two buildings. One is where you can find the all-cows-related information (including a huge barn where you can witness the birth of a calf). The other one is their cheese factory, where -this was my favorite part of all - you can order the best grilled cheese sandwich, creamy (iced cold) choco milk and homemade icecream.
With the $10 admission, they will take you to where the farms are (about a couple miles down the road) in their cow-bus. The coolest thing ever is to see the cows being milked! It is no longer by hand, in case you have not noticed. The cows were standing in this huge merry-go-round wheel, where they're being milked in one round. Â They know exactly when they need to back up and go back to their groups once the round is done. Â How clever!
They have playground for kids - but most of them were still closed when we were there. Â I'd imagine it'll be so much more fun for the kids in the summer when they are all open - from kiddies bungy jumping, to rock climbing. Â
Heck, I'd probably be back in the summer, too!
On a recent trip to visit my bff in Indy, we took a drive up north as she'd been wanting to visit this place. Â First things first: we entered the gift shop area that has a cheese counter where you can do lots of tasting and buying.. they also have an ice cream area and other products of theirs you can buy. Â What I enjoyed:
- Their butters are yummy! Â We sampled AND bought the honey butter (perfect for toast) and their Garlic & Parsley which is amazing also on toast. Â I love butter and both tubs did not last long in my fridge.. I wish I could find this stuff here in AZ.
- Their cheeses were also awesome. Â We sampled all of them (too many to recall), but the ones that stood out for me were the Emmentaler and especially their Aged Gouda. Â We bought several of their cheeses and took home a wine/cheese pairing card they have at the counter and had a great pairing experience that night at home.
- Their deli there made Grilled Cheese with this nice crispy panini bread. Â The cheese combo was super cheesy and super creamy and soooo yummy.
Regretfully we didn't try the ice cream (I know! How do you over-do dairy and NOT include ice cream!?!)
We also did a tour of their Garden and their Birthing area where we saw a calf born. Â I'm not a fan on factory-farmed dairy (which this place seems to be), but it provided a very memorable experience (well, at least the eating part) that makes me want to go back and return with more butters and cheeses (yes, I flew from Indy with both in my carry-on :)).
Always a stop for us as we drive from Chicago to Indy.
Cup of coffee.
Stretch the legs.
Grilled cheese sandwich!! Â Yes indeedy
Shop some knickknacks and gewgaws.
If you need some cheese.................please.
Bathroom break.
Jump back into the car and keep heading South............maybe next time we will go into the "Birthing Barn"
Well, having lived in suburbia for 35 of my 41 years on this planet, I must say that I sadly am pretty removed from "the land," if you will. Â Â And that is a little sad to me. Â But in a way, I was able to better understand how this process works through a visit to Fair Oaks Farms - and have a great time doing it. Â
On a "staycation" last summer, we took our girls up for a visit and we were not disappointed. Â First, and this is highly recommended, we took the tour, where you learn about the operation and see how the cows are taken care of and how their milk is collected. Â From there, we took advantage of the outside activities, the climbing wall, the train and other fun stuff for the kids. Â And then, huh, you can GO SEE A NEW CALF ENTER THE WORLD! Â Â Â That is pretty darn great. Â You enter a barn and are able to watch as a new little calf makes a grand entrance. Â
If that isn't enough for you, perhaps you would like to go across the way and taste some ice cream and grilled cheese sammitches made from the milk of the cows you just visited! Â Â It's educationally delicious! Â Â
I would recommend Fair Oaks to anyone - there is something for everybody!
I haven't gone on any of the tours, and have only stopped in the visitors center twice.  It's worth a stop if you need a break or a bite to eat, and you want to avoid the chaos of the Merrillville exit off  I-65.
If you're a cheese lover, try the smoked gouda or the 5-year old cheddar. Â Both will knock your socks off!
To sum it up, Fair Oaks gets 4-stars from me because of the awesome cheese samples, clean bathrooms, and the delicious grilled cheese sandwiches.
Fair Oaks Farms has been a permanent scheduled stop on any trips along I-65 for years now. Â Whether it's an early morning stop for extra-cheesy omelets or a lunch stop for a Havarti Dill grilled cheese with a scoop of ice cream, we never miss stopping here.
While waiting for your food order you can sample any number of fresh cheeses, including the squeakiest (read: freshest!) cheese curds you'll find anywhere. Â Recommend the Haberano Havarti and Smoked Swiss.
I stop by here whenever I'm driving down to Indy. Â Great stop location, locally made iced cream, etc...
I can't consume much iced cream, but if you like iced cream, which I assume most people do, then this is a great stop! Â It's all locally made in the dairy farm right next door. Â The stop also has a Subway and a decent little convenience shop area.
The venue is nice and clean. Â I'm impressed that they offer both E85 pumps, clean energy pumps (across the street), and regular pumps. Â The only down side to this stop location is that it smells like a dairy farm (outside atleast)!
While traveling back to Dayton from Chicago we happened to pull off here to get gas and thought we'd check this place out, very glad we did! What a really cool and unique experience, who would have thought that a dairy farm experience would have been enjoyable and informative? Very well maintained with lots to do for all ages from very young to adult. We really enjoyed the 3D/4D theater, won't ruin the surprise for you so be sure to check it out! The birthing barn was amazing! A huge glass enclosure where they had to cows that were in labor, we actually watched a calf being born right in front of us, really cool! We're planning a trip back over here with the kids next time, they will love it! By the way, the grilled cheese sandwiches were awesome also! If you find yourself near Fair Oaks Farm, check it out!
Review Source:My father has been sending me cheese from Fair Oaks as care packages for a few years, and when I finally had cause to drive through the area on a road trip, I just had to stop. FABULOUS cheese. AMAZING ice cream. WONDERFUL staff. GENEROUS samples. I can't say enough good things about the place.
Review Source:The best grilled cheese I have ever had!
I have passed by this place for years during my trips to/from Chicago to Indianapolis, and have always seen the signs many miles out before exit #220 (yep, I remember the exit because of my extensive travel on that interstate). One day, I finally decided to stop and have a look. My goal was just to take a look in the gift shop and sample some cheese...I didn't know they had a full-scale menu and restaurant!
The samples were awesome. I am a cheese-addict, so I enjoyed  everything I tasted. Very fresh and tasty. I decided to order a half grilled cheese (with their high selling Sweet Swiss) with turkey. It was heavenly! Piping hot, great portion size and reasonably priced! It tasted more like a grilled panini than your basic grilled cheese sandwich.
Although I didn't have their milk or ice cream, I was told the milkshakes are exceptional (rich in taste, but good).
Customer service here is A+ quality. Everyone was nice and friendly, offering all sorts of facts I never knew about cheese and how it's made here.
Please don't pass this place up if you're traveling on I-65!!! If you have time (which I didn't, but maybe some day soon), check out the tour. I believe it's only $10.
So I went on a road trip to Miami from Chicago (!) with my best friend. On our way down, we had to go through Indiana. There were at least 29 billboards and signs telling us to stop at Fair Oaks Farms. OKAY OKAY FINE. We stopped but it was closed up for the day. We did, however, take obnoxious pictures with the cow and then got ice cream from the gas station.
The day after I got back from the vacation, two of my friends and I were going to the Lady Gaga concert in Indianapolis (I'm a globe-trotter, obv). We passed all the same signs but had no time to stop (Hel-lo, Lady Gaga!), so we vowed to stop by when we came back.
It was awesome! We paid an entrance fee and played around amongst the children with their parents in tow. Cow birthing! Tour of the farm! See cows being milked! Swiss cheese rope maze (It's for kids but I still got stuck!)! Bouncy thing! Rock climb a giant milk bottle! Ice cream! Cheese curds! CHEESE! Gift shop!
Be sure to try their cheese. They're very knowledgeable and generous with it. I bought some butterkase and ate it all on the way home.
A must stop!
The hubs and I stop here almost every time we are heading back to Chicago from Indy. Â Its a great clean place to pee and grab some snacks.
If you like cheese you should definitely try the samples. Â They have a good basic variety for the more normal cheese lover. Â Not a lot of sharper cheeses, but good for what they do have. Â Also, the cheese curds are super good. Â A must.
They also do grilled cheese and other hot sandwiches. Â The grilled cheese will kill you with the butter and cheese, but it is really good. Â You can do a half if you just want one artery to clog.
Finally, the ice cream. Â Sigh. Â I can't say enough about it. Â Creamy and fresh. Â The single cup will get you more than you can finish, so be prepared and order accordingly. Â The shakes have something like a half gallon of ice cream in them. Â Mint chocolate chip is my go to flavor. Â The chips are big and the mint is just the right amount. Â
I haven't done the tour due to lack of time, but a quick stop for ice cream and cheese is just what that boring drive needs!
"and then I saw a baby cow being born!"
No, seriously, I did. Â
Here's why I love this place:
~hormone free milk. Â it's delicious.
~cheese curds! Â
~sweet swiss (best grilled cheese EVER!)
~keeps kiddos entertained
~where else can you get a picture with a giant, fake cow
~watching a cow being born is a little gross but fascinating
It does get stupid crowded with families but if you can brave it for a few, the cheese is oh so worth it.
Bonus, my mom buys Fair Oaks milk & cheese when I go home to visit since it's stocked at several stores in NW Indiana.
This review is for the cheese shop/food, not the birthing barn.
They have signs about 80 miles in both directions; turn towards the BP station after you take the exit (they've changed the signs so it isn't hard to realize that's the way to go).
They'll let you sample basically all the different kinds of cheese they have, whether sample containers are out or not. Â They were very patient. Â Cheeses tend to be mild; the best-seller is a "sweet Baby Swiss" (?). Â I got some gouda, which was milder than I wanted when I got it home. Â They have cheese curds and the smoked gouda is real, not flavored with artificial smoke flavor.
We got the grilled cheese; my companion enjoyed his, but I wish I'd gotten the half-sandwich. Â The cheese sort of congeals by the time you've eaten the first half. Â They're panini style, prepared in a grill. Â Good while it's warm and gooey; a bit much once cool.
The ice cream is high quality, though I found the bright orange color for the peach ice cream a bit off-putting (artificial, I'm sure). Â The strawberry was also very nice. Â If you get a sundae I'd recommend getting the small; my companion did and it was still huge, and they put about a cup of whipped cream (real, of course) on top of it. Â A large would have been half melted before one finished unless two or three people were eating it. Â No sugar cones available; cake cone or dish only.
The milk was nice, though I'm not sure they had skim (they do have 1%). Â I'd expected a little more of a fresh taste for milk this close to the source, but it was certainly fine.
When I worked at a daycare, we took the kids to this place for field trips on more than one occasion. Â It is a fun place to take kids -- they will enjoy watching the cows. Â ;-)
Great place for milk and cheese too. Â Also, FYI - Fair Oaks ships bottles of its milk out to certain local stores. Â I know the IGA in Roselawn sells it, and I'm sure it's in a few other places too. Â So if you have a hankering for Fair Oaks milk and want to spare yourself the trip, keep an eye out for it!
Ok, I have been here twice. Â Both times on my way up to Chicago from Indianapolis. Â The first thing I want to say is don't come here for the food. Â The milk and cheese is great.
I have had both the breakfast burrito and a sandwich here. Â Neither was very good and overpriced. Â I will still always stop for the tasty milk though. Â Plus, you can sample the cheese.
You can take a tour of the barn and see baby cows. Â It cost around $10 but looks pretty fun.
I've passed by here a few times between Chicago and Indy and convinced my boyfriend to stop in recently. Â I had a blast. Â They have a museum (or as they put it, a "Mooseum") that is definitely more geared towards kids and educating the public not only about the benefits of milk, but the process of milk production. Â
While I wasn't impressed with the museum itself, they have a bus tour of the actual dairy and that was quite impressive. Â They drive you through the different parts of the farm and they even have a birthing barn (not really for the faint of heart). Â
Connected to the educational portion is a gift shop. Â If you don't want to pay for the museum and tour, you should definitely check out the shop. Â Fantastic Cheese and Icecreams and - of course, milk. Â All served up with a hearty dose of Hoosier Hospitality.
I really enjoyed my visit and spoke to a family who said they've come back several times. Â I don't know if I'll visit the museum portion again, but I'll definitely stop back in for more cheese and icecream next time I'm in the area.
Driving down I-65 at 8am on a Saturday is not the best time to be hungry or at all concerned about what to ingest into your body. Â Exit after exit the signs for every type of fast food mocks you. Â As I detest this type of food in its many forms I was getting more and more irritable as the miles stretched on. (Could also have been because of lack of coffee, but this is a much more idealistic notion).
Suddenly the billboards begin cropping up about this fantastic dairy farm - where they also serve breakfast! Well all right - this is potentially fabulous! Â A decent breakfast in the middle of nowhere! Â We decide to stop.
First impressions: Â new buildings, very clean, very well designed. Â Inside, is a cafeteria set up along with some windows to watch the dairy producing process and a rather expansive gift store. Â Many cheeses, ice cream and milk are available for sale. Â I order some scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee (which, is Starbucks, thank god). Â
The eggs are OK, kind of flat and hospital style. Â The bacon, same way. Â The toast is cinnamon or raisin or some other sweet style so I give it away. Â While not thrilled with the meal it certainly beats Mickie D's or BK any day of the week. Â I buy a small jug of milk for the coffee, and even though it is 2% it tastes like cream it is so luscious and rich. Â The samples of cheese we were given were fantastic. Â Stick with the dairy.
This was the absolute best time of the day to come as well, I later found out. Â The place was quiet and peaceful, especially after seeing it is geared almost exclusively toward children. Â After reading some of the other reviews and learning what a madhouse it can be once things really start hopping, I was never so relieved. Â
I would recommend this place to people who have a gaggle of hyper children they need to entertain for the day, or anyone who cant stomach the thought of a Sausage Mcgriddle. Â Otherwise, order the cheese via the web!
An excellent alternative to stopping at the normal rest stops and/or gas stations along I-65, especially since you can get REAL food here, and not the crappy rest stop vending machine, or gas station junk food type. Plus cheese and ice cream to boot, so what's not to love?
They have several decent food options on their menu, including quesadillas and panini sandwiches, to name a few examples. Also, the trick to getting their excellent cheese at a somewhat better price is to look at the bottom of the labels, since you can sometimes save as much as 50-80 cents by looking at what the label says it'll cost.
Ice cream is pretty decent here, though it obviously is probably a notch under the highest quality ice cream you could find(i.e. Ghiradelli's, Oberweis, Margie's Candies, etc.). They also sell Starbucks Coffee, for those who suffer from Starbucks withdrawals too easily! (though I don't, since I'm indifferent when it comes to Starbucks, anyway) Finally, I've never been on the farm tours they have here, so I can't comment on those.
Anyone who frequently travels along I-65 inbetween Chicago and Indianapolis would be making a mistake, if they don't check this place out at least once. Especially if you are a cheese connoisseur! And as I said in the beginning, I definately prefer this over the ordinary rest stops, and bland gas station junk food.
(one note I forgot to add last year: This is actually located off of exit 220 on I-65(for Ind. Hwy. 14), and NOT exit 230. In fact, the Indiana Dept. of Transportation even specifically built a new exit just for the purpose of people going to Fair Oaks. There also are more than enough billboards that'll tell you the right number of the exit, in case you're like me, and are easily forgetful.)