Information for Groups
Due to COVID-19 group reservations are limited. House tours remain closed. Please contact the park before submitting your form.
You are strongly encouraged to contact the park if you are visiting with more than 10 people in your group, even if it is just a family visit or a big motorcoach tour. We strive to make your visit the best experience it can be!
Group Size:
Group reservations can be made for groups having a minimum of 10 persons, maximum of 36 persons.
Large Groups: If your group is larger than 36 persons, please consider the following:
- Plan for smaller groups to visit on multiple days.
- Plan for one portion to visit in the morning and one in the afternoon.
- Ask a ranger to meet your group at the park amphitheater for a talk. This option will not include a house tour or barn visit.
Please read and return our Adult Group Reservation Form. Contact the park at least three weeks in advance. Dates are available year-round, Monday - Thursday. Groups wishing to visit on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday should contact the park about the First Come First Served policy.
*There are no group reservations on the weekend due to volume of regular visitation. Groups are strongly encouraged to visit during the week.
Group Admission: There is no fee to tour the barn and grounds. There is a fee to tour the Sandburg Home. Credit Cards only accepted.
$10.00 for Adults 16 and older
$6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
Free for Children age 15 and under
Accessibility: For groups with mobility issues, please be advised that the walk from the visitor parking lot to the home is 1/3 mile and gains 100 feet in elevation. If you feel this climb may be a challenge for your group, please request the shuttle when you make your reservation. Even with the shutttle groups should expect to walk or travel with a mobility device on pathways up to 1/4 mile on their own.
Planning Your Group Visit
There are a variety of ways groups can enjoy a visit to the park. For a traditional visit with house tour, barn tour and video, groups with 12 people should plan to be onsite for 2 hours. Groups with 36 people should plan to be onsite for 2-3 hours.
For a tour bus group with limited time, the following opportunities are available:
- Step-on Ranger talk in your bus (15-30 minutes)
- 30-minute Ranger talk at the front lake with views of the Sandburg Home and property in the background. Seating for 15 available, minimal walking.
- 30-60 minute Ranger talk at amphitheater. Seating for 200, short walk.
House Tour: Experience how the Sandburg family lived as a National Park Service Ranger or volunteer guides you through the house. Tours are 30 minutes and for groups are scheduled every 30 minutes. Please remember tours are limited to 12 persons (no exceptions).
Visiting the Barn: Mrs. Sandburg owned and operated the Chikaming Goat Dairy. At its peak there were over 200 goats at Connemara! Mrs. Sandburg's goats were renowned for their quality milk production and superior breeding. Park volunteers at the barn are happy to answer any questions your group may have about Mrs. Sandburg's Chikaming goatherd. Please limit your group to 12 when visiting the barn.
Audio-Visual Room: Your trip to Connemara would not be complete without seeing our video of an interview between Mr. Sandburg and Edward R. Murrow. It is approximately 12 minutes in length
Hiking: Mr. Sandburg used to take his chair out to some of the rock outcroppings along the trail to sit and write or just to sit. He enjoyed observing his natural surroundings. There are numerous trails at Connemara, which vary in length and difficulty. Please allow time for your group to explore this beautiful setting. We encourage you to pick up a map at the park bookstore when planning your hike, or download one here.
Park Store
America’s National Parks operates a park store with a great variety of items related to the literary career of Carl Sandburg, his family and Mrs. Sandburg’s dairy goats.