Freestall or cubicle housing systems are the primary housing system for lactating dairy cattle in many parts of the world. Early freestall barns lacked in features that maximized cow comfort. Today, modern freestall barns are generally cow-centered with a large focus on cow comfort. Among freestall barns, the sand freestall barn is often promoted as the ideal freestall system. However, after decades of housing cows in freestalls, limitations remain. Lameness levels remain high in many freestall barns. Manure handling is challenging. Further, as the science of animal behavior grows and consumers are placing more pressure on dairy farms, new questions arise around natural behavior within freestalls. Should freestall barns be the housing of the future? Are there other housing options that might promote more natural behavior and remove some of the limitations of freestall barns? What alternative systems hold promise? The term “freewalk housing” has been used to describe housing systems that provide animals the opportunity to walk more freely within the barn, often in combination with grazing access. Compost bedded pack barns and cow gardens are 2 examples of freewalk housing. A compost bedded pack barn is a lactating dairy cow housing system consisting of a large, open resting area, usually bedded with sawdust or dry, fine wood shavings. Bedding material is composted in place, along with manure, when mechanically stirred on a regular basis. Producers report reduced incidence of lameness and improved hoof health resulting from greater lying times and a softer, drier surface for standing. The cow garden system has a multi-layer, semi-permeable floor. Manure is removed by robotic scrapers. And trees and plants are planted within the barn. Questions remain about the suitability of these facilities. In evaluation of alternative systems, a systems approach must be applied including animal behavior, economics, and environmental sustainability.