Nowhere feels like fall quite like a farm. If you’re ready to get in the autumnal spirit, options abound for all the freshly harvested apples and pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes and flower picking your fall-loving heart desires. Here are a few of our favorite seasonal day trips to farms in the Chattanooga area that are perfect for dates, family outings and photo ops.
Flat Top Mountain Farm in Soddy-Daisy
Drive time: Around 45 minutes
Family-run since 1820, Flat Top Mountain Farm has expanded its offerings from just growing food to offering a full range of fall fun, including a pumpkin patch, hayrides through fields of sunflowers and two corn mazes — one easy and the other more advanced — that stay open after dark (till 10 p.m.) on Saturdays for a more challenging and slightly spooky experience. The farm also hosts festive seasonal events, including a craft and vendor fair September 21-22 and Bluegrass n’ Blooms September 6, when you can enjoy bluegrass from the Appalachian String Band while picking fall flowers as the sun sets. Or visit during Farm Heritage Days on October 5-6 to learn about old-fashioned farm chores, such as butter churning, candlemaking, handspinning and blacksmithing.
638 Bowman Cemetery Road | flattopmountainfarm.com
Mayfield Farm Park in Athens
Drive time: About an hour
During the fall season, this 40-acre park features three corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, a mountain slide, zip lines, a jumping pillow, a silo light show and tons more family-friendly fall activities. Pick your own sunflowers, zinnias or pumpkins from more than 50 pumpkin varieties grown on the farm, or enjoy some hand-dipped ice cream from the dairy previously owned by the Mayfield family. Most activities are included in admission, or you can pay extra for pumpkins, flowers, train rides or feeding the goats.
257 Highway 307 East | 423.746.9859 | mayfieldfarmpark.com
Copper Creek Farm in Calhoun, Georgia
Drive time: About an hour
Find your way through the farm’s regular corn maze during the daytime or brave the haunted maze after dark. While you’re there, engage in some down-home fall fun on the farm, including hayrides, pig races, steer roping, pony rides, cow milking and a barn loft slide. Or try out unique activities such as gem mining, a pony maze, a bubble barn and a pumpkin cannon. Pay a little extra to pick a pumpkin from the patch, and stop by the store to pick up some glazed pecans, peanut brittle, goat soap or local honey to take a bit of the farm home with you.
1514 Reeves Station Road, Calhoun, Georgia | 706.280.5592 | coppercreekfarm.com
Red Apple Barn in Ellijay, Georgia
Drive time: Around 1.5 hours
Pick your own apples and pumpkins at this Ellijay family farm, where you can also take a wagon ride and pick out a few goodies from the farm shop, such as apple cider doughnuts, apple pies, cider, jams and jellies made with freshly harvested fruit along with honey, nut brittles, fudge, fried peanuts and more. The ticket price includes an apple from the orchard, an apple cider doughnut and a cup of cider, plus admission to the pumpkin patch while it’s open for the season (weekends from late September through October). For even more fruity fall fun, combine your visit with a trip to the Georgia Apple Festival, held in Ellijay October 12-13 and 19-20.
3379 Tailscreek Road | 706-635-5898 | redapplebarn.com
The Folk Collaborative in McCaysville, Georgia
Drive time: About 1.5 hours
A farm offering small-batch products, The Folk Collaborative also opens its orchard to the public for apple pickin’. Time your trip to coincide with one of the farm’s workshops, where you can learn skills like basket weaving, canning or wooden-spoon carving. You can also tour the farm on a tractor ride or arrange for a picnic in the orchard, with the farm providing a blanket and basket packed with food (which must be pre-ordered at least two days in advance) made with locally sourced ingredients. Or enjoy a private fireside shindig with provided wood, s’mores, hot dogs and the option to add chili or vegetable stew, or the services of a storyteller or Appalachian musician for a memorable and folksy evening in the mountains.
2984 Mobile Road | 706-492-7753 | thefolkcollaborative.com