Tall corn and fat pumpkins signal the start of an agritainment tradition in the tri-state region. This year, we’ve tracked down 11 farms ready to welcome visitors to their corn mazes and pumpkin patches, including a first-timer in Ringgold, Ga. All of the mazes are set up on working farms, so you can expect plenty of barnyard diversions, such as petting zoos and hayrides. Here’s a preview of places to harvest a little seasonal fun.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.
Now open
FREEMAN SPRINGS FARM
* Where: 3895 Freeman Springs Road, Rocky Face, Ga. From I-75, take Exit 336 (Rocky Face). Go north on Highway 41 to Rocky Face. Turn left on Highway 201 South (LaFayette Road) and follow 4.8 miles. Look for farm sign on the left at Freeman Springs Cutoff Road.
* Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
* Closing date: Nov. 14.
* Rates: $7 corn maze, $4 hayride, $10 combo; group rates available.
* Activities: Pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay bale maze, hayrides, farm animals.
* Phone: 706-270-2402, 706-463-1267.
* Website: http://freemanspringsfarm.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Halloween week: Haunted corn maze
Opening today
MAYFIELD CORN MAZE
* Where: 257 Highway 307, Athens, Tenn. Take I-75 to Exit 52, then east on Highway 305 toward Athens. In 3.2 miles, turn left on Tellico Avenue (County 378). Turn left at the stop sign onto Highway 307 (Old Athens Madisonville Road). The farm is 3/4 mile on the left.
* Hours: 4-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 1-7 p.m. Sundays; by reservation only Monday-Thursday.
* Closing date: Nov. 7.
* Rates: $8 ages 3 and up; $6 groups of 20 or more.
* Other activities: Pumpkin patch, hayrides, hillbilly pig races, tractor tire mountain, sand box, corn box, hay bale mountain, educational silos, dairy parlor tours, pedal cars, cow train and corn cannon. Additional charge for some activities.
* Phone: 423-746-9859 information; 423-744-4866 reservations.
* Website: http://mayfieldfarmandnursery.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Saturday: Christian Music Festival, featuring Article One, The Blue City Band, Last Flight Out, Calling Glory, Refuge 99.
* Sept. 25: Second annual Tomato Fight.
* Oct. 16: Boy Scout Day.
* Oct. 29-30: Second annual Antique Tractor & Plow Show.
Opening today
DOWN ON THE FARM PUMPKIN PATCH & CORN MAZE
* Where: 2257 Heaton Road, Rainsville, Ala. From Chattanooga, take I-59 South to the second Fort Payne exit. Turn right onto Highway 35 West to Rainsville. From the Rainsville red light, travel 2.4 miles south on Highway 75 toward Fyffe. Turn left on Shiloh Ranch Road next to Shiloh Town Hall. Go 0.9 miles and turn left onto Heaton Road.
* Hours: 4-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; by appointment Mondays for school groups (all times Central).
* Closing date: Nov. 7.
* Rates: $8 pumpkin patch/playground, $8 corn maze/playground, $12 pumpkin patch/corn maze/playground combo, $5 playground only. $1 off coupon online. Additional charge for some activities.
* Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayride, farm petting zoo, pumpkin painting, corn pits, hay bale maze, pony tire swings, teeter-totters, corn picker playground, John Deere racetrack, simulated milking cow, hay slide, cow train, corn cannon, barnyard bone dig, discovery learning loft, tire caterpillar.
* Phone: 256-638-2399, 256-899-6227.
* Website: www.downonthefarminal.com.
Opening Saturday
THE CORN MAZE AT SIMS FAMILY FARM
* Where: 1608 Burning Bush Road, Ringgold, Ga. Take I-75 Exit 350 for Battlefield Parkway/Georgia 2 toward Fort Oglethorpe. Turn left at Dietz Road. Continue straight through intersection; Dietz Road becomes Burning Bush. Follow to farm on the right.
* Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 1-7 p.m. Sundays; weekdays by appointment for groups.
* Closing date: Nov. 7.
* Rates: $9 ages 13 and older, $7 ages 2-12.
* Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, corn crib, inflatables, mini-maze, hayrides.
* Phone: 706-866-4062, 866-267-6146.
* Website: http://simsfamilyfarm.com.
Opening Saturday
THE RIVER MAZE
* Where: 1371 Highway 64, Ocoee, Tenn.
* Hours: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday; weekdays by appointment.
* Closing date: Oct. 31.
* Rates:
* Other activities: Pumpkin patch, soy maze, color dot maze, hayride, goat walk, mechanical milk cow, corn toss, corn fusion (requires compass, bring your own or rent one), giant checkers and tic-tac-toe, cow train ride, corn cannon, Ocoee River walk, corn texting (navigational clues delivered by cell phone. Additional charge for some activities.
* Phone: 423-650-0710.
* Website: www.therivermaze.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Friday and Saturday nights in October: Hootin’ Hollow, $10 (combo tickets available).
Opening Saturday
AUTUMN ACRES CORN MAZE
* Where: 1096 Baier Road, Crossville, Tenn. From I-40 north of Crossville, take Exit 311. Turn north on Plateau Road, then an immediate left onto Baier Road.
* Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sundays; by appointment Monday-Thursday (all times Central).
* Closing date: Nov. 6.
* Rates: $8 (general) ages 3 and up, $11 (VIP); discounts for groups of 20 or more.
* Other activities: Corn mazes, pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, playground areas, use of picnic shelter and fire pit. VIP admission $11; includes all of the above plus unlimited time on the mega jump pillow and ticket to either ride the barrel train or shoot corn cannon or pumpkin slingshot three times. Mega jump pillow, $3; corn cannon, $2/four shots; pumpkin slingshot, $2/four shots; cow train, $1.
* Phone: 931-210-7655, 931-335-1384.
* Website: http://autumnacres.net.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Oct. 2: Inaugural corn hole tournament; call 931-267-6343 or 931-210-7655 for entry information.
* Oct. 16: The Amaizin’ Race
* Oct. 23-24: Scout appreciation weekend; $2 off with Scout ID.
* Oct. 23-24, 29-30: College appreciation weekend; $2 off with college ID.
Opening Thursday
ROCK CITY’S ENCHANTED MAIZE
* Where: 271 Chattanooga Valley Road, Flintstone, Ga. From Chattanooga, take Broad Street south, turning left onto Tennessee Avenue (toward Rock City). Do not go up the mountain, but follow Tennessee Avenue, which becomes St. Elmo Avenue. Follow 1.8 miles and turn right after the Conoco station on the state line (Chattanooga Valley Road) but before the junk yard. The farm is 200 yards down on the left. If you miss the turn, take the next two right turns to circle back. From I-75 or U.S. 27 in North Georgia, take Georgia Highway 2 West past Ridgeland High School to the stoplight at Highway 193. Turn north and go 2.2 miles. Turn left onto Chattanooga Valley Road. Go 2/10 mile and look for signs on the left.
* Hours: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-6:30 p.m. Sundays in September; maze closes at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October for Blowing Screams Farm haunted tours.
* Closing date: Oct. 31.
* Rates: $9 adults, $7 children 4-12. Group rates start at 15 people. Bring an empty plastic bottle to help build the recycling Re-Maze for $2 discount.
* Other activities: Hayride, kids cow train, corn slingshot, inflatables, pumpkin painting, Fairyland Forest makeovers, bean bag toss, playground. Slow Food Chattanooga farmers market Saturdays and Sundays. Additional charge for some activities.
* Phone: 706-820-2531 information, 706-820-0759 group reservations.
* Website: www.enchantedmaze.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Fridays and Saturdays in October: Live music, nightly bonfire and Black Forest makeovers at Blowing Screams Farm, $25 combo includes maze ticket.
Opening Sept. 24
GRANDADDY’S FARM
* Where: 1165 Highland Ridge Road, Estill Springs, Tenn. From Winchester, go down Dinah Shore Boulevard toward Tullahoma. Turn left onto Bible Crossing Road beside Franklin Farmers Co-op. Go straight through two four-way stops to the end of the road and turn right beside Riva Lake Church onto Highway 130. Go 5.8 miles and turn left onto Pleasant Grove Road across from Dunlap’s Market. Go 2.4 miles and turn left onto Highland Ridge Road. Go 0.4 miles to the farm on the left. From Manchester, go west on Highway 55 into Tullahoma. Go over the Veterans Viaduct and continue straight through the stoplight. At the end of the road, turn left beside the funeral home onto Highway 130. Go 3.6 miles and veer right onto Awalt Road (Highway 476) just past fire department. Go 2.3 miles and turn left onto Pleasant Grove Road at mile marker 9. Go 0.2 miles and turn right onto Highland Ridge Road. Go 0.4 mile to the farm on the right.
* Hours: 1:30-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 1:30-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Fall market now open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (all times Central).
* Closing date: Oct. 30.
* Rates: Weekends $8 ages 10 and up, $6 ages 2-9; weekdays $6 all admissions; Fridays buy three general admissions, get fourth free.
* Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides (10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays), moonlight hayrides (6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday), gourd tunnel, animal barn, nature trail, hillside slide, goat walk, tire swings, straw maze, corn box, duck races, playground, tire mountain, logical mazes, pig races (Saturday only).
* Phone: 931-327-4080.
* Website: www.grandaddysfarm.com.
Opening Sept. 25
GUTHRIE PUMPKIN FARM AND CORN MAZE
* Where: 490 County Road 67, Riceville, Tenn. From Chattanooga, take I-75 North to Exit 42. Turn right off the exit ramp. Travel 1 mile and to the first road on the right, County Road 67. Follow 2.6 miles to the farm on the right.
* Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
* Closing date: Nov. 7.
* Rates: $8 adults, $6 children 5-12. Discounts for groups of 20 with reservations. Additional charge for some activities.
* Activities: Corn maze, meadow maze, hay bale maze, rope maze, hayride, pumpkin patch, petting barn, picnic area, bonfires.
* Phone: 423-650-2939.
* Website: www.tnpumpkinfarm.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Friday and Saturday nights: Flashlight Nights in the maze (bring your own).
Opening Oct. 1
LITTLE RIVER FARMS
* Where: 669 Nickelsville Road, NE, Resaca, Ga. Farm is about one mile from I-75. From Exit 320, travel Highway 136 East about 1/4 mile, turning left at the dead-end onto U.S. 41, then right back onto 136 between the police station and Resaca Grocery and follow 3/4 mile.
* Hours: 11 a.m. Saturdays (other times based on group reservations; check calendar online).
* Rates: $10 ages 9 and up, $8 ages 8 and younger.
* Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, picnic area.
* Phone: 706-280-7393.
* Website: www.littleriverfarms.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-31: Haunted corn maze.
Opening Oct. 1
CROW CREEK PUMPKIN PATCH
* Where: 52 County Road 56, Stevenson, Ala. From Chattanooga, take Highway 72 West into Stevenson, then Highway 117 North 12 miles to the farm.
By Lisa Denton
Staff Writer
Area farmers are cultivating fun with this season’s crop of corn mazes.
Last week we navigated mazes in Athens, Ocoee and Crossville, Tenn.; Rocky Face and Ringgold, Ga.; and Rainsville, Ala. (find a link at fyi.timesfreepress.com).
This week we’ll circle in on crops as close as Flintstone, Ga., and as far afield as Estill Springs, Tenn. A third in Riceville, Tenn., completes the trio of corn mazes welcoming their first visitors this weekend. Two more, in Stevenson, Ala., and Resaca, Ga., will be ready for business next weekend.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.
Now open
ROCK CITY’S ENCHANTED MAIZE
n Where: Blowing Springs Farm, 271 Chattanooga Valley Road, Flintstone, Ga. From Chattanooga, take Broad Street south, turning left onto Tennessee Avenue (toward Rock City). Do not go up the mountain, but follow Tennessee Avenue, which becomes St. Elmo Avenue. Follow 1.8 miles and turn right after the Conoco station on the state line (Chattanooga Valley Road) but before the junk yard. The farm is 200 yards down on the left. If you miss the turn, take the next two right turns to circle back. From I-75 or U.S. 27 in North Georgia, take Georgia Highway 2 West past Ridgeland High School to the stoplight at Highway 193. Turn north and go 2.2 miles. Turn left onto Chattanooga Valley Road. Go 0.2 mile and look for signs on the left.
n Hours: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-6:30 p.m. Sundays in September; maze closes at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October for Blowing Screams Farm haunted tours.
n Closing date: Oct. 31.
n Rates: $9 adults, $7 children 4-12. Group rates start at 15 people. Bring an empty plastic bottle to help build the recycling Re-Maze for $2 discount. Additional charge for some activities.
n Activities: Hayride, kids cow train, corn slingshot, inflatables, pumpkin painting, Fairyland Forest makeovers, bean bag toss, playground. Slow Food Chattanooga farmers market Saturdays and Sundays.
n Phone: 706-820-2531 information, 706-820-0759 group reservations.
n Website: www.enchantedmaze.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
n Fridays and Saturdays in October: Live music, nightly bonfire and Black Forest makeovers at Blowing Screams Farm, $25 combo includes maze ticket.
Opening today
GRANDADDY’S FARM
n Where: 1165 Highland Ridge Road, Estill Springs, Tenn. From Winchester, go down Dinah Shore Boulevard toward Tullahoma. Turn left onto Bible Crossing Road beside Franklin Farmers Co-op. Go straight through two four-way stops to the end of the road and turn right beside Riva Lake Church onto Highway 130. Go 5.8 miles and turn left onto Pleasant Grove Road across from Dunlap’s Market. Go 2.4 miles and turn left onto Highland Ridge Road. Go 0.4 mile to the farm on the left. From Manchester, go west on Highway 55 into Tullahoma. Go over the Veterans Viaduct and continue straight through the stoplight. At the end of the road, turn left beside the funeral home onto Highway 130. Go 3.6 miles and veer right onto Awalt Road (Highway 476) just past fire department. Go 2.3 miles and turn left onto Pleasant Grove Road at mile marker 9. Go 0.2 mile and turn right onto Highland Ridge Road. Go 0.4 mile to the farm on the right.
n Hours: 1:30-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 1:30-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Fall market open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (all times Central).
n Closing date: Oct. 30.
n Rates: Weekends $8 ages 10 and up, $6 ages 2-9; weekdays $6 all admissions; Fridays buy three general admissions, get fourth free.
n Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides (10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays), moonlight hayrides (5 p.m. Fridays; 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays), gourd tunnel, animal barn, nature trail, hillside slide, goat walk, tire swings, straw maze, corn box, duck races, playground, tire mountain, logical mazes, pig races (Saturday only).
n Phone: 931-327-4080.
n Website: www.grandaddysfarm.com.
Opening Saturday
GUTHRIE PUMPKIN FARM AND CORN MAZE
n Where: 490 County Road 67, Riceville, Tenn. From Chattanooga, take I-75 North to Exit 42. Turn right off the exit ramp. Travel 1 mile and take the first road on the right, County Road 67. Follow 2.6 miles to the farm on the right.
n Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
n Closing date: Nov. 7.
n Rates: $8 adults, $6 children 5-12. Discounts for groups of 20 with reservations. Additional charge for some activities.
n Activities: Corn maze, meadow maze, hay bale maze, rope maze, hayride, pumpkin patch, petting barn, picnic area, bonfires.
n Phone: 423-650-2939.
n Website: www.tn pumpkinfarm.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
n Friday and Saturday nights: Flashlight Nights in the maze (bring your own).
Opening Oct. 1
CROW CREEK PUMPKIN PATCH
n Where: 52 County Road 56, Stevenson, Ala. From Chattanooga, take Highway 72 West into Stevenson, then Highway 117 North 12 miles to the farm.
n Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (all times Central).
n Closing date: Oct. 31.
n Rates: $8 includes hayride and pumpkin. Group rates for 20 or more.
n Activities: Pumpkin patch, maze, hayrides, corn play bin, petting zoo, picnic area.
n Phone: 256-437-1044.
n Website: www.crow creekpumpkinpatch.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
n Oct. 14-16, 21-23, 28-31: Haunted Hayride, $10.
Opening Oct. 1
LITTLE RIVER FARMS
n Where: 669 Nickelsville Road, NE, Resaca, Ga. Farm is about one mile from I-75. From Exit 320, travel Highway 136 East about 0.25 mile, turning left at the dead-end onto U.S. 41, then right back onto 136 between the police station and Resaca Grocery and follow 0.75 mile.
n Hours: 11 a.m. Saturdays (other times based on group reservations; check calendar online).
n Closing date: Oct. 30.
n Rates: $10 ages 9 and up, $8 ages 8 and younger.
n Activities: Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, picnic area.
n Phone: 706-280-7393.
n Website: www.little riverfarms.com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
n Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-31: Haunted corn maze.
ONLINE
Find a link to all the corn mazes featured in FYI Weekend at fyi.timesfreepress.com.
SPECIAL EVENT
This weekend’s featured event at Mayfield Corn Maze, 257 Highway 307, in Athens, Tenn., is what’s described as the largest tomato fight in North America. The Mayfield Mater Olympics, scheduled 2-6 p.m. Saturday, pits fans of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga against UT Knoxville. Admission is $5 and five cans of food. Proceeds benefit Chattanooga and Knoxville food banks. Visit mayfieldfarmandnursery.com for more information.