Located just minutes from Austin, the Barton Hill Farms Fall Festival and Corn Maze opens in 2020 with a few new practices, such as online reservations, but plenty of the old favorites to continue being one of the best Fall Farms in Central Texas!
The farm’s unique setting, along the peaceful banks of the Colorado River, makes it an amazing place to spend an autumn afternoon. The annual Fall Festival and Corn Maze offers something for everyone. Check out my Mommy Tips for making the most of your visit.
Know Before You Go
For 2020, Barton Creek Farms is going cashless! You can purchase your tickets and a cash card online for all purchases you make at the farm. If you have cash left on your card, you will receive a refund!
Pack like you mean it! There is plenty of shaded picnic seating, but bring out an EZ Up, chairs, picnic blanket, etc and set up camp while the kids enjoy running around in the fresh air! (But beware of the lure to nap in the cool breeze). They also have already set-up cabanas available to rent.
Enjoy the wide open space! Pack bubbles, a nerf football, etc. for even more fun!
FREE Parking Just like Monopoly.
Pumpkins!! Whether you are just coming to look at the pumpkins, or you want to take one home, don’t miss the Pumpkin Patch!! There are cute spaces for photo ops, and the pumpkins are very reasonably priced, and the pumpkins are home grown in Texas!
Sandbox One day I’m going to write an article on the 10 coolest sandboxes in the state, and Barton Hill Farm’s Sandbox Schooner, a 50′ replica of the Lively, will definitely be on the list! Leave your sand toys at home, they have plenty to share!
Another replica at Barton Hill Farms is Fort Wilbarger, a scaled down version of the fort built by Josiah Wilbarger in 1827, when he settled along the shores of the Colorado River. Wilbarger offers a story worthy of an autumn campfire, as he was attacked and scalped by a band of Comanches, but managed to escape. He was found the next day after appearing to a woman in a vision, and lived another 11 years! Talk about a scary story to share around a campfire!
Jumping Pillow Your Adventure Pass allows for unlimited jumping. Younger children and older children jump separately. I suggest wearing close-toed shoes, but ones that are easy to take on and off!
Live Music My husband really enjoyed the live music, who were willing to do a few request. We didn’t dance, but only because he didn’t ask.
John Deere Grand Prix
Pony Hop
My son thought this was amazing! He hopped and hopped and after hopping everyone else out, he begged me to hop with him. In addition to the smaller Pony Hops, they have 3 BIG Pony Hops, so I thought, “why not?”. It was really hard at first, but soon I was hopping around the corral. I may just have to look in our barn for my old Hippity Hop!
If you were born before 1980, a Hippity Hop was a large red ball with a handle that you sat on and bounced, and SO much better than an i-pad, i-pod, i-phone or i-whatever.
There are also rides on real ponies for an additional $5, but you can’t hop on them. Adults can’t ride them either. I asked.
Cow Train
The Corn Maze
Pumpkins, ponies and the river aside, the real STAR of Barton Hill Farms is the Corn Maze! At approximately 5 acres, the maze will take you approximately 25 – 30 minutes, and it’s long and complicated enough that you can get lost again and again!
The corn maze design changes yearly.
Hydrate, and take plenty of water with you.
You have the option of taking a “game” with you into the maze. Correct answers will help you find your way out, while wrong answers will only get you more lost.
Before you abandon your (older) children in the maze to find their own way out, keep them up late the night before watching The Maze Runner or Signs. But not Children of the Corn, that’s just too scary!
For a real fright, visit on a Saturday evening for a trip through the maze by flashlight from dusk until 10pm. If you are brave enough….
More Mommy Tips
- The restrooms are all port-a-potties, without changing tables. They do have hand washing stations.
- Stay hydrated. For $10 you can purchase a Barton Hill Farms water bottle, and receive free water refills all day.
- Try not to cry when they tell you it’s closing time and you must go home.
More To Do in Bastrop
Scream Hollow Halloween Park is for adults and older kids/teens! Honestly, it’s the scariest haunted house I’ve ever visited!
Visit the Gas Station from the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre. You can even sleep there, if you dare!
Maxine’s Cafe Fill your tummy with a homestyle breakfast before you visit the farm at this cute little cafe in historic downtown Bastrop.
Bastrop State Park Devastated by the 2011 wildfire, the Bastrop State Park is full of life with breath-taking scenery as the new growth fills in around the remnants of the fire. It’s a very popular park, so make your reservations early.
Barton Hill Farms Fall Festival
1115 FM 969, Bastrop
Click HERE to visit their website.
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
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