It has become the watchword for family fun in the fall around Roanoke - Layman Family Farms! The family-owned and operated farm in Bedford County opens Saturday, September 18, 2010 with its incredible autumn festivities for all ages, and offers activities through November 13. Each year more Roanoke families flock to Bedford County for an outdoor experience like no other in the area, featuring "The Maize" corn maze, country market, and tons of fun for children and adults alike!
The corn maze
The 10-acre corn maze, one of the biggest attractions at Layman Family Farms, first opened in 2006. "Maizers" can test their sense of direction by winding through paths of 8 foot corn stalks. The challenging maze has scarecrows (which mark individual trivia stations) interspersed periodically throughout, that provide participants with clues about which direction to go, if they choose the correct answers to the trivia questions! There are two sections to the maze, with families having the option of exiting the maze at the end of Phase 1, which constitutes about half of the maze, or continuing on to Phase 2 to complete the entire challenge. Even more exciting is trying the maze at night with a flashlight - a perfect fall youth group activity for older teens. Although the Maize is best for older children and adults, young children can try their hand at a much less challenging yet tons of fun option - the corn snake - a short, winding path through corn stalks created specifically for little kids!
Pumpkins and hayride
What is fall without a hayride? The event features hayrides to 40 acres of pumpkin patches, where families can pick the perfect pumpkin for carving, eating, or just using as decoration. Layman Farm boasts the largest hay wagons in Virginia, which takes participants on a scenic tour of the farm. Or families have the option of purchasing pre-picked pumpkins, along with decorating items such as Indian corn, corn stalks, and gourds.
Attractions for all ages
Layman Farm doesn't just stop at the traditional hayride and pumpkin picking. There are a tremendous number of activities for all ages, and it is a child's paradise! New this year is the Giant Jumping Pillow, a huge trampoline-style inflatable that is larger than many houses! Kids and adults alike love to shoot the Corn Cannon, a pressurized air cannon that sends corn cobs whizzing hundreds of feet in the air toward targets. Likewise, kids and kids at heart who have always wanted to destroy something get the chance to smash pumpkins against targets with the Pumpkin Blaster, which launches pumpkins up to 350 feet in the air! The Beale Mine Shaft, a 40 foot black tube slide reminiscent of an old mine, allows the brave of all ages to plunge down into darkness on potato sacks. Analytical thinkers can test their skills in the No Left Turn Maze, where the goal is to finish the maze through a path of pumpkins without ever making a left! And everyone can enjoy the on site farm animals at Animal Alley for viewing and petting, including sheep, pigs, goats, and more.
Attractions for young children
Even the youngest children will have the time of their lives at Layman Farms. One of the most popular activities is the Cow Train, a 10-car train made to look like individual cows, pulled by a tractor. Large tires buried in the ground provide a wonderful playground for kids, and swings made from tires in the likeness of horses are a favorite way to wait for the cow train. Children can race rubber ducks in the Duck Race, a set of half-tubes connected to water pumps. As kids pump the water into the tubes, their ducks swim faster to the other side! Kids don't need to feel left out of the corn maze - they can enjoy a Mini Maze and the Corn Snake. And at Layman Farms, corn kernels replace sand in a huge covered corn crib! Even babies can bury their feet in the corn, or shovel kernels into Mommy's hair!
Other features
In addition to all of the activities, families can pick up locally grown produce at the event. The on-site Country Market offers lots of fruits, vegetables, and decorations available for purchase, as well as baked goods, apple cider, and apple butter. New this year, there's even something for thrill-seekers! On Saturday nights, October 16th and 23rd, and again October 29-31, the corn maze becomes haunted, as Layman Farms presents its Harvest Haunted Cornfield. Beginning at 8 p.m., at a cost of $10 per person, wagons take the stout of heart on a ride on "a journey through the unforgiving darkness"!
Hours and Admission Prices
From September 18-November 13, 2010 Layman Family Farms is open at the following times:
- Friday: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The price of admission includes the Corn Maze, Hayride, Corn Crib, Rubber Duck Races, Beale Mine Shaft, Corn Snake, Mini Maze and Animal Alley, as well as 2 Layman Tokens to be used for special attractions. Admission prices are:
- Adults (18 and up): $10
- Ages 10-17: $9
- Ages 2-9: $8
- Under 24 months: FREE
Click here for a coupon for $1 off the price of admission. Click here for directions to the farm.
Additional tokens may be purchased separately for $1 each (or 11 tickets for $10, 22 tickets for $20) for the following special attractions:
- Cow Train-1 token
- Corn Cannon-1 token
- Jumping Pillow-2 tokens
- Dorothy the Pumpkin Blaster-2 tokens
Discount pricing is available for groups of 15 or more. Layman Farms provides group events for all types of groups, including corporations, schools, church groups, clubs and homeschool organizations. Click here for more information on group outings. It's also the perfect place for a class field trip, as the farm provides tours and education about how crops are grown, the business of farming, and much more. Layman Farms even provides teacher's resource guides, called Classroom in the Corn Learning Series, to supplement learning. Click here for specific information about field trips.
Layman Family Farms is one of the best ways in the area to spend time together as a family during the fall. Don't miss out on this exciting event for all ages!
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