Corn maze and fall fun on the farm returns to Stephenville

By: Sierra Wells

Multimedia Journalist

From Sept. 25 to Nov. 6, the Corn Maze and Fall Fun on the Farm event season opens at the Lone Star Family Farm. Located at 4199 US-67 in Stephenville, TX the farm will be open for visitors on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for children under 2-years-old and cost $16.50 for all other attendees.

Lone Star Family Farm owner Josh Ritchey said, “Our goal is to bring farm-themed entertainment to the general public and let them have a good time in a safe manner while enjoying our farm.”

Activities and attractions include the giant corn maze, mini corn maze, hay bale maze, hay bale pyramid, cow train, corn cannon, slides, pedal tractors, corn hole games, roping dummies, stick horses, farm animals, pig races, hayrides, a picnic area and more. The farm also features decor and backdrops for guests to capture fall-themed photos.

When asked what the most popular attractions are, Ritchey said, “I think the corn maze is probably at the top because it’s so much fun to do, you know, for kids and then we have college kids go do it at night from Friday to Saturday night at 9:30, so while the college kids go through it at night as well as adults, kids can too. So, it’s the corn maze and then just all of our photo setups, we’ve got lots of places to take good pictures and we have lots of families come out and take pictures, so those are probably the biggest ones.”

Tarleton State University is sponsoring this year’s corn maze, which features the theme “Go Texans!” The maze is designed in the shape of the Tarleton logo.

Ritchey said, “Dr. Hurley in 2019 came out here just to take his family out just for fun, and, you know, I said ‘Hey, let’s talk about a partnership, maybe we could do a sponsorship and get a little more attention on Tarleton and, you know, I think it could be good for both parties’ he said, ‘yah’ and so anyway we didn’t do anything during covid, but then spring of this year I reached out to Dr. Hurley’s office, and he was more than willing, jumped right on it and here we are.”

Visitors can explore and observe the natural parts of the farm, including the pumpkin patch, sunflower field, farm animals and cotton patch. The cotton patch is part of an educational farming area where guests can learn about and interact with cotton in the field.

After last year’s pumpkin patch shortage caused by crop failure, pumpkins will once again be available for picking straight from the patch this fall. Also, guests that do not go pumpkin picking in the patch can buy their own pre-picked pumpkins. Pumpkins range in prices from $1 to $65 depending on their size. Once it gets dark, attendees can bring flashlights into the corn maze for Flashlight Nights. Also, the farm offers private campfires at night, with an option to receive s’mores.

While describing the importance of this event for the community, Ritchey said, “Just a way and a reason to get together with your family and be active doing something outdoors. You know, you can go to a movie and you’re kind of just staring at the screen with your family, but here ‘hey let’s work together to figure out how to get through this maze’ or ‘let’s figure out which pumpkin we want to pick’ or ‘let’s go watch a pig race and decide who’s going to win’ or just more interaction with your family. I think we’ve got a good interaction with your family opportunity.”

For more information, visit www.lonestarfamilyfarm.com. 

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