Fall is one of my favorite times of year and every fall we visit an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch as a family. We always go to Apple Valley for apples, but for the last few years we have tried out different pumpkin patches. When I started doing the pumpkin patch guide for let’s go mommy, I realized how many there were in the area and wanted to try different ones so we could see what they each had to offer. Two years ago we visited Polly’s Pumpkins in Chilton, last year was Delzer’s Pumpkin Farm in Oconto Falls and this year we did Groche Organic Farms in Suamico. All of them are great with slightly different things to offer. Here is more info about Groche Organic Farms:
First of all, it’s an organic farm. That means the crops are not treated with pesticides and any fertilizer used is natural, so it is “clean” for your kids to touch. Organic corn stalks don’t grow as tall, so for the corn maze the corn is still plenty tall, but not necessarily towering over you as it is in some mazes.
It is located on a hilltop out in the country in Suamico at 5463 Lade Beach Rd. There are no barns on the property, but there are 2 food trucks–one with food for meals, the other with drinks and snacks. There are lots of tables and chairs set up so there is plenty of seating available if you want to enjoy lunch, dinner or a snack while you visit.
The 9-acre maze was great! My husband commented that it was the only maze he’s ever been in that was done so well. Different sections of the maze were roped off with different colors so you knew that you were making progress and going in the right direction. The theme of the maze was “Dinsosaurs in the Maize” and there were 18 activity stations throughout that you could find using your map. We found 15. It takes about an hour to do the maze and kids must be accompanied by an adult.
There are several things to play in the Farm Funland area and everything is very nicely done. They clearly take pride in ownership, which is always nice to see. You can choose from pumpkin bowling, pumpkin checkers at several picnic tables, pumpkin tic-tac-toe set up throughout the area, play in the corn box which is under a tent, climb the straw bales, have duck races, explore the straw bale maze and go through a mini corn maze. There are also several cute fall displays set up all around the Funland where you can take family photos.
There is also a pumpkin area where you can purchase pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks or other fall decor. They have a large and beautiful selection.
Admission is $5 each (ages 4 & up) for the Farm Funland or do the Maze & the Funland for $10 each (ages 4-12) or $12 each (ages 13 & up).
They are open Fridays 3-6PM and Saturdays & Sundays 10AM-6PM with last maze entry at 5. They will also be open on 10/26 & 10/27 from 10AM-6PM when school is out for some of the area schools.
NOTE: Be sure to call ahead before going if weather is inclement! If it is a rainy day they will likely close as the paths in the maze can be very slippery.
We had a great experience at Groche Organic Farms! I highly recommend it and I think it would probably be especially good for kids ages 9 & under.
If you are wondering about Polly’s & Delzer’s, they are great as well. They both had a few different things than Groche:
-Both are located on an actual farm with barns, etc
-Small petting zoo areas
-Larger Mazes
-Hayrides (Polly’s is out to a pumpkin patch & Delzer’s has a haunted hayride…not super scary, but use your judgement. My 10 year old daughter loved it.)
-Corn Cannons (Polly’s)
-Train Cart Ride, Haunted Granary, Dinosaur Land & Face Painting (Delzer’s)
-Admission for these is free but you pay for the activities that you want to do
