As Dena Oakes walked her children through a field of bright orange pumpkins in 1999, she realized that she may be able to put her own twist on a pumpkin patch.
Three generations of Oakes have made a living in the Corryton community, while operating two agribusiness endeavors . One being Oakes Pumpkin Patch and farm, one of the largest agritourism spots in our area. This destination is filled with a corn maze, pick your own pumpkin patch, an animal exhibit and much more.
The Oakes Family website states that after years of growing tobacco and raising beef cattle, the Oakes began growing daylilies in the 1970s, a hobby which has grown into a nationwide mail-order nursery.
The Oakes Family farm has now been operating for 21 years. Throughout those years numerous changes and improvements have been made to allow all ages to enjoy their time at the farm.
Whether it be finding the perfect pumpkin for this fall season, playing a game on the farm’s “back 40,” or getting lost in their infamous corn maze there is something that will make anyone feel like a kid again.
Many of us can say we feel as if we have grown up going to the Oakes Family Farm, weather it be yearly trips with family or visiting with our school as a young child.
One of the biggest changes the farm has undergone was losing the haunted maze attraction. Oakes Family Farm offered a haunted maze from their first year in operation until their 2015 season.
Nonetheless, those scare seeking visitors can still enjoy themselves through the numerous activities offered and maybe even visit a neighboring haunted attraction in the Corryton area.
“These days, we see families come and spend the whole day playing on the many attractions,” the Oakes family said.
One of Oakes Farm’s biggest attractions is the corn maze, a 9-acre piece of art from a bird’s eye view that can be completed in as little or much time as you prefer. The maze is professionally designed by Shawn Stolworthy, each year being a different design .
This year’s design is a scarecrow lost in a corn maze, which is comprised of two farm scene investigation games that allow visitors to complete the corn maze as they stop at different checkpoints throughout the maze.
Once you have lost yourself in the maze of corn, enjoyed the hayride and picked out the perfect pumpkin you will have to end your trip with stopping at Grammy’s Sweet Treats to pick up a delicious piece of homemade fudge for the ride home.
Families and other visitors can join in on the fun on Thursdays through Sundays from now until October 31. There are a few extra days that the farm is open to visitors and those dates and times, along with added information, can be found on their website at https://oakesfarm.com/.