Barn Hill Preserve Pumpkin Patch: Know Before You Go

Fall is in the air, and if your family is ready for some Pumpkin Patch fun, the Barn Hill Preserve Pumpkin Patch / Prehistoric Pumpkin Patch is one you won’t want to miss. Barn Hill Preserve’s annual Pumpkin Patch has quickly become a fall family tradition. The addition of the “Prehistoric Dinasour Pumpkin Patch” makes it a must-do for our tiniest Palaeontologists. 

Barn Hill Preserve Pumpkin Patch

Here’s an overview of a previous trip and what to know before you go:

 The ticket price includes one small pumpkin picked from the pumpkin patch. In addition, there were animal encounters, a corn pit, pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating, hayrides, corn maze, archery, games, a kangaroo walkabout, and many other activities. 

Add-on encounters with a two-toed sloth, spectacled owl, and anteater are not included in the door price.

We arrived around 10:30 am, and it only took us about 15 minutes to park and pay. There was a bit of a line, but it moved pretty efficiently. Upon getting to the front, I was pleasantly surprised to find they take both cash and card options, as I could not get a firm answer to this question on their website or social media before arriving. 

We started the day by practicing our archery, then enjoyed zoo-like enclosures featuring a lynx and a pair of very friendly otters. After that, we found our way to the Kangaroo Walkabout, which we unanimously agreed was the highlight of our trip. Kids and adults alike delighted in getting up close with baby goats, kangaroos, and even a giraffe!

We even fed the baby goats, which was such a sweet experience.

Barn Hill Preserve Pumpkin Patch

We then walked down a rocky path to the actual pumpkin patch, which had its ups and downs. From afar, it was beautiful. Between the stunningly perfect weather providing a cloudless blue sky, to the lovely bright greens and oranges of the pumpkins, it made for gorgeous photos. However, it’s Louisiana, so we were sidestepping large ant piles. That said, everyone found their perfect pumpkin. There were picnic tables set up where we could have painted them; the thought of even semi-wet paint entering my vehicle was enough for me to veto that activity.

Eating at Barn Hill Preserve

On-site food options are limited, but the preserve does permit outside food and drink. We weren’t sure what to expect, so we brought a picnic lunch. It was perfect, and there were multiple options for seating. If picnics aren’t your jam, they offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers for $5 each. There was also a mobile bar on site serving coffee, tea, soft drinks, mocktails, and a selection of sweet treats.

Navigating Barn Hill Preserve

There were a few things I didn’t love, like the only bathrooms being two portapotties at the entrance. I don’t know about your kids, but mine are horrified by the things which caused us to make an early departure. Also, there wasn’t any direction as to where to find things, like the animal show we got lucky and stumbled upon or the corn maze we never did locate. A map or signage would have been hugely helpful. More and more people arrived as the day went by, so I suggest arriving first thing on a Sunday morning to avoid the bigger crowd.

My family had a great time at Barn Hill Preserve’s pumpkin patch! Our highlights were the Kangaroo Walkabout, the otters, and all the great photo ops. I’m looking forward to going again next year and having an even better time now that we have this experience under our belts! If you’ve been before, what advice would you give families planning to go for the first time? Join the conversation on our Facebook page. 

Christy is a Northshore native who, in 2018, was dragged kicking and screaming to Denham Springs. After a short adjustment period, she’s learned to love her new home and enjoys exploring all the Baton Rouge area has to offer. A working mother of two, she balances her free time between hanging out with her family, writing, and baking for her home business, The Little Things Cakes.

 

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