The weather last weekend was too glorious to stay indoors, so my family and I made the drive over to Barn Hill Preserve to check out their annual Pumpkin Patch. We had a great time and definitely plan to make it a fall tradition.
Barn Hill Preserve Pumpkin Patch
The pumpkin patch is open from 9:00-4:00 every Saturday and Sunday in October and November. Entry is $15 per person, but there was so much to do that I felt the price was justified. The ticket price includes 1 small pumpkin picked from the pumpkin patch. There were animal encounters, a corn pit, pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating, hayrides, corn maze, archery, games, kangaroo walkabout, and lots of other activities.
Add-on encounters with a two-toed sloth, spectacled owl, and anteater are not included in door price and are $10 per activity, per person
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 quite efficiently. Upon getting to the front, I was pleasantly surprised to find they take both cash and card options, as I was unable to 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 got to feed the baby goats, which was such a sweet experience.
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. Up close, it was a bit less perfect; we were frequently side-stepping gooey smashed pumpkins and 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 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, and mocktails, as well as a selection of sweet treats.
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. 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. Lastly, though the crowds weren’t bad, people tended to bunch up around activities and it was difficult to social distance at times. More and more people arrived as the day went by, so my suggestion would be to arrive first thing on a Sunday morning to avoid the bigger crowd.
Overall, 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 who are 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 period of adjustment, 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.
What time is trick or treating in 
Christy was born and raised in Mandeville, came to LSU to study PR, and after meeting her husband and finding a job she has stayed in Baton Rouge ever since! She’s a stay-at-home-working-mom to Lucy (1) who she loves watching grow and learn each day. In her free time, Christy, her husband Harold, and Lucy enjoy being outside, trying new restaurants, traveling, and finding any excuse to decorate the house, cook, and have friends over. 
