It’s OK to admit it: Fall is one of the best times of the year, and for good reason. Cooler temperatures, mysterious corn mazes and those apple cider doughnuts are just part of the fun.
Spend a day at Richardson Adventure Farm, in Spring Grove, and you’ll be able to squeeze all of it into one outing.
Through Oct. 29 this year, the farm offers up a corn maze, wagon rides, train rides, access to the sunflower fields and dozens of other activities with admission.
One of the main attractions is a corn maze spanning more than 28 acres with 10 miles of trail. In years past, corn maze designs have been inspired by Star Trek, The Beatles, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears, among others. This year, it’s a dinosaur theme.
Kids can get in on the fun with two kinds of mazes. One only has left turns and one only has right turns.
“We did this because if a mom has two young kids and she doesn’t want to worry about them getting lost, she can take this trail since you only make left or right turns and you come right out,” says George Richardson, farm co-owner.
If you see a figure flying high above, it’s not a bird or a plane; it’s someone riding a zipline. Guests can climb the observation tower to soar down a 700-foot-long zipline.
“For $16, it’s a very fun ride and it’s entertaining to watch the zipliners gliding over your head all day long,” says Ryan Richardson, farm co-owner. “All of the people who operate the ziplines are our employees and they go through annual training and certification.”
Snoop Pigg, Taylor Swiftfoot and their friends have a muddy good time as they race around the pig race track on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“[My wife] Wendy and I do most of the pig races every two hours with live pigs,” says George Richardson. “Each pig gets their own musical introduction, and my wife and I do some funny banter, so that’s entertaining.”
No autumn is ever complete without a trip to the farm.
“Our farm is just about having fun on a fall day,” Richardson says.
Go to richardsonadventurefarm.com for hours, pricing and information.
Richardson Adventure Farm is located at 909 English Prairie Road, in Spring Grove, (815) 675-9729.