Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Local farm makes most of fall fun

CONWAY -- Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, farm animals, tractor-drawn hayrides and more than 150 years in family tradition are not found in many places along the Grand Strand, but they can be found at the Thompson Farm and Nursery in Conway.

The Thompson Farm is a place where that celebrates fall and all of the family fun it offers, in abundance.

Corn mazes can be found in many places this time of year in the Midwest, and even some parts of the Northeast, but they are more rare along the S.C. coast.

The first maze for the Thompsons, the 8-acre corn maze, has proved popular. Visitors can choose from a smaller maze, or the main attraction, which stretches the full 8 acres and is guaranteed to test visitors' skills of direction.

But it will also have them smiling, laughing and enjoying companions while doing it. Those who attempt the maze don't need to worry, as they're not left to their own devices entirely. The Thompsons provide a "maze passport," which is a list of questions, in various choices of topics.

Answers to the questions on the passport will lead visitors in the right direction through the maze. And no worries, nobody has been lost - yet.

The maze isn't the only attraction on the farm this time of year. The farm also has a pumpkin patch where folks can pick out a pumpkin grown on the farm. There is also a children's play area, called Pappy's Play Area, which features inflatable slides, a bounce house, and more in line with the farming theme including tire swings, rubber duck races and a smaller maze created just for the smaller members of the family.

Of course, a farm is nothing without the animals, and the Thompson Farm is no different. Children will find goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, and even the family dogs roam who freely about the farm can be found daily. There are also sheep that are a bit more used to the limelight - they are the sheep that are featured in the Dixie Stampede's Christmas show's Nativity scene.

The Thompson Farm and Nursery is deeply rooted in tradition. Visiting the farm means visiting a part of the family's home, heritage, and history. While there, visitors will certainly meet one or more of the Thompson family, who are more than welcoming. The love they have for the land that has been in their family for over 150 years is felt immediately and adds to the experience while visiting.

Be sure to look at the family photos featured behind the ticket desk. When you see the images, ask one of the Thompsons for the details and you will have an even greater appreciation for the ties that have held the family and the farm together for over a century.