McGarrah Farms — Attraction in Pea Ridge

As much as I would like to give this place 5 stars, I couldn't because of the Mule Train ride. I'm not sure if it was just the dried mud after a rainy day, but I rode the Mule train with my 20 month old thinking it was going to be pleasant and fun and it was far from that! The ride was WAY too bumpy for her and me. We bounced so much that I'm still concerned about my toddler's head and neck. My bottom lifted from my seat several times. She cried and screamed the entire time and people on the ride started to ask if she was okay. I understand if the driver couldn't hear because of the loud motor but everyone on the ride could hear my baby crying and me panicking. I wished he would have been looking back to check on the riders and not go so fast over the bumps( which is what felt like was his goal). I was buckled in around the waist and holding my toddler on my lap( as I was told I could buckle myself in or take the strap and buckle her to me sitting on my lap). There were too many moments on the ride my baby could have fallen out had I not been holding her close enough. My husband even saw and heard her crying towards the end of the ride and ran right up to us to help console our baby! Please read my experience as a precaution because I wouldn't want anyone else to ride this ride with their little one without knowing what it could potentially be like! I wish I would have known or been warned because I wouldn't have been on this ride with my 20 month old if I had known! Everything else about this place was great until we experienced...

This is the epitome of southern pumpkin patches. Like if they were making a movie and needed a pumpkin patch, they'd film it here. We've been going since they first opened their gates. We had went to another local patch and were turned away (long story). We actually just happened to find McGarrah on a whim. And are we glad we did. So, the admission prices have went up (and you know what, more power to you McGarrah -- well worth the $2 extra), but it's worth it. Your admission gets you tickets to the activities around the farm or money off pumpkin purchases. There are literally thousands of pumpkins. There are some on display around the farm. Your standard orange, spheroid ones. But then there are all number of gourds and unique pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors. If picking your pumpkin off the vine is more your style then grab a cart, wander out into the patch and find the perfect gourd for your home. We lucked upon a MASSIVE white pumpkin, and I'm sure there are many secrets still left to uncover at this wonderful place. If you're looking for a fantastic Fall family experience, I can think of no better place than...

On our very first visit to McGarrah Farms the first thing I noticed was there was no signage where additional parking is to be found. The second thing I noticed was a lack of staff present throughout the grounds. It is an open area with activities throughout but no clear direction like where a line starts for an activity or even how the process works to wait for a Mule Train ride. My biggest complaint is that there was no separate areas that were specifically designed for our little ones. This was unfortunate because there were older children running all over the younger children’s climber making it hard for little ones who aren’t so steady on their feet to be able to compete. All in all I think it’s a very competitive price point and it is a great place to grab a hay bale or a pumpkin but just maybe not the place to take...