Hill High Farm — Attraction in Stephens City

Having grown up in the country where you actually PICKED your pumpkins as a farm I want my children to have the same opportunity. However, living in Northern Virginia, most places have pumpkin "patches" that have a field where pumpkins are placed, which is super cheesy, in my opinion. I'm also not a fan of the amusement park pumpkin patches, so I wanted to find something a little more "authentic". So, on the way back from a trip we stopped in Winchester at High Hill Farm. My advice? Don't even bother. When we pulled up, we almost turned around and got back on the interstate. Had we not traveled so far off the beaten path, we would have.

They claim admission is ALWAYS free, and they do have some things that are available at no charge. There are two very friendly horses, several goats, chickens, sheep, bunny rabbits (borrowed), calves (in sad little calf houses away from their mothers, because they are dairy cows) and a donkey. There's a Noah's Ark type climbing wooden set and a VERY small corn pit. Some old tractors are available for the kids to climb on. There are some picnic benches where you could pack a lunch and eat or buy food from a food truck (hot dogs ($2), hamburgers ($3), corn dogs ($2) french fries, BBQ sandwiches, etc.). Be prepared to wait a while for your food though.

The hayride to the pumpkin patch is $6/pp and you get a small pumpkin to take home. The corn maze (which is too expansive for little ones) is $6. The haunted house is $10 (we didn't go in…) There were mum, pumpkins and gourds for sale (can't remember the pricing, but was expensive). They claimed to have apples, but the selection was extremely small and limited (and again, also expensive). Funnel cake and pork rinds were being sold out of another food truck. Side note: port-a-potties were available.

Also, if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke, this is not the place for you. Most all of the employees smoked, which cut our "picnic" short, since there was no way to escape the smoke.

I didn't feel like it was worth the trip and...

Bottom line up front: great place to take the fam on a Sunday afternoon. I got sick of buying tickets online for $20 a person and reserving time in a pumpkin patch like every place in the NCR. I took a chance and googled the patch the furthest drive from DC. It was worth it. A hidden gem. A pretty 20 min drive through the country once you got off 66 and 81. Free parking and free admission. Nothing is roped off and nobody checking bracelets. A free range farm. They have the usual…animals, kids play area, corn maze, food, and hayride. The best part was it never felt crowded and there was plenty of space. No lines or craziness because this farm is massive. They even have an escape room and a haunted house. I was skeptical of paying $12 per person for the haunted house at 2:30 in the afternoon . But my tough 10 y/o bailed at the sight of the first exit. I give the haunted house an 8 out of 10. The hayride is $8 per person but worth it because they stop in a huge patch way in the back 40 and let you get off and pick your own pumpkin, which is included in the ride fee. Your not getting 25 pounders, but these are cute little pumpkins still attached to the vine and you find them like your hunting for Easter eggs. I was thankful to not be pushing around some wheel barrel while my kids pile in massive pumpkins which I end up paying for by the pound at every other patch. And a bonus for all you fellow drinkers out there, it looks like they are almost finished building a distillery on site. So next October, I will most certainly be enjoying some alcoholic beverage while I watch my kids run around hay bales for an hour. In short, if you hate crowds, enjoy free admission, like a nice drive through the country, and want to feel satisfied after spending 2 hours at a farm, then hit this place up. We will be going...

I took my 2 granddaughters 2 year old and a 5 year old. My sister and her 10 year old daughter join us. We had a Wonderful day. Stayed all day. Feed the animals took a hayride and a cowboy on a horse told us tales of history and guessing games for the kids. Then we all got off to pick our pumpkins. The kids ran around and laughed. I got mesmerized.by the views mountains perfect day. Fall approaching it will onl7 get prettier with the foliage. They had a few different vendors for lunch, a lovely park was in the middle of the tables and benches to sit and eat. You can sit at tables with tents or let the sun hit you as you eat and watch your kids run around laughing and playing. They have a corn maze which was a lot of fun. The stalks are taller then you. You have to get through the maze and at each point you have a riddle and punch your cards. If u make it through ( not easy ) they have s bag of candy and u can buy waters. My favorite was the gift shop, prices are not bad. Many things to choose handmade scarfs beanie hats. Halloween costumes decorations along with door hangers and plenty of items you can use to decorate all year round. Pies donuts etc soda waters and an orange juice that is put in a plastic orange and stew. Kids can take them home and use them. The atmosphere is that of a farm burning wood hay decorated nicely all few cute places set up with stalks etc for perfect pictures. Beautiful mums HUGE I think $20.00 a bunch large pumpkins by weight. Everyone had...