Ashley Kontnier
CREEDMOOR — Approximately seven miles — with a couple of sharp turns — down Turnersville Road, a 100-acre, family-owned farmstead, known as Mama Mary’s Farm & Pumpkin Patch, is kicking off its sixth season of offering fall fun to the families of Hays County.
The namesake of the farm, Mary Tristan, has been living on the property since she was 4 years old and inherited the land that her parents originally purchased in the mid-1960s.
Mary’s husband, Joe Tristan, has a long-time hay business and also raises cattle. However, with the land they lease for those endeavors being sold to facilitate development in the area, the couple, along with their two adult sons, began brainstorming what other things they could do on their land. Thus, in September 2020, Mama Mary’s Farm opened for business.
The farm, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, beginning Sept. 27, offers activities for the whole family. These include the pumpkin patch, fall-themed photo opportunities, a tractor tire playground, a walk-through animal barn and more.
On the weekend, the fun ramps up, with hayrides, barrel train rides, a zip line, apple cannon guns and various craft and food vendors.
Although there is usually a kid’s hay maze, due to the drought this year, this activity may be delayed until mid-October.
According to Mary, the fact that the farm is family-owned and operated sets it apart from some of the other local attractions.
“Joe and I are there; our boys are there. We're greeting people as they come in,” she said. “We're real people — not that the other pumpkin patches are not — but we're trying to really make it a family experience here … We want to show a good time for everybody.”
Additionally, though some activities, such as the apple cannons and face painting, cost extra, the barrel train, hayrides and most other options are included in the ticket price.
The matriarch mentioned that she gets a lot of feedback from young moms who appreciate that the farm is a little more contained and easier to corral young children.
“We're not the largest, but we're growing and trying to figure out other things that we can bring to the patch that everybody will enjoy,” she continued.
In their quest to expand their offerings, the family has been working on other seasonal experiences, as well.
This past spring, they planted zinnias and welcomed people to pick them over the course of two weekends. The farm also has exciting plans for the upcoming Christmas season that are still being finalized.
The fall festival, which is located at 5701 Williamson Road in Creedmoor, is open from Sept. 27 through Nov. 2. Tickets for Wednesday-Friday are $13 onsite or $10 online, while Saturday-Sunday are $23 onsite or $17 online. Advanced ticket reservations are strongly recommended to ensure the farm is not over capacity throughout the day.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.mamamarysfarm.com.
