Big Orange Pumpkin Farm at Preston Trails

Y’all, we love our pumpkin patches: the smell of hay, the maze, the kettle corn, the fields of orange pumpkins just waiting to come home with us. HOWEVER, we (specifically the hubs) hate the crowd. Good gracious, nothing ruins a fun day at the patch than overpriced gourds, long lines, and crowded parking lots.

That’s why I have to let you in on my little Fall secret.

Take a break from the hay bale hysteria and go north. Specifically north up Preston Road past Frisco, past Prosper, past Celina. Slow down, because you might miss it, but right when you hit Gunter, make a right into Preston Trail Farms, home of the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm. You’ll see this great photo opp as you drive up the dirt road.

Before you balk at the $8 admission fee per person, take note that you are not paying to park, you didn’t have that snarly traffic to deal with, and you also get a free hot dog to eat at a table in the shade.

Once you’re inside the grounds, you’ll find the typical barrel train to ride, a hayride around the farm,

a gigantic maze to navigate, photo props to stick your head through and pose in front of,

and even a chance to try your hand at roping a (fake) steer. But where this little family farm really shines is in the petting farm. Also with your admission, you get a cup full of feed to give to the MANY eager goats, longhorns and sheep found in the barn area.

I could have stayed all day to feed these sweethearts — except the drooly longhorn, I just watched him drip from a safe distance.

Here’s something else, the pumpkin prices are REASONABLE. (Like shopping at Walmart reasonable.) Forget that whole price per pound routine where you lug that monstrosity up to the table and you have so much effort invested in it, you defeatedly hand over your money rather than go back to comparison weigh to find a lighter version to bring home – because you know you HAVE to bring one home. Yeah, that. I’ll concede that there was a little less variety when it comes to the selection as compared to some of those mega pumpkin patches – at least when we went — but they have at minimum three sizes plus the miniature baby pumpkins and seriously, it’s PLENTY. We gourd hoarders were at no loss for selection. See?

And the other noteworthy thing is that you are actually walking in the field where they grew. Your kids can see first hand what pumpkins look like coming out of the ground!

Still have that itch to shop while you’re there? Tuck into the hardware and feed store for some fresh local foods to really round out your visit.

Okay, are you ready to completely seal the deal? There’s a real bathroom, not a port-o-potty. Yep, winner winner chicken dinner!

My trunk was full of pumpkins and we had smiles on our faces and in my camera. The Preston Trails Pumpkin Patch is a must-do in my book. Here’s a link to their website and their Facebook page where you can view hours and its location on the historic Shawnee Trail.

I’ll leave you with this last funny. I tried to take a selfie feeding the longhorn cattle. I know, I know… The first attempt was me standing — and I promptly got whacked in the head with a horn. (Not hard — I’m totally fine other than embarrassed.) So… let this be a lesson to you. If you’re trying to take a photo of yourself feeding the cow, squat down so his horns don’t get in the way!!!