Linder Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

There are times when a fun, family adventure becomes a family tradition and then you love the experience so much it also becomes employment.

Linder Farms is a 20 acre pumpkin patch, 15 acre Boise State Bronco themed corn maze, delicious food, and more fun than you can possibly pack into a day with the family. The farm is located between Meridian and Kuna on Linder Road. If you follow Linder south towards Kuna, you cannot miss it. 

We have been going to Linder Farms for two years because of school trips with the kids' preschool. I always enjoyed the farm feel that comes from the attractions and location. There are hayrides out to the pumpkin patch, simplistic rides for the kids, a petting zoo, zip line, laser tag, two different corn mazes, and a mix of free and token priced attractions. 

My kids are at the age where the free attractions are still a lot of fun. Their favorites were the corn box (like a sand box filled with dried corn kernels), the mini-hay maze, pipe slide, and tire play ground. 

Exploring the mini-maze with Dad.

Rashe on the tire playground.

Making corn angels!

Corn box is better than a sand box!

For a few tokens, there are a lot of fun things for kids of all ages to do. Laser tag, zip line, bounce houses, petting zoo, pony rides, mechanical bull, rock climbing wall, the barrel train, an old fashioned swing ride, and a pumpkin slingshot. My kids' favorites were the barrel train (even adults can ride in it!) and the swing. Both the swing and barrel train were so much fun for two-year old Shira, that it was a tantrum fit every time we tried to move her on to something else. 

All four aboard the barrel train!

Swing time! 

 

Cutest

petting zoo

EVER!!! 

After filling up on all the adorable animals, we headed over to the concessions stand. I was very impressed with the selection of food available from chicken nuggets and fries for children to beef hot dogs and hamburgers for adults. In all my sweet in taking days, I have never eaten mini-doughnuts, cotton candy, and caramel apples so good. I am talking about in my entire life! Cotton candy that actually tastes like the flavor it is suppose to be like blueberry, grape, and cherry. Caramel apples that are juicy, sweet, and so delicious you will take a few home, we did! And now the mini-doughnuts. Sugar and cinnamon enveloped tiny fried pieces of dough from heaven. Every bite melts in your mouth and sharing is not an option any more. All items at the concessions stand may be bought with money or tokens. I felt the prices were very affordable for the quality, plus a lot cheaper than the fair food at a county or state fair.

Prompt friendly service and delicious food await you at concessions! 

Two of the main attractions of Linder Farms are the corn mazes and hayride trip to the pumpkin patch. By the time all the kids have their fun and eat, a trip through the corn maze usually does not happen. Unless you have older children, this would be a trip broken up into two parts especially with children who need naps. My kids are more interested in picking out their pumpkins, so we do the hayride and pumpkin patch.

Idaho in October is always a beautiful sight and most of the time the weather cooperates. On the day we went, storm clouds threatened, but stayed to the south. I think it added to the beauty of the hayride through the corn. Linder Farms has the locations of pumpkins broken up by size. The first patch has all the large and giant pumpkins. The next stop is specialty and medium and the last has the small sizes and cute little mini pumpkins. I tried to encourage my kids to get pumpkins they could carry, but alas that was not the case. 

Ezra found a 50 pound pumpkin and Shlomo was more than happy to haul it out for him. All the kids picked out cute pumpkins and even I got to pick out a white pumpkin. The most darling was experiencing the newness of the pumpkin patch with Shira. She has always been in a sling or stroller, so this was the first year that she was involved with the process of picking out a pumpkin. "Punkin patch" was repeated with glee and squeals at every pumpkin she saw. It was difficult not to purchase every pumpkin she saw, permissive parenting for the win! ;-) 

I'm spoiled and I know it! 

           

As I mentioned earlier, Shlomo decided to work this year at Linder Farms and was hired on as a tractor driver. We did go back to Linder Farms for another adventure so the kids could have their dad haul them around on a hayride. The buy in for this pumpkin patch was very high and the kids enjoyed every second of their trip there. The hayrides are free and if you decide to pick out a pumpkin, the price is $.30/pound. Giant pumpkins are a flat rate of $9.00 if you decide to pick out one of those.

With the pumpkins purchased and stowed away in the car, another run through the favorite things, picking up more mini-doughnuts it is time to go home. Linder Farms is a great place to take the family for wonderful memory making time. Every year the kids enjoy themselves and cannot wait for another turn around the sun to go again. With younger children, I would advise two trips if you really want to experience everything Linder Farms has to offer. We ended up taking two additional trips because my band also performed and of course, I wanted the kids to ride the tractor with dad.

Playing to a rising full moon.

Shira with daddy on the tractor

Spooky hayride in the full moon night! 

The season at Linder Farms starts around the last weekend of September and runs to October 31st. Hours vary during the weekdays from 4-9 P.M. and 10 A.M.-10 P.M. on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. Prices are set on whether or not you want to go through the corn maze. For regular admission children 4-adult are $3.00, corn maze and farm access for children 4-11 is $7.00 and adults are $11.00. Special group rates are available during non-regular admission hours for school field trips or a fun office event! 

Linder Farms is located at 7165 South Linder Road, Meridian, Idaho 83642 and is well worth the short drive south of Meridian to check out! 

Linder Farms.  Linder Farms, LLC., 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2012.