Grandaddy’s Farm in Franklin County, TN is a fall tradition for many families. This year I decided to take my kids and look at it through two lenses: Dad and Engineer. As a dad, I want to know if it’s fun, safe, and worth the money. As an engineer, I can’t help noticing the design, flow, and structure behind the fun. Here’s my full breakdown.
1. Location & Accessibility (Score: 8/10)
Drive time: Took us about 30 minutes from the opposite side of Decherd. So depending on where you are at, plan accordingly.
Parking Lot: Parking lot was organized, but did have an issue with people coming out the entrance when we were trying to enter. Recommend clearer exit signage so people know which way to leave.
Entrance flow: The entrance was clearly marked and had no issues.
Accessibility: Strollers shouldn’t have an issue. We opted out of bringing them, but there were plenty of parents pushing them around. If you need a wheelchair that shouldn’t be an issue either. There are some hills / slopes so do keep that in mind.
2. Attractions & Activities (Score: 8/10)
Number and variety of activities: A total of 20 different activities to do. Some of the things to do are: a 4.5 Acre Corn Maze, “Bacon Run” pig races, Hayride, Singalong Trail, Animal Coral, Trike Track, Bubble Hut, Corn Boxes, Wall Ball, Grain Wagon Basketball, 40- ft Hillside slide, Farmyard Fairways, Duck Races, Tire Mountain, Hilltop Hopper, Jump Pad, Country Express, The Scrambled Shed, and lots of photo ops!
Safety of equipment: The equipment and attractions all looked safe. Well made and sound.
Design of corn maze: The corn maze was in the design of a pumpkin with the number 20 in the middle representing the 20th anniversary. The corn maze was challenging as we got lost and it took awhile to get through. We made it through, but prepare to spend some time in there!
3. Kid-Friendliness (Score: 9/10)
Age range of attractions: As I have two young children, I always wonder what all they can do when I go somewhere. Luckily, Granddaddy’s attractions were mostly for all ages. The only thing my kids weren’t able to do was the Grain Wagon Basketball. They were just too small to shoot the ball into the Bin.
Safety features: Safety is always a factor when taking the kiddos out. Grandaddy’s for the most part was fenced/roped in. My son did go beyond the ropes when trying to pet a goat, but we were able to wrangle him back in. Staff was present throughout the farm, to answer any questions or concerns. The farm is wide open so there are plenty of clear line sights to watch your kids from a picnic table or seating area.
Bathrooms and changing tables: The bathrooms were easy to find and clean.
4. Food & Refreshments (Score: 8/10)
Variety of options: Grandaddy’s had a variety of options for food. Starting out they had a grill area. The area included: your normal burger, chicken strips, hot dogs, pulled pork, and ribbon fries. Then, there was a donut shed that had donuts, coffee, and kettle corn. Not pictured, but also was a sweet stop that had ice cream, apple cider slush, and more kettle corn.
Kid-friendliness: When it comes to picky eaters, you might survive. They have chicken tenders & hot dogs, but if your child doesn’t like those, you might want to eat beforehand.
Efficiency: When we went there, there was no waiting. Maybe we got lucky and got there at a good time, but we didn’t have to wait for food or any attraction. There weren’t any trash cans on the edges of the farm, you’ll have to go near the food area for trash cans.
5. Value for Money (Score: 7/10)
Ticket price: The ticket price for entrance is $15.95 + tax on a weekday and $17.95 + tax on Saturday. Our total cost for three people (my son was free since he was under 3) was $58.83. This brings a total cost of $19.61 per person. Now originally this seemed excessive, but we spent 2 hours at the farm. I like to look at value at per hour rate which equates to $9.81. This is about double of what you would spend at a two hour movie at the local theater.
“The Vibe”: The farm had a family-owned charm versus a commercialized farm. As pumpkin patch farms become more mainstream this is good to see.
Extra costs: Snacks at the ice cream stop and the donut shed were adequate. However, I feel the grill entree prices were a little excessive. The range of prices for an adult entree was $10.95 – $16.50. Now, I understand supply chain and limited year attractions, but I feel like prices can be more competitive.
6. Overall Atmosphere (Score: 9/10)
Friendliness of staff: The staff was friendly and helpful.
Farm aesthetics: Grandaddy’s farm has plenty photo spots, decorations, and landscaping. My pumpkin loving son let me know everytime he saw a pumpkin!
Layout flow: The layout was wide open and easy to move from one attraction to the next.
Pro Tips for Parents
Best time of day to go: As with most attractions, early or near sunset are the best times to go. We went around 4:00 PM and it was still toasty. When we left at 6:00PM it cooled off drastically.
What to pack: I’d recommend to bring strollers, sunscreen, water bottles, and card. I think they had cash options, but they had Square so it was easy to tap and go.
Must-do attractions: You should be able to hit all the activities, but if you are limited on time I’d recommend to do the corn maze, slides, and the country express. The corn maze was challenging, the slides were quick and fun, and the country express was humorous, informative, and fun.
Final Verdict
As a dad, I loved watching my kids light up at the pumpkin patch. As an engineer, I admired how thoughtfully the farm was laid out to handle families of all sizes. Grandaddy’s Farm earns an easy 8.2/10 on my Engineer Dad scale: safe, fun, and well worth the trip.
TheDadMap 
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