Seventy-three acres. A tree farm that never happened, and something better instead, somewhere in Indiana.
Corn stalks tower overhead once you step into the maze, tall enough to make thirty minutes feel like getting properly lost. Gravel gets dumped into mining troughs nearby, and kids elbow each other for the shiniest find.
A jump pad waits past the goat pen, where animals lean over fences begging for feed nobody remembered to bring. Hay wagons roll by pulled by tractors older than most of the visitors riding them.
Then December hits, and string lights take over every fence post and barn beam on the property. Fraser fir smell replaces the usual farm air entirely.
Families across this state have been making this an annual stop for years now, proof that a good farm knows how to change with the seasons.
A Corn Maze Big Enough To Get Properly Lost In
Corn stalks tower well above head height by the time autumn rolls in, and the main maze at Piney Acres stretches across as much as eight acres of them. The 2025 design carries a train theme, cut into winding trails that double back and split just when a shortcut seems obvious.
Wrong turns are part of the fun here. Plan on somewhere between thirty minutes and a full hour, depending on how competitive the group gets about reading the map.
Younger explorers who might find eight acres a bit much have their own option. A separate one-acre mini-maze sits nearby, sized so small legs can finish it without meltdowns and still feel like they conquered something huge.
A few practical notes make the walk smoother. Closed-toe shoes beat sandals since the dirt paths get soft after rain, and a bottle of water goes a long way on a warm October afternoon.
Late afternoon light filtering through the stalks turns the whole thing golden, which happens to be excellent for photos.
Groups often split up and race to see who finds the exit first. Just agree on a meeting spot before scattering, because cell service out in the middle of a cornfield can be spotty and shouting names across eight acres rarely works.
Gem Mining That Turns Gravel Into Treasure
Something about running water over a screen full of muddy gravel turns even the most distracted kid into a focused prospector. The gem mine at Piney Acres hands over a bag of gem mine rough, and the sluice does the rest.
Dirt washes away. Color appears.
Suddenly there is a chunk of amethyst or a polished tiger’s eye sitting in the tray.
Admission to the activity typically includes a small bag of rough material, so nobody walks away empty-handed. Fossil hunters get their turn too, since the dig area mixes in shark teeth and other fossilized finds alongside the minerals.
Bring a small container or a zip bag if planning to haul the loot home. Pockets work, but wet stones and pocket lint make an unfortunate combination.
Sleeves get rolled up, hands get cold, and nobody seems to mind one bit.
The station tends to draw a small crowd at midday, so swinging by earlier or later usually means more elbow room at the sluice. Staff nearby often help identify what turns up, which adds a nice little science lesson to the mix.
It ranks among the more unusual attractions on a central Indiana farm, and repeat visitors frequently name it as the surprise favorite of the whole trip.
The Jump Pad Where Energy Goes To Get Burned
Picture a giant inflated pillow anchored to the ground, and picture roughly a dozen kids launching themselves across it at once. That is the jump pad, and it is loud, chaotic, and consistently the most popular thing on the property.
Shoes come off at the edge. Socks stay on.
Adults are welcome to bounce as well, though most discover pretty quickly that the recovery time differs a bit from age nine. Benches sit close enough for grownups to watch while catching their breath.
The surface heats up under direct sun, so early morning or later in the day feels better underfoot during warmer weeks. Rain makes it slick, and staff will pause access when conditions call for it.
A quick tip worth knowing: schedule the jump pad toward the end of the visit. Bouncing on a stomach full of kettle corn rarely ends well, and tired legs make the drive home considerably quieter.
Little ones tend to stay near the edges while bigger kids sprint through the middle, and the pad is roomy enough that both approaches coexist without much trouble.
Expect at least three requests for one more turn. Budget accordingly, because leaving the jump pad is usually harder than finding the exit of the corn maze.
Hayrides, Barnyard Animals, And The Slow Side Of The Farm
After all that bouncing, the tractor-pulled hayride offers a welcome change of pace. Wagons roll out across the property with straw underfoot and a driver who often shares facts about how the farm operates and what grows where.
Wind, engine hum, and the occasional bump. It is a genuinely relaxing twenty minutes.
Over at the barnyard, the residents include goats, chickens, pigs, and deer, and feed is available for anyone who wants to make a few fast friends. Goats in particular will spot a cup of feed from an impressive distance.
Signage around the pens asks visitors to keep hands outside the fencing, and following that guidance keeps the encounter pleasant for everyone involved. Hand-washing stations sit nearby for the obvious reason.
Deer at a working farm feel like an unexpected bonus, and they draw plenty of attention from visitors who did not expect to see them up close.
Photographers do well here in the late afternoon when the light softens over the pines. The animals are used to attention and rarely spook, which makes for easier pictures with restless toddlers.
Set aside a solid half hour for the barnyard alone. Kids who breeze past the games will happily stand at a goat pen for ages.
A Kids Zone That Keeps Going And Going
Listing everything in the expanded Kids Zone takes a while, which is sort of the point. A dual 150-foot tube slide anchors the area, and beside it sit a spider climb net, air cannons, a rock wall, a suspension bridge, a rope maze, and a fireman pole.
Then there is the hay mountain. Kids disappear into it for long stretches.
The Piney Express train circles the grounds, duck races run in shallow troughs, and pig races draw a cheering crowd. A cow barrel train and the Hillbilly Roller round out the ride-style attractions.
Classic yard games fill in the gaps, including corn hole, horseshoes, giant chess and checkers, a balance beam, swings, and a bucking bronco. Pedal karts get plenty of mileage on the track.
A ninja course tests the older crowd, while a four-tier sandbox and the Tumbleweed Tumbler suit the younger set. The giant rocking chair exists purely for photos and does its job well.
Everything spreads out across enough acreage that the area rarely feels packed, even on busy weekends.
Worth checking before arriving: some activities carry small add-on charges beyond general admission, so reading the ticket details ahead of time helps set expectations for the day.
Pumpkins, Snacks, And The Farm Store Haul
Fall brings a serious spread of pre-picked pumpkins, gourds, squash, and Indian corn stacked around the farm. The pumpkin fields themselves rotate each year and sit off-site, so staff harvest the crop and haul it in for visitors to sort through at their leisure.
No trudging through muddy vines required. Some people love the hunt, but plenty appreciate simply picking the roundest one and moving on.
Inside the farm store, shelves hold seasonal decor along with local artisan honey, jams, and eggs. It is the kind of shop where a quick browse turns into ten minutes and an unplanned jar of something.
Piney Pete’s Whistle Stop handles the food side with sandwiches and snacks, which comes in handy when the afternoon stretches longer than planned. Warm drinks show up as the weather cools.
Rocking chairs on the porch make a fine spot to regroup while somebody finishes a snack.
Bring a wagon or be ready to carry things, since pumpkins get heavy fast and the parking area is a walk from the display. Reusable bags help with the store haul.
Ornaments and wreaths appear later in the season, and many families make a habit of adding one dated ornament per year.
When Winter Arrives, The Whole Place Glimmers
Come late November, the farm swaps hay bales for evergreens and the character of the place shifts entirely. Rows of Fraser firs stretch out under gray Indiana skies, with pre-cut options lined up by style near the barn for anyone short on time.
Tree processing includes shaking loose needles, drilling a stand hole, baling, and tying everything securely to the car.
After dark, Glimmer Lights takes over. The Piney Acres Express rolls through illuminated displays while passengers bundle up against the cold, and hot cocoa waits at the end of the loop.
Santa’s cabin opens on weekend afternoons beginning the day after Thanksgiving, with popcorn, cocoa, and photos part of the visit. Fresh wreaths, greenery, and keepsake ornaments fill the store.
Craft tables and warm refreshments give families a reason to linger indoors between activities.
Hours can shift during the holiday season, so a quick check of the farm’s website or a phone call before driving out saves disappointment. Dress warmer than seems necessary, because open-air train cars catch every bit of wind.
Plenty of families have turned this into a yearly tradition spanning a decade or more, which says a fair amount about how the evening feels.
Address: 1115 E 1000 N, Fortville, IN 46040
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