Hall Family Farm now open 45 minutes from Charlotte

Expect pumpkin picking, hayrides, family games and a healthy mix of savory and sweet carnival foods.

Background: The Hall family’s original farm was near Ballantyne, where they lived for almost a century before opening a u-pick strawberry farm in 2008. The land, less than 2 miles from Ballantyne Corporate Park, was purchased in 2019 by Novant Health for $21M, according to earlier Axios reporting.

• After looking for about five years, the family bought its new farm in Lancaster in 2018 before the sale took place. They were confident they’d eventually sell, owner Lara Hall told Axios.

The new farm has some of the same crowd-favorites, including apple cider doughnuts, a kids’ area and doughnut sundaes. But the new farm is four times larger than the original — 167 acres — Hall said.

• She added the farm is more of a destination now, especially for their Charlotte customers. “Plan to spend the day here,” she advised.

Pumpkins: Pumpkins are 70 cents a pound and there are wagons you can load with your bounty. You pay before you leave the patch, but if you have more exploring to do on the farm, they have a new pumpkin pickup area.

• You can leave your findings in the attended area, and drive by to get them on your way out.
• The pumpkins are not on the vine and have been shipped after animals destroyed the crops planted earlier this year. Don’t worry — there are plenty of pumpkins scattered through the rows.

Food and drink: The menu includes burgers, hand-breaded corndogs, chicken tenders and fries, all under $5. Dessert highlights include:

• Apple cider doughnuts – 91 cents for one, $4.54 for a half dozen.
• Apple cider doughnut sundae – a homemade doughnut topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and whipped cream for $3.63.
• Apple cider slushies aren’t available yet.

Activities: The farm is free to enter, and the playground and animal viewing area are also free. You need to get tickets for the following:

• Corn Maze – $9 for ages 3 and up, ages 2 and under are free.
• Kids Corn Maze – $2 for ages 3 and up, ages 2 and under are free.
• Bonfire – $75 for 2 hours.
• Hay rides – $3.50 for ages 3 and up, ages 2 and under are free.
• Combo tickets (include corn maze and hay ride): $11 + tax for ages 3 and up, 2 and under are free.

Pro tips: Bring water and wear closed-toe shoes. The farm is huge and you’ll do a lot of walking, plus there are some ant hills.

What’s next: The 167-acre property has a lake that Hall said they’re planning to develop activities around. She wasn’t able to share details just yet. They’re also adding a giant slide for adults.

Details: The exact address is 445 W Rebound Rd., Lancaster, SC. It’s around 45 minutes to an hour from Charlotte. Hours are noon-7pm Wednesday-Thursday and 9am-7pm Friday-Sunday.