#EscapeWithNCAg is a year-long series that will focus on agritourism across North Carolina. Many farms, wineries and other agricultural businesses in our state offer events such as tours, yoga, educational classes, pick-your-own events and festivals, to entertain the public and teach them about our state’s number one industry. Each Thursday, we will feature a new site for you to visit with friends or family. Stay tuned and learn how to escape the stresses of life by diving into agriculture!
The seasons may change but the agricultural adventure never stops at Boondocks Adventure Farm in Nakina! This farm in Columbus County has historic memories within the N.C. Agriculture industry, being used for many years to grow tobacco, corn, and soybeans. When the original farmers passed away, James and Eric Pino took over and turned their focus to agritourism.
In 2017, the first agritourism event was launched at Boondocks Adventure Farm and has been going strong ever since. The Panic Attack Haunted Attraction is for those courageous souls who dare to brave the 45-minute walking trail. “Anything you could possibly be afraid of is hidden in the haunted trail, from spiders and clowns to zombies and ghosts,” Eric said. “We started with this event because we knew that our land could pull it off well and, hopefully, attract a unique audience.” The Panic Attack Haunted Attraction runs at night through the month of October. During the day, however, the farm is bright and friendly, featuring many fun activities for kids and adults of all ages. “We have our interactive corn maze available during the daytime hours, which is set to a different theme each year,” Eric said, “as well as a variety of other fun games, rides, petting zoo animals and more. It’s a fun time for the younger kids to come out and enjoy a day on the farm with their families.”
The farm is home to many animals that truly love when visitors come out to the farm, “especially if you have a treat bag in your hand,” joked Eric. Currently Boondocks Adventure Farms houses two Highland cows, two mix breed cows, two mini donkeys, four sheep, several goats, one camel, prairie dogs, an interactive chicken coop where kids can see the baby chicks, and they are working on purchasing two yaks. “We have the petting zoo available at every single one of our events throughout the year,” Eric said. “Not only do the animals enjoy the attention, but we also take pride in educating our visitors about the animals and why they are so vital on the farm.”
Directly following the October festivities, Boondocks Adventure Farm transitions to Christmas! All throughout November and December they host a Christmas light show and provide many other activities for families to enjoy, including the petting zoo, a live nativity, and meetings with Santa.
Prior to this year, the farm has been open primarily on a seasonal basis during the second half of the year, however, they are opening a brand-new event this June to keep the festivities going! Boondocks Bloom Experience will feature beautiful hand-planted flowers, including sunflowers and zinnias, with a professional photo opportunity. The petting zoo will be available along with fair rides, slides, games, food, and an Artisan Market with local vendors selling a variety of products. “We are excited about this festival because it allows us to expand our offerings on the farm, utilize the land in a different way and hopefully attract a wider audience,” Eric said. “This can be an all-day event for friends and family to come and enjoy the farm and walk away with core memories, and the photos to prove it.” Admission to the festival will be $19.99 per person. A VIP experience is also available where visitors can choose to make a flower bouquet or crown. This package will include a hayride to pick the flowers and a class to instruct participants how to make the bouquet or crown of their choosing. Finished products can then be used in the photo opportunities available before becoming a lovely home decoration. The Boondocks Bloom Experience will be open every weekend from June 9th through July 9th, with operating hours on Friday and Saturday being from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
When visiting Boondocks Adventure Farm, you can expect to have a ton of fun while also being educated about life on a farm. “Many of our visitors have never stepped foot on a farm before or, at least, know very little about them,” Eric said. “It’s a privilege to help educate them and be a part of their first agricultural experience.” Each event at the farm offers interactive exhibits where individuals can gain hands-on experience with the activities and animals. “I love to see the families come out and have a good time interacting with the exhibits,” Eric said. “We are all about fun here on the farm, but education is definitely the most important piece because it is vital to keep this industry going strong in the future.” Mark your calendars for the Boondocks Bloom Experience coming up in June and enter a world of agriculture that you will never forget!