Corn Cob Acres brings Family-Friendly Fun to Lancaster County!
LANCASTER, PA - As the leaves start to change and a crisp breeze settles in, there's no better way for families to welcome the fall season than with a visit to Corn Cob Acres in Mountville, PA. While the property sits adjacent to the well-known Field of Screams, the two attractions couldn’t be more different. Corn Cob Acres is a family-friendly daytime event that runs on weekends from September through November, offering more than 50 different activities designed to entertain guests of all ages. We were invited out for opening weekend, and we were absolutely blown away by how much there was to do!
From the entrance, it’s hard to gauge just how vast the property is - but once inside, it becomes clear that one day isn’t enough to see and do it all. Ironworks, play areas and oversized tire fortresses stretch as far as the eye can see and beyond. Before we even got our bearings, we were immediately drawn to the goat enclosure, where visitors can purchase feed on-site and interact with some very eager (and adorable) farm animal friends. Fun facts about the animals line the fences of each pen, which offers “edu-tainment” not unlike some of the exhibits at a Disney Park. Included in the price of admission (usually $20/person with discounts available) are attractions such as…
The Barrel Train
The Pedal Kart Track
4 Playgrounds & Play Areas
Pig Races
Rubber Duck Races
The Grasshopper Jumping Pillow
The “Little Screamers” Hayride
The Tire Climb
…and way too many more to list individually. What’s more, kids under the age of 2 may enter the park for free! There are also a few upcharge experiences, such as the Corn Cannon Blasters, Bungee Trampoline, Gemstone Mining and the Build-a-Buddy Shed, where you can stuff your own plush animal to take home. The cost for these experiences are variable, but reasonable, and basically just serve to offset the use of depletable resources such as gas, animal feed, corn and stuffing. We did pay for a few of these experiences, including the build-a-buddy exercise. I think you and I both know that given the choice between a bear, a sheep or a highland cow, we were going to take the highland cow!
Above: The Animal Barrel Train is a crowd favorite at Corn Cob Acres, offering a roughly ten-minute tour of the park pulled along by a tractor and with some surprises along the way! Image Credit goes to Corn Cob Acres.
Food and drink options are plentiful, with food trucks on-site serving seasonal treats. The Apple Cider Donuts are a must-try—served warm, coated in cinnamon sugar, and absolutely delicious. Another highlight was the Apple Cider Slushy, which was refreshingly sweet with just the right amount of cider spice. Another fan favorite was the “What’s for Supper” food truck which was parked as a semi-permanent resident near the play areas and the main stage area at the front of the park, and they had some of the best country-style food truck meals that I think we’ve ever had. Pro tip - ask for loaded tots; it’s not on the menu, but they can do it! For those 21 and over, Lovedraft’s Saloon offers beer and wine in a designated adult area set away from the main attractions, ensuring a comfortable spot for parents to relax while kids continue playing.
And while you’re eating or drinking, you might as well enjoy some of the more passive - but no less enjoyable - experiences such as watching the performers on stage. During our visit, we were entertained by the country hits of Alison Thoms Music, but every operating weekend that CCA remains open has a different act, musician or performer booked for that stage and the performance schedule can be viewed in advance on the Corn Cob Acres website. You can also take a seat closer to the back of the park to watch the fabled Pig Races, featuring entertaining commentary and some impressively speedy competitors (shoutout to Chew Bacon and Darth Hogger, the clear showstoppers) - although be advised that there is no shade to be found in this area, so slather on that sunscreen! And, although the bathrooms onsite are standard-issue porta-john’s, credit where credit is due…Corn Cob Acres offers exterior hand-washing stations with actual running water to clean yourself up after eating a messy plate or interacting with the animals. They’ve thought of everything!
Above: Pig Races are another major draw of Corn Cob Acres, and might even be considered the main event of each operating day! The speedster hogs are set loose three times a day during the family-friendly event, and times are posted at the front of the park. Image Credit goes to Corn Cob Acres.
Throughout the day, we got to experience some of the standout attractions, including the Pedal Kart Track, where we raced around sharp turns and narrow bridges, the Grasshopper Jumping Pillow, which delivered a surprising cardio workout, and the Creepy House, a lighthearted haunted attraction that serves as a fun nod to Corn Cob Acres’ more adult-oriented neighbor. And speaking of Field of Screams, the interconnected properties offer a joint, daylight tour for guests 13+ of the “Nocturnal Wasteland” attraction at Field which is begun from the CCA property near the Corn Bin and the Grasshopper Jumping Pillow. This attraction happened to be closed during our visit because Field of Screams was busy preparing for its own opening weekend, but is regularly available later on in the season! The “Little Screamers” Hayride is another option for younger guests to explore the haunted grounds at Field of Screams without all the intensity, and our driver took us on a scenic tour that incorporated fun spooky elements— airing more on the side of “Scooby-Doo” than “The Hills Have Eyes”, which make it ideal for younger kids who might not be ready for the haunted houses just yet.
But what about the weather, you might ask? Well, CCA is an almost-entirely outdoor experience, so a gloomy day may well impact what you’re able to enjoy at the park. However, the staff does their best to operate what they can if the rain is inconsistent, and will only close the park if rain, wind or lightning continues on without stopping. Per the official website, “a decision to close or remain open will be made based on the weather conditions and predicted forecast for the day. If in doubt, please check the website or our social media pages for information. Weather alerts will also be posted at the top of our Home Page.” So be sure that you’re following closely with the posts on CCA’s Facebook and Instagram pages so that you’re the first to know if there’s going to be some rain on your parade. Your tickets are not date-based, so in the event of a weather closure, they’ll be good for the next operating day that you choose!
Above: Tire Mountain is yet another activity included in a general admission ticket to Corn Cob Acres! Image Credit to Corn Cob Acres.
CCA also offers discounts for large groups, birthday parties and summer camps and select areas of the park have been earmarked for private celebrations - all of which can be booked and coordinated through the “Groups” section of the main website. Even after an entire day at Corn Cob Acres gleefully running around trying to get to as many activities as we could, and we still couldn’t get to them all. Whether you’re visiting with kids, on a date, or just looking to relive your inner child, Corn Cob Acres is an absolute blast for just about everyone. We can highly recommend this event for families with kids of any age or for fun-loving couples who are kids at heart. Make sure to add Corn Cob Acres to your fall fun to-do list for 2025! But that just means we have a reason to return next year - and, in the meantime, check out our vlog below to see how two grown adults had the best day ever at CCA! Special shoutout to LW Aerial Productions for providing us with some of their drone footage to liven our video coverage up, as well.
