Always On My Mind

Don’t missBarton HillFarms’ FallFestival

258 MILES ROUND TRIPHead to Barton HillFarms before it’s toolate! The 118-acre spreadoutside of Austin near

Bastrop, Texas, is sure to be a delight forthe entire family. The short trip is agreat weekend drive, but time is ticking!The Fall Festival, boasting a corn maze,pumpkin patch, games, food and more,began September 28 and ends onNovember 10. Barton Hill Farms is onlyopen on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5

p.m., so start your car engines, becausethis is one seasonal adventure you donot want to miss.

Two years ago, after seeing a needfor entertainment outside of the city foryoung families, co-owners Andrew Taftand Craig Swanson opened Barton HillFarms. However, the farm is anythingbut young. Set on the banks of theColorado River and surrounded by 100-year-old cottonwood trees, it has a richhistory full of Native Americans,schooners and Stephen F. Austinhimself.

In the early 1830s, Josiah P.Wilbarger worked under Stephen F.Austin and settled on the land. While ona guiding expedition, Wilbarger wasattacked by Comanches, wounded,scalped and left to die in the Texas heat.However, he was rescued by anothergroup of colonists and survived, thoughhis head wound never fully healed.Until his death in 1845, Wilbarger wore asilk cap to hide his exposed skull. Helater built a stockade on the farm toprotect himself from another potentialattack. Around that time, Stephen F.

The family-friendly fallfestival atBarton HillFarms endsNovember 10.Photo courtesyof Barton HillFarms

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by Kathryn Worrall

Located near Bastrop, TexasTravel

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Austin used the area to bring insupplies. He chartered a schooner, theLively, to bring supplies from NewOrleans up the Colorado River.Somewhere along the way, however,the boat got lost and never made it upthe river. According to Swanson, legendsays that Stephen F. Austin waited for30 days on the banks of the river, only tohead back to Bastrop empty-handed.

Upon Wilbarger’s death in 1845, theBarton family purchased the land. Overthe years, it has been used as a cottonplantation, pecan orchard, hay farmand even an underground gamblinghouse during Prohibition. Two yearsago, Swanson and Taft began leasingthe land to create Barton Hill Farms.Upon discovering the history of thefarm, they decided to commemorate thepast by constructing two replicas — asmaller version of Wilbarger’s stockade,Fort Wilbarger, and an accuratelyproportioned, 50-foot reproduction ofthe Lively. Signs are placed throughoutboth replicas, so “Mom and Dad canread” while the children explore,according to Swanson. Though BartonHill Farms is about entertainment,Swanson and Taft wanted to honor thepast.

“We try to bring in the Texashistory,” Swanson said, “and make itliving history.”

Last year, which was its first year ofoperation, Barton Hill Farms welcomedjust under 18,000 visitors, but thisseason, Swanson expects between25,000 and 30,000 visitors. One of themain attractions of the farm is a 5-acrecorn maze. This year, the maze’spattern honors Texas music legend,Willie Nelson, who turned 80 this year.The words “Always On My Mind,” fromthe song Nelson made famous, are cutinto the corn as a tribute to Nelson’sbirthday as well as his ongoing supportof farmers.

“Willie is a supporter of the smallAmerican farmer, which is who weare,” Swanson said. “We believe in thatand see all that he has done for ourcause and the cause of other farmers.”

The maze takes 25 to 45 minutes tonavigate — depending on how lost you

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get — and it becomes a flashlight mazeon Saturday nights from dusk until thefarm closes at 10 p.m.

The farm also has a small pumpkinpatch of nearly 2,000 pumpkins. Manyvisitors have told Swanson that it is themost scenic pumpkin patch in Texas. So,when visiting Barton Hill Farms, bring acamera along. With the Colorado River’sbanks in the background, orangepumpkins littering the ground andcottonwoods framing the skyline, it is agreat opportunity for fall photos. BartonHill Farms sells big jack-o’-lanternpumpkins for $10, while smaller piepumpkins go for $4. It also offers freepumpkin painting, a great alternative tothe traditional carved pumpkin.

“With the heat in Texas, if you carveyour pumpkins, they can start to rotwithin a day or two or collapse in,”Swanson said. “It can become a shell ofitself in three days. So, we paint thepumpkins with a festive fall theme.”

The farm’s “jumping pillow” alsoattracts kids and adults alike. Imagine agiant red, orange, green and yellowstriped super-strong pillow lying on theground. This 2,000-square-footrectangular trampoline can fit 25 to 30people, and anyone can jump on it ifthey buy the all-access pass, which is anadditional fee of $5.

The pass also grants access to thefarm’s barrel train.

“It’s a string of 10, 35-gallon barrelsthat have been modified and painted tolook like cows,” Swanson said. Thebarrels are hooked up to a tractor, whichpulls the train’s passengers, mainlykids, who delight in the attraction.

In the petting area, kids can feedgrain to a family of goats. Face paintingis available for a fee of $5 to $7,depending on the design. Then,dangling from many of the oldcottonwood trees are swings. With thelowest branches around 18 feet high,visitors can get a “good swing going,”Swanson said.

This year, Barton Hill Farms hostscountry and honky-tonk band Big JohnMills. The band plays from 2 to 6 p.m. onSaturdays and noon to 4 p.m. onSundays.

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“He plays a lot of Willie and Merle[Haggard],” Swanson said. “He actuallyused to play with Willie and evenWaylon Jennings, back when [Jennings]was alive. He has been honky-tonkyingaround Central Texas since 1983.”

A restaurant near Bastrop, Cindy’sGone Hog Wild, provides food andbeverages for Barton Hill Farms. Themenu includes roasted corn, hot dogs,corn dogs, chicken tenders, turkey legs,burgers and chicken sandwiches. Itserves beer for $4, wine for $6 and softdrinks for $2. Barton Hill Farms also sellscotton candy, kettle corn and T-shirtsand hats.

You should bring good walking shoesto explore the property as well assunscreen and a hat to weather theTexas sun. You can even bring in food, ablanket or lawn chairs and have a picnicin the courtyard, but no outside drinksare allowed. Barton Hill Farms offerscorporate rentals, private parties andclassroom field trips as well.

So, why should you head downInterstate 35 right away? According toSwanson, for the opportunity to get outof the city, to drive down a windy, two-lane country back road.

“It is good to get outside of yournormal setting,” he said. “Go to a newplace with something cool to do, abeautiful setting and a lot of other peoplehaving fun.”

Take advantage of the cooling fallweather and head up to Bastrop now.Paint a pumpkin, jump on the pillowand get lost in the maze with loved ones.This day trip is guaranteed to be “alwayson your mind.”

“It’s basically a big park wherefamilies can come out and let their kidsrun wild,” Swanson said. “Parents cankick back and have a glass of wine or abeer. We have something for the wholefamily. When we see moms and dadsleaving the property with kids in tow,there are smiles on everyone’s faces.”

The cost is $10 for ages 11 and up, $7for ages 3 to 10 and free for children 2 andunder. A discount of $1 is applied whentickets are purchased online. For moreinformation or to purchase tickets, visitwww.bartonhillfarms.com. W

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