Burt’s Pumpkin Farm, Dawsonville, Georgia

 

“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.”

Linus

Burt’s Pumpkin Farm is on our short list of must go places each year as part of our yearly traditions. This year we traveled the three hours to Dawsonville, Georgia with our three granddaughters to see this amazing pumpkin patch near Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia. We found out about Burt’s last year and love going since it is close to the falls and to Fausett Farms Sunflowers so we can easily visit all three amazing places in a day.

The history of this farm goes back to the 1800’s when John Crane, who was the patriarch of the family bought a farm in Dawsonville. The property, which included Amicalola Falls, was passed on to Bartley Crane but was later confiscated by the Federal Government to cover the taxes he hadn’t paid on his liquor still, and the whiskey he made and sold. Bartley later opened a country store that was later passed down to his son, Hunt and many generations thereafter. 

Now fast forward to 1972, when Johnny, (Hunt’s grandson) and wife, Kathy Burt started growing pumpkins on a 50 – 70 acre plot and then sold them to the public. In 1991, they added a barn and a few pumpkin sheds on the land and added a hay ride.

Well that is Burt’s background story. Our story is we rode three hours with our grands, Azzy, 8 years old, Bella, 8 years old, and Mary, 5 years old, asking after we were barely on the road for thirty minutes, “Are we there yet?” It so reminded me of when I was a child and was told after asking the same question one or twenty times, “Just count the telephone poles to keep you busy. We will be there soon enough.” Of course that didn’t last as I didn’t know how to count over 1000. Well, we drove up and down over the hills and onward north towards the mountains. At the first sighting of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we all got excited. “Not long now kiddo’s and we will be there.” In unison from the back seat, “Yeah.”

When we pulled into the parking lot, we jumped out and grabbed one of the many wheelbarrows available to use to put the pumpkins in we wanted. The kids were very excited seeing all the many varieties of pumpkins. They have twenty varieties of pumpkins for sale as well as ornamental Indian corn, winter squash, hay bales, cornstalks, gourds, and fall decor.

We told the girls, they could each choose a pumpkin and they excitedly ran around exploring all their choices. It was fun watching the kids go from section to section trying to pick out which pumpkin they wanted to take home to mom. Bella was looking for the largest pumpkin they had, so we had to scale her back a little as I’m not sure it would have even fitted in our car.

What a great place to get pictures of them posing with the pumpkins. We all enjoyed our time there. They also offer hayrides as well, but unfortunately the lines were too long that day and with a three hour ride home, we ran out of time. They opened on September 1st and will close November 10th. Octobers hours are 9 am to 6 pm and hayrides 9 am to 5 pm. November hours are 9 am to 5 pm and hayrides from 9 am to 4 pm. They are open seven days a week. 

We checked out in the barn where there is a gift shop that sells breads, salsas, butters, and many other items. As we checked out, the kids got slushees, and Joe got a large ice cold apple cider to go. This is a must stop and is located in a wonderful location in the secluded Georgia Mountains right next to Amicalola State Park. Check them out at: www.burtsfarm.com.

Happy fall Y’all. Till next time. Bye for now.