The end of the swimming season might leave some parents looking for other places to take their children for a day of fun. The Old Frontier Camp offers the perfect solution with its corn maze that opens this weekend.
"It's still family friendly," said Chris Smith, Old Frontier chairman. "It's a place to come out and have a fun, very inexpensive family day."
Families can spend a day on the farm, navigating through the five-acre corn maze, mining for gems in the mining flume or feeding the animals at the petting zoo. Younger children can play in a mini-maze, on the large sand hill or the playground equipment.
The corn maze features 10 "work stations" where navigators will find the answers to Bible questions on a printout they receive at the beginning of the maze.
"I pray and the Lord gives me a design. Then, I walk through it and the guy cuts behind me as I walk through," Mr. Smith said as he described the maze design. "That's just how it works. It's been that way for years, so there's no need to try to change anything now. It's not church as usual, it's not business as usual, it's just totally surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit."
Concessions of soft drinks, popcorn and snow cones are available for a small fee.
Beginning Oct. 1, Mr. Smith said the farm also will have a pumpkin patch for people to select their fall pumpkins. Pine straw and chrysanthemums also will be available.
Admission to the maze is a donation of $3. Gem mining is $5 for a bucket of dirt guaranteed to contain various gems.
The farm is open to the general public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 14. Reservations are available on other days for groups by calling in advance. The Old Frontier is located at 1965 Old Milledgeville Road, a few miles south of Thomson off of GA-17. Call 706-533-2544 for more information or to make reservations.
IF YOU GO
What: Corn maze, gem mining, petting zoo and pumpkin patch
When: 11 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 29-Nov. 14
Where: The Old Frontier Christian Camp, 1965 Old Milledgeville Road, Thomson.
Admission: $3 for maze, $5 per bucket of dirt for gem mining.
