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This 60-Acre Farm Near Nashville Feels Like A Country Fair That Never Ends

  • Attraction: Lucky Ladd Farms
  • Location: 4306 Rocky Glade Rd, Eagleville, TN 37060
  • Industry: Farm Park
  • Website: https://luckyladdfarms.com

Opened in 2009 by the Ladd family, this 60-acre wonderland has grown into Tennessee’s largest petting farm and one of the region’s most beloved family destinations.

The Ladds previously operated a smaller farm in Franklin, but their move to Eagleville allowed them to expand their vision of reconnecting families with agriculture in hands-on, memorable ways.

Today, Lucky Ladd Farms attracts visitors from across the Southeast who come for everything from baby animal cuddles to innovative hydroponic strawberry picking, plus seasonal festivals that transform the countryside into a celebration of all things farming.

What makes this place genuinely special is the sheer variety of experiences packed into one visit.

You’ll encounter exotic animals alongside traditional barnyard favorites, navigate through award-winning corn mazes, zoom down towering mega slides, and pick your own flowers or produce depending on the season.

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The farm’s commitment to both education and entertainment shines through in every carefully designed attraction, making it equally appealing whether you’re wrangling toddlers or looking for an adult day out that reconnects you with simpler pleasures.

Animal Encounters & Petting Zoo Experiences

Tennessee’s Largest Petting Farm: With over 100 friendly animals spanning more than 50 species, you’re stepping into a menagerie that goes far beyond typical farm fare.

The barnyard area houses llamas, alpacas, donkeys, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, and peacocks that are surprisingly approachable and eager for treats.

You can purchase souvenir cups of animal feed or lettuce leaves to hand-feed these gentle creatures, creating up-close moments that city kids especially treasure.

Lucky’s Barnyard Petting Zoo: This dedicated section features the farm’s friendliest sheep and goats, who practically beg for attention and scratches.

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The animals here are accustomed to visitors and seem to genuinely enjoy the interaction, making it perfect for younger children or anyone nervous around larger livestock.

Wildlife & Exotic Animals: Beyond traditional farm animals, the facility operates as a premier zoological park with carefully maintained exhibits for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

Coming soon are fascinating additions like Egyptian fruit bats, North American porcupines, and axolotls. You can even book special encounters with raccoons, capybaras, prairie dogs, and sloths for an extra fee.

Adventure Aviary: This interactive bird sanctuary lets you walk among feathered residents with birdseed sticks in hand, encouraging colorful visitors to perch right on you for a snack. The experience feels magical, especially when multiple birds decide you’re their new favorite human.

Educational Animal Talks: Daily Keeper Talks at the All-Star Animal Stage provide fascinating insights into specific species, their habitats, and conservation efforts. It’s edutainment done right—engaging enough for kids while teaching real science and agricultural knowledge.

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Seasonal Festivals & You-Pick Experiences

Hydroponic Strawberry Picking: Lucky Ladd’s claims a unique distinction as Tennessee’s only farm offering public strawberry picking from a vertical hydroponic system.

This innovative, eco-friendly method uses solar energy and drip irrigation to nourish over 15,000 plants while using 90% less water and one-tenth the land space of traditional farming.

Available late April through early June, you’ll marvel at the towering strawberry walls while plucking sun-ripened berries that taste noticeably sweeter than store-bought varieties. Fresh-picked strawberries run around six dollars per pound.

Tennessee Tulip Festival: Springtime brings over 700,000 tulip bulbs bursting into the largest display in the Southeast. You can pick your own tulips starting at just a dollar fifty per stem, creating stunning bouquets while wandering through seas of vibrant color perfect for photos.

Sunflower Spectacular: Nearly four acres of golden sunflowers bloom from late June to late July, joined by cheerful zinnias. You’ll lose yourself in towering flower fields, snipping stems to take home while capturing Instagram-worthy shots at every turn.

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Fall Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze: Named among the top 15 best pumpkin patches in the United States by Travel Channel and a top-five pick by Southern Living Magazine, autumn transforms the farm into a harvest celebration.

The challenging corn maze tests your navigation skills, while the pumpkin patch offers gourds and squash of every size and shape imaginable.

Play Areas & Attractions

Mega Slides: These towering slides are absolute crowd-pleasers, delivering thrilling speeds and squeals of delight from riders of all ages. You’ll climb up what feels like a mountain, then whoosh down slick surfaces that leave you grinning and immediately queuing up for another round.

Giant Jumping Pillow: This enormous inflatable provides bouncing fun that tires out energetic kids better than almost anything else on the farm. The sheer size means plenty of room for acrobatics, games, and airborne adventures.

Splash Pad & Bubble Blast Pool: Summer heat gets conquered with refreshing water features including spraying fountains and a bubble-filled pool that delights the littlest visitors. It’s the perfect cooldown between animal visits and playground exploration.

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Tractor Train & Barrel Rides: The farm’s signature rides include a whimsical tractor pulling passenger barrels and a charming barrel train that chugs around the property. These gentle attractions work wonderfully for toddlers and younger children.

Wagon Rides Through the Countryside: Hop aboard for a scenic journey through the farm’s landscape, though some mention the route feels shorter than expected and features more decorative cutouts than live animals during certain seasons.

Spider Web Crawl & Playgrounds: Acres of playground equipment include everything from traditional swings and slides to unique challenges like crawling across a giant spider web. The farm emphasizes using recycled materials, making play both fun and environmentally conscious.

Gem Mining: Pan for fool’s gold, fossils, and semi-precious stones at the mining sluice, where you’ll sift through bags of rough to discover hidden treasures. It’s surprisingly addictive for adults and kids alike.

Atmosphere & Setting

Rural Tennessee Beauty: Located just 45 minutes south of Nashville in beautiful Eagleville countryside, the farm offers a genuine escape from urban life.

The drive itself reminds you that Middle Tennessee has far more to offer than honky-tonks and hot chicken, with rolling hills and pastoral scenes setting the stage for your visit.

Immaculate Grounds: You’ll appreciate how clean and well-maintained everything feels, from the tidy pathways to the surprisingly fresh portable restrooms.

Yes, it’s a farm and you’ll get dusty walking dirt paths, but the property never feels grimy or neglected. Hand-washing stations are strategically placed throughout, especially near animal areas.

Photo-Friendly Spaces: The farm delivers endless photo opportunities, from flower fields to animal encounters to colorful play areas.

Rocking chairs dot the property for grandparents and caregivers who prefer watching the action, and picnic tables near the parking lot welcome families bringing their own lunches.

Seasonal Transformations: Each season brings completely different vibes—spring tulips and baby animals, summer splashes and sunflower fields, fall pumpkins and corn mazes, winter holiday light shows. The constantly changing landscape ensures return visits never feel repetitive.

Other Considerations

Pricing & Value: General admission runs approximately fifteen to sixteen dollars for adults and slightly less for children, with seasonal variations.

While some find this mid-tier pricing reasonable for hours of entertainment, others feel it’s steep, especially since many popular extras like pony rides, gem mining, and animal feed cost additional fees.

Bundled cards offer savings if you plan to do multiple add-ons—the Farm-It-All Card at twenty dollars includes animal feed, pony rides, gem mining, and aviary birdseed sticks.

Most agree the experience justifies the cost if you dedicate three to five hours to exploring everything, but rushing through in less time might feel disappointing.

Advance Planning Essential: The farm uses timed ticketing with limited daily capacity, meaning pre-purchasing tickets online guarantees entry and often saves a few dollars compared to gate prices.

Walk-ups are accepted when space allows, but you risk sold-out time slots during peak seasons, especially fall weekends. Booking ahead also speeds up entry since you’ll skip the ticket line.

Best Times to Visit: Arriving right when gates open gives you first crack at popular attractions before crowds build. Weekday visits typically feel less congested than weekends.

Peak seasons—especially October for pumpkins and corn maze—draw the biggest crowds, so patience with lines becomes necessary. Spring and summer weekdays offer the most relaxed atmosphere.

Family-Friendly Focus: This attraction caters overwhelmingly to families with young children, particularly toddlers through elementary age. Older kids and teenagers might find some activities too juvenile, though the animals, bigger slides, and corn maze hold broader appeal.

Adults genuinely enjoy the farm too, whether feeding animals, picking flowers, or simply soaking up the peaceful countryside setting.

Seasonal Operations: The farm closes entirely during winter months (January-March typically), reopening in spring and operating through late fall.

The Holly Jolly Festival of Lights transforms the property into a Christmas wonderland with a walk-through light display during the holiday season. Always check the website for current hours since they vary significantly by season.

Parking & Accessibility: Free parking in a private lot makes arrival hassle-free, and the farm is wheelchair accessible throughout most areas, though some natural terrain might prove challenging.

What to Bring: Definitely pack bottled water, as you’ll get thirsty exploring in the sun. Cash comes in handy for quicker transactions at some stations, though credit cards are widely accepted.

Sunscreen, hats, and comfortable walking shoes are essential. The farm allows outside food for picnics, which can save significant money versus on-site concessions and food trucks.


Lucky Ladd Farms
📍 4306 Rocky Glade Rd, Eagleville, TN 37060

Writer: June Holloway
Click to read bio

June Holloway is a lifelong Tennessean who grew up in the shadow of the Smokies and now writes from her home just outside of Gatlinburg. She has a deep love for winding mountain roads, American barbecue joints, and stories passed down on front porches.