This Hidden Pumpkin Patch In North Carolina Is So Magical, You’ll Feel Like You’re In A Movie
Last October, I found myself winding down a quiet country road in Boone, North Carolina, looking for a pumpkin patch that wasn’t overrun with tour buses and Instagram influencers.
C & J Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze appeared around a bend like a scene straight out of a cozy fall movie – the kind where families laugh around glowing fire barrels and kids tumble through mazes under a Carolina sky.
This little family-run patch doesn’t shout for attention, but once you step onto the grounds, you’ll understand why locals guard it like a delicious secret.
Where It Is, and Why It Flies Under the Radar
Tucked along NC-194 North in Boone, C & J Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze operates quietly in the shadow of bigger commercial farms.
The family who runs it prefers word-of-mouth over billboards, so you won’t see flashy signs competing for your attention every mile.
That low-key vibe is exactly what makes this spot feel authentic. You park in a gravel lot, walk past hand-painted signs, and immediately sense you’ve stumbled into someone’s backyard harvest party rather than a corporate fall festival.
Families return year after year because the crowds stay manageable and the atmosphere stays personal.
If you crave a fall outing that feels like a genuine community gathering instead of a theme park, this patch delivers exactly that charm.
2025 Season & Hours (So You Don’t Miss It)
Mark your calendar for October 3, 2025, when C & J kicks off its season. Friday evenings run from 5 to 10pm, Saturdays stretch from 11 am all the way to 10 pm, and Sundays wrap up at 6 pm after opening at 1pm.
The haunted maze only runs Friday and Saturday nights after dark, so plan accordingly if you want a little spooky fun. I learned this the hard way when I showed up on a Sunday hoping for scares and got wholesome hayrides instead.
Double-check their Facebook page the morning you visit because the weather can shift mountain schedules fast. A quick scroll will confirm whether the night maze is running or if they’ve adjusted hours for rain.
What You’ll Do: Pumpkins, Mazes, Hayrides, Cozy Fires
Your admission ticket unlocks a full afternoon of activities. You can wander the corn maze, bounce on jump castles, challenge friends to corn hole, and ride a tractor-pulled hayride that loops through the property.
As the sun dips, fire barrels start glowing around the field, and the whole scene shifts into something out of a Hallmark movie. You can pick your own pumpkin, browse mums for sale, and snap photos at rustic setups scattered around the grounds.
Food and drinks are sold on site, so you won’t need to pack a cooler. Everything you need for a perfect fall day is right here, bundled into one easygoing ticket price.
The Movie-Magic Moment
Arrive in the afternoon, but whatever you do, stay through twilight. That golden hour transforms the entire patch into something cinematic – the kind of scene where you half expect a film crew to appear.
Fire barrels flicker to life as the sky deepens, casting warm orange light across the field. Kids run between pumpkins, their laughter mixing with the crackle of flames, and the corn maze looms mysteriously at the edge of the glow.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the haunted maze kicks in after dark, adding a layer of delicious spookiness.
I watched families emerge from the maze shrieking and giggling, and it felt like being inside a small-town fall festival movie you’d rewatch every October.
Easy Planning Details
Plug 3490 NC Highway 194 North, Boone, NC 28607 into your GPS and you’ll land right at the entrance. C & J accepts both cash and cards, so you won’t need to hunt down an ATM beforehand.
Pricing details pop up on their Facebook page closer to opening day, along with any special event nights or themed weekends.
I always check their page the morning I plan to go because they post real-time weather updates and any last-minute changes to the haunted maze schedule.
Parking is free and plentiful in the gravel lot. The whole operation runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the day instead of stressing over logistics or surprise fees.
Make It a Slow-Weekend Base: Nearby Blue Ridge Highlights
Stretch your pumpkin-patch visit into a full mountain weekend by exploring nearby Blue Ridge Parkway treasures.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park offers 25 miles of gentle carriage trails that wind through meadows and forests, perfect for a morning stroll before heading to C & J.
Julian Price Memorial Park sits just down the parkway, where you can walk an easy loop around Price Lake. The water reflects peak fall colors like a mirror, and the flat trail works for all fitness levels.
Both parks are minutes from Boone, so you can layer in nature time without adding hours of driving. I love pairing outdoor exploration with the cozy, playful vibe of the pumpkin patch for a balanced fall weekend.
One More Local Ramble
Brookshire Park sits just minutes from the patch and offers a mostly flat greenway along the South Fork New River, with both paved and gravel sections.
It’s the perfect spot to stretch your legs before or after your pumpkin adventure, especially if you’re traveling with little ones who need a break from the car.
Restrooms and picnic spots line the trail, so you can pack sandwiches and make an afternoon of it. The river sparkles beside the path, and the trees put on a brilliant color show in October.
I stopped here on my way out of Boone and watched kayakers drift lazily downstream while kids tossed leaves into the current. It’s a quiet, pretty pause that rounds out your fall day beautifully.