Looking for some holiday fun - Hillridge Farms? (Cary, Welcome: vs, train) - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary - North Carolina (NC) -The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

SALUKI_LOVER · 10-08-2011, 08:07 AM

I've had this on my "to-visit" list for the longest time and this year is the year1

Welcome to Hill Ridge Farms

Bmateo · 10-09-2011, 04:47 AM

Did you actually go yet? If yes, I'd be interested in your report.

I took the family a few years ago, and the lines were oppressive. Lines for everything, plus the train was in disrepair and could barely pull the people on it. We took the hay ride, got a little tiny pumpkin, and after that, and playing in the castle once, and maybe one trip up the slide and down (several hours just to do this) my daughter was starved, so we went to the snack bar. I waited 45 minutes to order, they were out of everything except one or two items, so I got those. I waited another 45-50 minutes to get my order, only for it to be wrong, but there was nobody to speak with to rectify it.

My daughter was a wreck by this time. We had driven over an hour to get there, spent a lot of money, and had a horrible time. Bottom line is that they just kept letting people in, and far-exceded their capacity to handle them. Cha-ching. I asked to speak to someone, and actually got a family member who didn't care. ("What do you want, a refund?") I told them to keep their money, left and took my family to a Chinese Buffet. I'm pretty sure the buffet lost money on us, we were famished.

I sincerely hope things are better there now, but would love to hear a first-hand account. My daughter is older than that now, but I would not recommend it based on my experience.

cncsmomndad · 10-09-2011, 08:26 AM

I've been there a couple times, but we went on a weekday. We had an okay time. The pumpkins were a joke tiny and/or rotting. The people in the front office/store could learn how to be more polite to their customers. Overall, not impressed so we went to Vollmer Farm in Bunn this year. Much more fun for the kids (zip line, duck races, big slide, jumpy air bladder thing, park areas, corn maze, little cow train pulled by a tractor.) The store/farmer's market was nice and they had great, fresh, local ice cream. They also had local honey and meats. Great service, friendly people and the same amount of time to get there from Cary as Hill Ridge. I've heard A LOT of complaints about Hill Ridge from other moms which has really turned me off them. They won't get my money again.

PDXmom · 10-09-2011, 11:08 AM

We have not been to Hillridge so I can't comment on it. But Vollmer Farms has been our go to Halloween / October destination the last 3 years and we LOVE it! We love it more than even the State Fair. There seems to be a good mix of things for younger and older kids to do too. And the Vollmer Family & staff are so incredibly kind.

October was one of those special months in the Pacific Northwest filled full of great memories. So I really worried about finding something to take the place of our old traditions. Vollmer Farms actually exceeds some of our old traditions.

mbdavidson · 10-09-2011, 04:29 PM

We were at Hill Ridge today...it is very crowded and expensive, but my boys love it---it is a tradition in our family. We always go right when it opens, so we ride the slide over and over with very little line.

NCBoyMommy · 10-09-2011, 04:55 PM

Vollmer is much better than Hill Ridge. Hill ridge is nice for birthday parties but to visit a pumpkin patch go to Vollmer!

ducter · 10-10-2011, 07:42 AM

i have gone 2 times and both were good but it was never crowded. I have heard that they cant handle crowds so think about a weekday vs a weekend.

I have also noticed some attitudes of the workers, some really hated it there and we felt it. They now added that bladder bouncy thing but it is a seperate charge and I didnt like that nickle and dime theory. No issues with pumpkins. The kettle corn pit had bugs crawling up the walls, not sure what they were but I didnt remember them there the last time we went.