By MARCUS ESTES
Tower News
It’s the spooky season, and right now Halloween’s hottest local attraction is Dell’Osso Family Farm.
The farm open daily thru Halloween has a little something for everyone, from the tire pyramid to the teen-beloved haunted house to the Kiddie Land. Tickets range from $18.95 to $27.95, and with the haunted house and the pumpkin patch, the park embodies the spirit of Halloween.
With a family spin.
Here’s a closer look at some of the farm’s signature attractions:
*Corn Maze: The corn maze begins near the back of the farm and winds through thick stalks of corn. Two entrances and two exits await at the front, along with a Dell’Osso employee. The pathways in the maze if put together would be about two miles long, though the squared dimensions of the maze were not given. The corn maze generally receives good reviews from customers and tourists, especially teens.
*Hayride: The hayride is a short tour of the farm’s garden. As you ride on the back of the tractor, the radio tells the stories of the trees, grapevines, the house, and the pumpkins. The ride is 5-10 minutes long and covers the area tourists usually don’t traverse, away from the attractions. The hayride receives good reviews from parents taking their young children for a day at the farm.
*Tiny Town: If you pass the food court and continue east, you’ll come across Tiny Town, and if you’re lucky, a greeter named Larue T. Larue stands in the door to Tiny Town, calling out “Come on in, folks. Tiny Town, the most fun town on the west coast!” When asked about why he likes the park, he exclaimed: “I love it! All these kids coming through here. Man, I love it.” Tiny Town is populated by pint-sized buildings, such as a post office, firehouse, and grocery store. It’s set up with an Old West theme and is geared towards young children. Tiny Town was praised by parents who had and great time with their young children.
*Gem Mining: Gear up! Here, kids can play and mine real gems in the sluice box with tools provided by employees. Kids (or adults!) can mine stones like calcite, jasper, fluorite, moonstone, or onyx, and fossils like amber, sea clam, ray teeth, shark teeth, or faux fossil stone. And those are just some of the possibilities.
*Haunted House: The haunted house is 500 square feet of horror inside of space designed like a castle. The white walls are covered in a crimson-colored fake blood, and they twist and wind through the layout. Props like aliens, zombies, and chainsaws litter the halls, with employees dressed in costumes crouched behind jail cells and interrogation rooms.
Dell’Osso Family Farm is packed with activities, food, and festivities for people of all ages. For athletes, there’s ball toss, and for animal lovers, there are goats to pet and ponies to ride. Be sure to check out the Dell’Osso Family Farm this Halloween season. For any questions, call (209) 969-6048 or visit www.dellossofarm.com.
