Davis Farmland is ready to welcome visitors baa...(ck)
Site opens to public Thursday
» Visitors will be treated to an abundance of fluffy, adorable baby animals when Davis Farmland opens for the season on Thursday.
“Spring means babies, babies, and more babies,” said Larry Davis, who owns and operates the family business along with his father John Davis and brother Doug Davis. “We have new babies being born daily.”
St. Croix, American Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats, Babydoll sheep, calves, chicks, and more are just a sampling of the critters you can get up close and personal with at the multigenerational farm.
“They are absolutely adorable and just waiting for cuddles and snuggles,” Larry Davis said. “We are excited to be able to open and provide a safe, outdoor experience for families.”
Davis Farmland was able to open on June 1 last year, later in
the season than normal but they had to wait until outdoor attractions were part of the state reopening plan.
“Safety is our number one priority,” Larry Davis said. “Safety measures include no touch infrared thermometers to take the temperature of all staff and guests prior to entering the farm, no person with a fever of 100.4 or higher will be allowed entry. We have reduced the daily capacity below the state mandated capacity, and guests are required to purchase tickets and complete waivers online prior to arrival.”
One-way directional arrows are located throughout the farm, and masks are required for all farmers and guests five years and older.
“We always have sanitizing specialists on staff, disinfecting bathrooms, door handles, and high touch surfaces throughout the park, and we have a professional cleaning company coming in every night to disinfect,” Larry Davis said.
MooTown, USA, a popular attraction featuring a child size village with houses, miniature silo with a slide, tractors you can climb on, Cowabunga Campground, and more, was closed all last season. It will be open and operating with limited capacity and restrictions this year, much the delight of the younger set.
“We will have farmers resetting and disinfecting throughout the day,” Larry Davis said.
In addition, the Adventure Play & Spray water park area will also be open as well as Goat Carts, COW-Bunga super slide, a number of play structures suitable for children of all ages, a large jump pad, pony rides and more, in
cluding award winning Kansas City barbecue and other food offerings.
“It’s a world of adventure and discovery for families with little ones,” Larry Davis said.
The popular attraction on Redstone Hill Road has been offering visitors the chance to visit with farm animals even before they opened the permanent Children’s Discovery Farm in 1996 but its story goes back much farther than that.
It all began in 1846 when George Davis, a farmer from Westford, moved to Redstone Hill Road. Since then, seven generations of Davises have lived and worked in that very spot. They have operated a dairy business complete with home delivery service, a roadside fruit stand, vegetable gardens, forage crop fields, a cider mill, timberlands, lumber mills and even mining operations.
John Davis and two of his sons, Larry and Doug, were managing the dairy operation in 1990 when tragedy stuck, and a fire destroyed most of the dairy farm. Two days later a neighboring farm gifted
the Davis family with three rare, endangered, Scottish Highland cattle, which lifted the family’s spirits. Within days people were driving down the quiet country road to catch a glimpse of the majestic creatures grazing in the fields in front of the burned shell of a barn.
Brook, a Scottish Highland and Farmland’s firstborn endangered farm animal born in 1991, got her name because when she was born, she rolled down an embankment and right into a brook. Since her arrival, the Davis family has been hard at work expanding their vision, evolving from a simple petting zoo into the large-scale family friendly destination that Farmland is today.
In 1996 the Davis family tested the concept of the first corn maze and two years later launched Davis Mega Maze across the road from Farmland, which features an award-winning corn field maze that changes every season designed by legendary British maze architect Adrian Fisher. Larry Davis poured his heart into making the maze a success along with
his brother Doug Davis, who built the bridges that make the maze a three-dimensional thriller including a double-decker bridge.
In 2017 Davis Mega Maze transformed into Davis Mega Farm Festival, a fall event held on select dates in September and October that includes 50 events and amenities such as a zip line, paintball, their award-winning barbecue, live music, craft beer and of course the maze. Legions of people visit the festival each fall to enjoy the wide variety of features and maneuver through the maze among sunlit rows of corn — all while adhering to all the protocols and safety measures in place.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Davis family opened the long-awaited yearround Davis BBQ restaurant last December, which is open seven days a week for indoor and outdoor dining and take out. The family friendly restaurant, located at Davis Farmland, features their renowned barbecue favorites and sides including burnt ends, pulled pork, brisket, ribs, signature bowls, gouda
mac and cheese, cornbread with honey butter, and much more.
The eatery atmosphere is inviting, with clean lines and a modern feel. Plexiglass dividers between booths were part of the original design, putting them in compliance with COVID-19 pandemic regulations and protocols right off the bat, and the outdoor patio space features warm lighting, televisions, and heaters.
“We are very excited for the spring weather to come and for guests to be able to utilize our patio,” Larry Davis said.
Larry Davis said he and his family, and the entire Davis Farmland staff, are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the farm and seeing it spring back to life after the winter.
“It’s what we love,” Larry Davis said. “My brother
Doug, dad John, and I love to see the smile on everyone’s faces, whether it’s a child’s first visit or their 100th. It is always a joy to see a child’s excitement and for parents to come and ‘put their guard down,’ knowing their child can run and play and just be a kid.”
Davis Farmland is open weather and ground conditions permitting; visitor should call or check the website before heading out.
Adults must be accompanied by at least one child 12 years or younger when visiting Davis Farmland, and timed reservations are required for both members and regular visitors.