Gaylord, Michigan
Rides, playgrounds, an orchard, a pumpkin patch and a barn full of unusual animals, all on one ticket. This is the whole lineup on one page, so you can see exactly what a Saturday here gets you before you drive out.
Saturdays, 10am to 5pm · 6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735 · 989-858-6859
The short version
Wilderness Valley Farm near Gaylord has hay wagon rides, a barrel train, a paved pedal kart track, playgrounds, balance beams, a tractor tire park, a corn pit and a hay tower, plus an apple orchard, lavender rows, a duck pond and a pumpkin patch in season. Reindeer, Tibetan yaks, Texas Longhorns and micro donkeys live here too. One $15 ticket covers all of it.
One ticket
Everything on this ticket is covered by general admission, festival days included. The only things you pay for separately are food and the retail buildings.
Food and the retail buildings are priced separately.
Rides
Three rides, all included with admission.
A tractor pulls the wagon out around the property. It is the easiest way to see how much land there is here, and the one ride that suits every age at once.
A line of barrel cars pulled behind a tractor, running the path beside the pond. Small children ask to go round twice.
A paved track and a fleet of pedal karts. Paved matters here: it runs fine after rain when the grass areas are soft.
Play areas
Five play areas, spread around the property so they never all get busy at once.
Full playground structures with slides, climbers and swings.
A low beam course for working off the energy the ride left over.
Stacked tractor tires to climb on, in and over.
A pit of dried corn instead of sand. Expect to find some in shoes later.
A stacked hay climb, and the reason for most of the photos parents take.
The grounds
The farm sits on a former 18 hole golf course, so there is a lot of ground to walk and plenty of room to spread out.
Rows of apple trees on the property. The orchard has its own day: Apple Fest at the farm.
Lavender planted in rows you can walk. See the farm’s lavender festival for the day built around it.
Ducks on the water and picnic tables at the edge, which is where most families end up eating.
Open in season, and included with admission. Details on the pumpkin patch page.
The animals
This is the part nobody expects. The farm keeps a reindeer herd, a Tibetan yak herd including Bud, the first white Tibetan yak in Michigan, Texas Longhorns, mini and micro donkeys, peacocks and ducks. They are included with admission, and there is a whole page on them.
Food and drink
Three buildings handle food and retail. None of it is included with admission, so budget for it separately.
On the farm today
All priced separately from admission.
The main food building does burgers, tater tots and cold drinks.
Waffles and doughnut holes, with caramel, chocolate and apple toppings.
Cider, farm apparel and gifts, in the cider building.
Before you come
Saturdays only, and worth arriving early if you want the rides before the queue builds.
| Open days | Saturdays |
| Hours | 10am to 5pm |
| Main season | Aug 29 to Oct 31 |
| Also open | Dec 5, 12 and 19 |
Festival Saturdays are included with admission. Pick your day on the farm events calendar.
| Adults, 13 to 64 | $15 |
| Seniors, 65 and over | $10 |
| Children, 4 to 12 | $10 |
| 3 and under | Free |
| Parking | Free, on site |
6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735
989-858-6859 · How to get to the farm
Planning a group visit? Get in touch with the farm.
Straight answers
Admission covers the hay wagon rides, the barrel train and the pedal kart track, all five play areas, the apple orchard, the lavender rows, the duck pond, the pumpkin patch in season, and every animal on the farm. Festival Saturdays are included at no extra charge. Food and the retail buildings are priced separately.
Adults aged 13 to 64 are $15. Seniors 65 and over are $10, and children 4 to 12 are $10. Children 3 and under are free.
Three buildings handle food and retail. One serves burgers, tater tots and cold drinks. One serves waffles and doughnut holes with caramel, chocolate and apple toppings. The third sells cider, apparel and gifts. All of it is priced separately from admission.
Yes. Parking is free and on site at 6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735. There is room for buses. Driving directions are here.
No. Festival days are included with general admission. The dates are on the farm events calendar.
One ticket, the whole property, and a drive that most families say was shorter than they expected. Pick a Saturday and come out.
6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735 · 989-858-6859