The 50 Best Farms to Visit in Texas, Ranked (Not One Farm Paid to Be on This List)
In 2003, the federal government bought out the dairy herds of El Paso County to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis. For a family dairy, that should have been the end of the story.
The Licon family didn't quit. They kept making the asadero cheese their family is known for, using milk they now buy in. Their free petting zoo, started in the 1990s with two baby ostriches, kept drawing families, and school groups still visit free. Texas Monthly reported in 2020 that they sell about 400 packages of asadero a day, and you can only buy it at the farm in San Elizario.
That's the kind of place you'll find on this list. Not a parking lot with three hay bales and a $25 bouncy castle. Real Texas farms and ranches, run by real families, that are worth a Saturday and a full tank of gas.
Here's how this list is different. We checked more than 220 Texas farms, ranches and orchards. Only 76 passed our entry tests. We scored those 76 on a 100-point scorecard built on real visitor reviews, press coverage, history and things to do. The 50 best are below, ranked from No. 1 to No. 50.
And not one farm paid a single cent to be here.
What you'll find in this guide ✅ The top 10 at a glance, plus an interactive Google map of all 50 farms ✅ Every farm ranked, with why it made the list, what to do there and when to go ✅ The best farms near Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and the Panhandle ✅ A season-by-season calendar for strawberries, peaches, pumpkins and Christmas trees ✅ Exactly how we scored every farm, so you can check our work ✅ For farm owners: five lessons from the farms at the top |
Why Texas Is the Best State in America for Farm Visits
Texas doesn't just have a lot of farms. It has the most farms earning agritourism and recreation income, and they earn the most from it.
According to the USDA's 2022 Census of Agriculture, 4,816 Texas farms earned money from agritourism and recreation. That's about one in every six agritourism farms in the United States. Those Texas farms took in $191.8 million, nearly double the $99.1 million earned in second-place California.
So you're not short of choices. You're short of a trustworthy way to pick. Search "farms near me" and you'll get everything from century-old family ranches to a field with a rented petting pen. That's why we built this list the hard way. (If you like numbers, our roundup of agritourism statistics shows how fast farm visits are growing across the country.)
The Top 10 Farms to Visit in Texas at a Glance
Short on time? These are the 10 highest scores on our 100-point scorecard. Every one of them has 4.3 stars or more on Google, more than 100 reviews and a story worth the drive.
No. | Farm | Town | Best for |
1 | Alpaquita Ranch | Monte Alto | Alpacas and farm stays |
2 | Sweet Berry Farm | Marble Falls | U-pick strawberries and fall mazes |
3 | BeeWeaver Honey Farm | Navasota | Honey bee tours |
4 | Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm | Stonewall | Free 1918 farm life |
5 | Licon Dairy | San Elizario (El Paso) | Fresh asadero and a petting zoo |
6 | Dixie Dude Ranch | Bandera | Century-old ranch stays |
7 | Homestead Heritage | Elm Mott (Waco) | Old-time crafts and a working gristmill |
8 | Bonton Farms | Dallas | An urban farm with a mission |
9 | Historic Boggy Creek Farm | Austin | An 1840s farm in the city |
10 | Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West | Amarillo | Horseback rides on the Palo Duro Canyon rim |
Map: Where the 50 Best Farms to Visit in Texas Are
Tap any pin to see the farm's name and rank. The numbers on the map match the numbers on this list. Use the plus and minus buttons to zoom in on your part of Texas.
No. 1 to No. 10: The Best of the Best
No. 1: Alpaquita Ranch, Monte Alto (Rio Grande Valley)
Score: 83/100 · Best for: families, animal lovers and farm stays · When to go: year-round; fall festivals on October Saturdays
A former teacher, Giovanni Cardenas, met alpacas on a trip to Peru and found them calming. In 2019 he opened a 10-acre ranch in the Rio Grande Valley, and Texas Highways later called it the Valley's first alpaca farm.
Today about 74 alpacas share the ranch with llamas, Highland cows, sheep and ducks. You can book a tour or an up-close encounter, shop for alpaca goods, and stay the night in one of two rental houses on the property. In 2024 they started at $249 a night.
Why No. 1? Almost every visitor leaves glowing, and there are a lot of them. No farm on this list earned more points from real reviews. Check hours before you go: it's open weekday afternoons and Saturdays, and closed Sundays.
No. 2: Sweet Berry Farm, Marble Falls
Score: 82/100 · Best for: U-pick strawberries, flowers and fall mazes · When to go: March to May for strawberries and tulips; mid-September to late November for the fall festival
In 1999, Dan Copeland started on 10 acres of raw pasture outside Marble Falls. The next March he opened to the public with seven acres of strawberries. Today the farm covers about 150 acres, and four generations of the family work it.
Here's a smart idea every farm should copy: there's no entry fee. You pay only for what you do. Pick strawberries and tulips in spring, cut sunflowers in summer, and come back in fall for three mazes, including a giant hay maze shaped like Texas.
Tex Appeal reported up to 10,000 visitors in a fall season, and Fruit Growers News reported about 6,000 schoolchildren a spring.
No. 3: BeeWeaver Honey Farm, Navasota
Score: 80/100 · Best for: honey bee tours, tastings and a weekend stay · When to go: year-round; BuzzFest in May
In 1888, Florence and Zachariah Weaver received 10 bee colonies as a wedding gift. BeeWeaver says it has been a Texas bee and honey source ever since. Dan Weaver is the fifth generation, and the farm keeps about 3,000 mother colonies.
Book a hive tour online ($10 for ages 14 and up), then watch beekeepers harvest honey from the observation deck. Then taste honey and mead, eat at the café, or stay overnight. Texas Co-op Power visited and came away charmed by this fifth-generation family farm.
No. 4: Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, Stonewall
Score: 75/100 · Best for: history lovers and families on a budget · When to go: most days year-round; it's free
This is the closest thing to time travel in Texas. Johann and Christine Sauer settled this land in 1869, and the Beckmann family bought it in 1900. Since 1975 Texas Parks and Wildlife has run it as a working farm set in about 1918.
Costumed staff do the daily chores the old way. They slop the hogs, churn butter and cook on a wood stove, and you're welcome to watch and ask questions. Texas Highways covered their old-fashioned soap making, and Texas Monthly included it in its guide to living history across Texas. Admission is free.
It sits inside Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, right across the river from No. 11, so plan a full day for both.
No. 5: Licon Dairy, San Elizario (El Paso)
Score: 75/100 · Best for: fresh asadero cheese, a free petting zoo and RV stays · When to go: year-round, daily from early morning
You met the Licon family at the top of this article. Four generations have made asadero here, and Texas Highways, Texas Monthly and The Texas Bucket List have all told their story.
Come hungry. Texas Monthly reported in 2020 that the family sells about 400 ten-slice packages of asadero a day, and only on site. Then walk over to the free petting zoo, which started with two baby ostriches. It has since added llamas, goats, donkeys and a camel. The farm also offers free school field trips and overnight RV parking through Harvest Hosts. (Curious how that works for the farm? Read our guide to Harvest Hosts for farms.)
No. 6: Dixie Dude Ranch, Bandera
Score: 75/100 · Best for: an all-inclusive cowboy getaway · When to go: year-round
William Wallace Whitley founded this ranch in 1901, and his family still runs it five generations later. It's a 725-acre working stock ranch that has welcomed guests since 1937. The Texas Department of Agriculture honored it in 2004 through its Family Land Heritage program, which recognizes land farmed by the same family for 100 years or more.
Stays are all-inclusive: meals, horseback riding and ranch life. Texas Highways noted in 2022 that rates started at $180 a day for adults. Bandera calls itself the Cowboy Capital of the World.
No. 7: Homestead Heritage, Elm Mott (near Waco)
Score: 74/100 · Best for: craft lovers, foodies and anyone who wants to learn a skill · When to go: year-round, Monday to Saturday; Saturday market days are busiest
On 18 acres north of Waco sits a working gristmill from about 1760. It was taken apart in New Jersey, rebuilt in Texas, and still grinds flour every day. Nearby stands a barn about 200 years old.
Texas Monthly described the village as a place where traditional crafts and land-based living stay alive. Come for the herb garden and fiber arts, and stay for a class. You can learn cheesemaking, beekeeping, canning, bread baking or blacksmithing. It's closed on Sundays.
No. 8: Bonton Farms, Dallas
Score: 73/100 · Best for: a farm breakfast in the city and a story that will stay with you · When to go: year-round, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In 2014, Daron Babcock left a career in finance to start a farm on one acre in a South Dallas neighborhood with no grocery store nearby. Modern Farmer reported that by 2020 the farm employed 37 staff and 44 paid interns.
Today you'll find goats, chickens, a farm market and a café, plus a larger farm site. Neighbors can pay reduced prices or trade volunteer work for fresh food. It's proof that a farm visit can feed more than your family.
No. 9: Historic Boggy Creek Farm, Austin
Score: 73/100 · Best for: a farm stand and tour minutes from downtown Austin · When to go: farm stand Wednesday to Saturday mornings
The farmhouse here was built around 1840 and is a City of Austin historic landmark. Carol Ann Sayle and Larry Butler bought the place in 1992. The National Trust for Historic Preservation's magazine profiled its 1840s farmhouse.
It's five acres farmed without tilling. Shop the farm stand, take a docent-led tour for $10, or book an overnight farm stay in the middle of the city.
No. 10: Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West, Amarillo
Score: 72/100 · Best for: horseback riding on a real cattle ranch · When to go: year-round, daily
Phyllis Nickum Golden started this riding outfit in 2011 on her Los Cedros Ranch, about 1,000 acres on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon. The horses you ride are working cattle horses, not trail-ride rentals.
Book online, ride along the canyon's edge, or add a chuck wagon meal on the rim. The Texas Bucket List featured the ride in 2024. Pair it with No. 20, a honey farm about 15 minutes away in Canyon.
No. 11 to No. 20: Texas Classics
No. 11: LBJ Ranch, Stonewall
Score: 72/100 · Best for: history buffs and cattle lovers · When to go: year-round, daily
In 1951, Lyndon B. Johnson took over a run-down 250-acre ranch on the Pedernales River and built it into a 2,700-acre showcase. Today it's part of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service.
Here's the part most visitors don't expect: it's still a working ranch. National Parks Traveler reported that it's one of only two working cattle ranches the Park Service runs, with about 120 registered Herefords descended from Johnson's own herd. Take the self-guided driving tour and watch them graze.
One heads-up: the Texas White House has been closed for repairs since January 2024, so check the Park Service website before you go.
No. 12: Wildseed Farms, Fredericksburg
Score: 70/100 · Best for: wildflower photos and a Hill Country day trip · When to go: open daily; peak bloom March to May
It started in 1983 with a single row of bluebonnets grown for the Texas Department of Transportation. Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine later called it the nation's largest working wildflower farm, with more than 200 acres near Fredericksburg and 600 more at Eagle Lake.
Walk the fields, shop for seeds, and visit the tasting room. Come in spring when more than 40 kinds of wildflowers turn the hills into a painting.
No. 13: Veldhuizen Family Farm, Dublin
Score: 69/100 · Best for: cheese lovers · When to go: year-round; shop open Monday to Saturday
Stuart Veldhuizen has milked cows here since 1990 and started making cheese in 2002. Today the farm makes about 70,000 pounds a year from its own cows and sheep. It ages the cheese in a cave his late father dug.
Texas Monthly called the cheeses his works of art. Taste them in the farm shop and see where the milk comes from.
No. 14: Nash Farm, Grapevine
Score: 69/100 · Best for: a free history lesson minutes from DFW Airport · When to go: Tuesday to Sunday; Fall Round-Up and Victorian Christmas events
Thomas and Elizabeth Nash bought this farm in 1859 for $500. At its peak it covered about 450 acres. In 1997 the Grapevine Heritage Foundation bought the last 5.2 acres and raised $800,000 to restore them.
Now it's a working farm museum on the National Register of Historic Places, with farm animals and old-time chores. Entry is free during regular hours.
No. 15: Goober Bub's Orchard and Bakery, Justin
Score: 69/100 · Best for: U-pick strawberries and blackberries near Fort Worth · When to go: strawberries from mid-April; pumpkins in early October
Tim and Jeanna Sutton, a teacher, planted about 30,000 strawberry plants of six varieties and 1,200 blackberry plants. They keep 30 honeybee colonies to pollinate them.
In fall you can cut more than 20 kinds of pumpkins right off the vine, then head to the bakery. It's a young farm, started in 2020, and it already earns near-perfect reviews.
No. 16: Mayan Dude Ranch, Bandera
Score: 68/100 · Best for: a family dude ranch vacation · When to go: year-round
The Hicks family has run this ranch on the Medina River since the early 1950s. Judy and Don Hicks raised 12 children here, and the family still runs it.
Stays are all-inclusive with three meals a day. Trails run from the river bottoms up into the hills. Houstonia sent a city family here to try the cowboy breakfast, trail rides and line dancing.
No. 17: Barrington Living History Farm, Washington
Score: 68/100 · Best for: seeing a working 1850s cotton farm · When to go: Wednesday to Sunday; spring and fall are best
This was the farm of Dr. Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas. Interpreters raise cotton, corn, cattle and hogs the way they were raised in 1850. Texas Monthly's living-history guide lists its working cotton-farm tours.
The Texas Historical Commission runs the farm. Adult admission is $10, and it hosts a butchering and curing weekend each year.
No. 18: Zin Valle Vineyards, Canutillo (El Paso)
Score: 68/100 · Best for: wine tasting among desert vineyards · When to go: year-round, afternoons from Wednesday or Thursday to Sunday
Victor and Kathi Poulos planted their first vines in 2000 and opened the winery in 2004. They grow zinfandel, malvasia and gewürztraminer on site.
Here's a fact most Texans don't know: El Paso was a leading grape region in the 1800s. Zin Valle is bringing that tradition back, one glass at a time.
No. 19: At'l Do Farms, Lubbock
Score: 67/100 · Best for: a fall festival that draws about 70,000 people · When to go: mid-September to early November (closed Mondays)
James and Patti Simpson cut their first corn maze in 2001 after 12 years of farming. Their son Eric runs it now. KCBD reported in 2025 that the farm draws about 70,000 people a year and employs more than 100 locals.
Pick your own sunflowers ($10 a cup) and pumpkins (50 cents a pound), then get lost in the maze.
No. 20: Creek House Honey Farm, Canyon
Score: 67/100 · Best for: honey tastings and a café near Palo Duro Canyon · When to go: year-round, Tuesday to Sunday
George and Paige Nester started with two hives in the winter of 2010, on land passed down from George's grandparents. Today they make honey, mead and a beeswax-and-propolis skincare line sold in about 100 stores.
Stop for lunch at the honey café, and pair it with a ride at No. 10.
No. 21 to No. 30: Wine, Olives, Cream and Berries
No. 21: Kiepersol, Tyler
Score: 66/100 · Best for: a wine, dinner and B&B weekend in East Texas · When to go: year-round
Three generations of the de Wet family, originally from South Africa, planted 63 acres of grapes here in 1998. The first vintage came in 2000. Every wine is made from grapes grown on the estate.
They added a distillery in 2012. Edible Austin reported in 2015 that it was the only property in Texas with both a federal winery permit and a distillery permit. Stay at the bed and breakfast and eat at the restaurant on site. (Thinking about wine tourism on your own land? See how vineyards make money from agritourism.)
No. 22: Texas Hill Country Olive Co., Dripping Springs
Score: 66/100 · Best for: olive oil tastings and lunch at the bistro · When to go: year-round, daily
John Gambini and his daughter Cara bought 17 acres in 2008 and planted olive trees the next spring. They say it's the only certified organic olive orchard in Texas.
Book a guided olive oil and balsamic tasting online. It costs $25 and takes 45 to 60 minutes. Then stay for lunch at the bistro.
No. 23: Mill-King Market & Creamery, McGregor
Score: 66/100 · Best for: milk the way it used to taste · When to go: year-round, daily
Arnold Miller started this dairy in 1941, and his grandson Craig runs it today. In 2009, low milk prices nearly finished it. So the family stopped selling to processors and started selling straight to customers.
About 50 cows on about 700 acres now make milk, cream, cheese and yogurt that's gently pasteurized and never homogenized. A $150,000 USDA Value-Added Producer Grant in 2014 helped. (Here's how that USDA grant works.)
No. 24: Froberg's Farm, Alvin
Score: 65/100 · Best for: strawberry picking and a farm grocery near Houston · When to go: strawberries roughly January to May; fall festival; Christmas trees
The Froberg family has grown strawberries in Alvin since 1894 and has farmed this land since 1936. The farm covers 250 acres, including 40 acres of Christmas trees.
By the owner's count, about 50,000 people come to pick strawberries in spring and about 100,000 come to the fall festival. The family plants about 2,000 cypress Christmas trees a year, and they usually sell out within three days. The on-farm grocery started because there was no other store nearby.
No. 25: Messina Hof Estate Winery, Bryan
Score: 65/100 · Best for: grape picking and stomping in summer · When to go: year-round; Harvest Fest from late July to mid-August
Paul Vincent and Merrill Bonarrigo founded Messina Hof in 1977 with one acre of vines at their home. The name joins Messina in Sicily and Hof in Germany.
Messina Hof wines were served at the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush. Come in summer and you can pick and stomp grapes yourself.
No. 26: Turquoise Acres Ranch, Katy
Score: 65/100 · Best for: kids who want to feed longhorns · When to go: weekends, Friday to Sunday
This family farm sits in Katy's old rice fields. Children bottle-feed calves, hand-feed longhorns and cuddle cows and goats. Book the farm-chores experience and they'll go home tired and happy. Houstonia recommended it for families.
No. 27: Ham Orchards, Terrell
Score: 65/100 · Best for: fresh peaches, peach ice cream and barbecue · When to go: mid-May to mid-August, Monday to Saturday
Dale Ham started this orchard in 1979 as a side job while he was a fire captain in Richardson. He began with 27 acres and fewer than 200 trees. Texas Co-op Power reported in 2018 that it had grown to about 200 acres, and The Dallas Morning News called it one of the biggest peach growers in Texas.
More than 50 peach varieties ripen one after another all summer. One tip: check before you go whether pick-your-own is offered, because the farm store gets very busy.
No. 28: Moorhead's Blueberry Farm, Conroe
Score: 64/100 · Best for: quiet, old-school blueberry picking · When to go: late May or early June through July
A retired school principal, Albert Moorhead, planted 20 blueberry bushes here in the 1970s. Texas Co-op Power called it one of the earliest blueberry farms in Texas. Today about 9,000 bushes of more than 20 varieties cover 20 acres.
There's no entry fee. Bring cash, and check the farm's Facebook page for picking days. His grandson Andy Pearson and his wife Denise run it now.
No. 29: Spring Creek Growers, Magnolia
Score: 63/100 · Best for: cutting your own Christmas tree · When to go: from the weekend before Thanksgiving through December
The land has been in the family since 1921. Bob and Carla Jones started the choose-and-cut farm in 1990. You ride out on antique Farmall tractors and cut a Virginia pine or Leyland cypress from 30 acres of trees.
They also grow about 30,000 poinsettias a year.
No. 30: Blueberry Hill Farms, Edom
Score: 62/100 · Best for: blueberry and blackberry picking in East Texas · When to go: late May through July, daily
This farm has offered pick-your-own blueberries since 1982 and added blackberries, a store and a bakery in 2003. Before you drive out, check the daily picking report, which rates conditions from 1 to 10.
No. 31 to No. 40: Hidden Gems Worth the Drive
No. 31: Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano
Score: 62/100 · Best for: a Victorian farm in the middle of the suburbs · When to go: Thursday to Saturday; holiday events
Hunter Farrell built this 12-room farmhouse in 1891 for his wife Mary Alice and daughter Ammie. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a living museum since 1986.
Fifteen historic buildings and more than 10,000 objects fill the four acres. Kids love Poncho, a mammoth Jackstock donkey, plus the pigs, sheep, goats and chickens.
No. 32: Robinson Family Farm, Temple
Score: 61/100 · Best for: tulips in spring and pumpkins in fall · When to go: March tulip festival; September to November pumpkin patch; Christmas
The Robinson family has raised cattle since the late 1940s. They opened a pumpkin patch in 2013 and welcomed 5,000 guests. Fruit Growers News reported that it now draws about 50,000 people.
It got so busy that in 2022 the farm moved to a site nearly twice the size with a two-way road, after long weekend traffic backups. Now that's a good problem.
No. 33: Vogel Orchard, Stonewall
Score: 61/100 · Best for: Hill Country peaches and pick-your-own blackberries · When to go: late May to August; arrive early because peaches sell out
The Vogel family has grown peaches just west of Stonewall since 1953, and Texas Highways counted about two dozen varieties. Jamey and Terri Vogel took over in 1998 and farm about 70 acres. In summer you can pick thornless blackberries yourself.
Call ahead in 2026. Texas Monthly reported in May that a warm winter and a March freeze hit the orchard hard. (Farmers, read our weather backup plan for U-pick farms.)
No. 34: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis
Score: 61/100 · Best for: a mountain guest ranch with 125 years of history · When to go: year-round; summer camps in summer
A.G. Prude founded this ranch on Limpia Creek in 1897. It began hosting summer guests in 1921, when they arrived by the Southern Pacific Railroad. When drought and the Depression hit, guests became the main business.
At about 5,000 feet, it's cool in summer and close to the Davis Mountains. A Texas Historical Commission marker tells its story.
No. 35: Blase Family Farm, Rockwall
Score: 60/100 · Best for: blueberry picking and a small-town pumpkin patch near Dallas · When to go: late May to early July for blueberries; mid-September to early November for pumpkins
Chris and Jill Blase started this farm with family and friends in 2011. When Jill faced a serious illness the next year, neighbors and friends stepped in to help keep it running.
That community spirit is still here. School field trips include a bee lesson and a tour of a root cellar and cistern.
No. 36: Silver Spur Guest Ranch, Bandera
Score: 60/100 · Best for: trail riding into a state natural area · When to go: year-round
This 300-acre ranch sits nine miles south of Bandera, right next to the 5,300-acre Hill Country State Natural Area. That means your trail rides keep going long after most ranches run out of room. Garry and Kay Walsmith bought and renovated it, reopening in 2004.
No. 37: Rose Therapeutic Farm, Brookshire
Score: 60/100 · Best for: calm time with goats and Highland cows · When to go: Friday to Sunday
Owner Tiffany Thompson built this farm to help people slow down. Book a private cuddle session with goats or shaggy Highland cows, or try goat yoga. It began as Goat Yoga Katy and expanded in 2022. Houstonia and KHOU have both featured it.
No. 38: Efurd Orchards, Pittsburg
Score: 60/100 · Best for: East Texas peaches · When to go: strawberries in early April; peaches mid-May to September; pumpkins in fall
The Efurd family has grown peaches since 1972, starting in a small dirt-floor shed. Three generations later they offer 37 varieties and ship nationwide. Texas Farm Bureau reported that customers come from all over Texas.
No. 39: Blessington Farms, Simonton
Score: 59/100 · Best for: kids who want to do everything · When to go: March to early June for berries; late September to November for pumpkins
Lynne Johnson grew up on a farm, and Dave Johnson's roots are in Iowa. Together they built a farm west of Houston where you pick strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in spring and pumpkins in fall.
Kids get more than 20 activities, from a giant slide to fossil digging. You can also feed camels and fish in the pond.
No. 40: Denton Valley Farms, Clyde (near Abilene)
Score: 58/100 · Best for: sunflowers and fresh produce in West Central Texas · When to go: summer U-pick; fall festival; Christmas lights
Colby and Amanda Hatchett started this 170-acre farm in 2007, right after graduating from Texas A&M. Cut your own sunflowers and pick produce straight from the vine, then come back for the fall festival and holiday lights.
No. 41 to No. 50: Don't Skip These
No. 41: Sweet Eats Fruit Farm, Georgetown
Score: 58/100 · Best for: a big fall festival north of Austin · When to go: spring strawberries; summer sunflower festival; October fall festival; Christmas trees
Jon Meredith started this as a pick-your-own fruit farm in 2013, then added vegetables and family fun to spread the risk of a bad crop year. It worked. Fruit Growers News reported that the fall festival draws up to 70,000 visitors, and an international agritourism convention brought its bus tour here.
No. 42: Joshua Farm & Vineyard, Lubbock
Score: 57/100 · Best for: a quiet tasting on the High Plains · When to go: most afternoons (closed Saturdays)
This small family farm opened in 2016 with an estate vineyard, a tasting room and tours. It also makes mead, and visitors give it top marks.
No. 43: Royalty Pecan Farms, Caldwell
Score: 57/100 · Best for: learning how pecans go from tree to table · When to go: first Saturday of most months; fall harvest festival
About 13,000 pecan trees now stand on 500 acres that used to grow cotton. Guided orchard tours run on the first Saturday of most months for $12 per adult, and each visitor goes home with a bag of pecans.
No. 44: Herff Farm, Boerne
Score: 56/100 · Best for: a Saturday farmers market on a historic farm · When to go: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pioneer surgeon Ferdinand Herff built this farm, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Today the Cibolo Center for Conservation runs it as an educational farm with gardens, trails and a Saturday farmers market.
No. 45: Haak Vineyards & Winery, Santa Fe
Score: 56/100 · Best for: a winery stop between Houston and Galveston · When to go: Wednesday to Sunday
It started in 1969, when Gladys Haak gave her husband Raymond two Concord grapevines for their 10th anniversary. The couple built the winery in 2000. Today about 1,800 vines grow on three acres.
Raymond helped develop a growing method for Blanc du Bois, a grape that resists Pierce's disease, the vine killer of the Gulf Coast. The winery reports more than 570 awards.
No. 46: Jenschke Orchards, Fredericksburg
Score: 56/100 · Best for: a year-round family farm on Highway 290 · When to go: spring strawberries; summer peaches and blackberries; fall corn maze; Christmas trees
Eugene and Travis Jenschke started this orchard in 1961. Barrett and Lindsey Jenschke run it today, and peach orchards have grown from 20 to 65 acres with more than 5,000 trees.
Important for 2026: KSAT reported that a March freeze destroyed about 90% of the peach crop, and peach picking was cancelled. Come in fall for the corn maze and pumpkins, and check the farm's website before you drive.
No. 47: P-6 Farms, Montgomery
Score: 55/100 · Best for: picking pumpkins off the vine near Houston · When to go: fall weekends (October 3 to November 8 in 2026); spring Easter Fest
Bo and Carey Poole opened their family farm to the public in 2011. They grow corn, pumpkins and cotton, and the pumpkins come straight off the vine. Get lost in the eight-acre corn maze. KPRC named it one of the Houston area's top pumpkin patches.
No. 48: Wildcatter Ranch, Graham
Score: 54/100 · Best for: a ranch resort with longhorns west of Fort Worth · When to go: year-round
Siblings Anne Street Skipper and Glenn Street opened this 1,500-acre guest ranch in 2004. Feed the longhorns, try roping and archery, and ride with the ranch wranglers. New owners took over in late 2024.
No. 49: Walls Family Farm, Terrell
Score: 53/100 · Best for: cutting a Christmas tree east of Dallas · When to go: late November to mid-December weekends; pumpkins in fall
Choose and cut a Virginia pine, Leyland cypress, Eastern red cedar or loblolly pine. Crack pecans and pick up a fresh pine wreath while you're there. Bring cash or a payment app.
No. 50: King Ranch, Kingsville
Score: 53/100 · Best for: the most famous ranch in Texas · When to go: tours Tuesday to Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In 1853, steamboat captain Richard King set up a 15,500-acre cow camp. It grew into King Ranch, about 825,000 acres and a National Historic Landmark since 1961. Texas Monthly reported in 2016 that more than 35,000 people a year visit.
The 90-minute tour shows King Ranch Quarter Horses, Santa Gertrudis cattle, a longhorn herd and the Kineño colony where generations of ranch families lived. Adults pay $20 plus tax. If you think No. 50 is too low for a ranch bigger than Rhode Island, you're not alone. It lost points mainly on our Google rating and review measures, and because a bus tour offers fewer hands-on activities than a family farm.
The Best Farms Near Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio
Want the closest great farm? Find your part of Texas below. Numbers match the rankings above.
Near Houston and the Gulf Coast: No. 24 Froberg's Farm, No. 26 Turquoise Acres Ranch, No. 28 Moorhead's Blueberry Farm, No. 29 Spring Creek Growers, No. 37 Rose Therapeutic Farm, No. 39 Blessington Farms, No. 45 Haak Vineyards, No. 47 P-6 Farms
Near Dallas-Fort Worth: No. 8 Bonton Farms, No. 13 Veldhuizen Family Farm, No. 14 Nash Farm, No. 15 Goober Bub's, No. 27 Ham Orchards, No. 31 Heritage Farmstead Museum, No. 35 Blase Family Farm, No. 48 Wildcatter Ranch, No. 49 Walls Family Farm
Near Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country: No. 2 Sweet Berry Farm, No. 4 Sauer-Beckmann Farm, No. 6 Dixie Dude Ranch, No. 9 Boggy Creek Farm, No. 11 LBJ Ranch, No. 12 Wildseed Farms, No. 16 Mayan Dude Ranch, No. 22 Texas Hill Country Olive Co., No. 33 Vogel Orchard, No. 36 Silver Spur Guest Ranch, No. 41 Sweet Eats Fruit Farm, No. 44 Herff Farm, No. 46 Jenschke Orchards
Near Waco and the Brazos Valley: No. 3 BeeWeaver Honey Farm, No. 7 Homestead Heritage, No. 17 Barrington Farm, No. 23 Mill-King Creamery, No. 25 Messina Hof, No. 32 Robinson Family Farm, No. 43 Royalty Pecan Farms
Panhandle and West Texas: No. 10 Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West, No. 19 At'l Do Farms, No. 20 Creek House Honey Farm, No. 40 Denton Valley Farms, No. 42 Joshua Farm & Vineyard
El Paso and Far West Texas: No. 5 Licon Dairy, No. 18 Zin Valle Vineyards, No. 34 Prude Ranch
East Texas Piney Woods: No. 21 Kiepersol, No. 30 Blueberry Hill Farms, No. 38 Efurd Orchards
South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley: No. 1 Alpaquita Ranch, No. 50 King Ranch
When to Go: A Season-by-Season Texas Farm Calendar
Texas crops don't wait for your vacation. Use this calendar, then check each farm's website or Facebook page before you drive, because weather changes everything.
Season | What's ready | Where to go |
Spring (March to May) | Strawberries, tulips, wildflowers | No. 2, No. 15, No. 24, No. 32, No. 41, No. 12 |
Summer (May to August) | Peaches, blueberries, blackberries, sunflowers, grape harvest | No. 27, No. 33, No. 38, No. 28, No. 30, No. 35, No. 25 |
Fall (September to November) | Pumpkins, corn mazes, pecans | No. 19, No. 32, No. 47, No. 39, No. 40, No. 43 |
Winter (November to December) | Christmas trees, holiday events | No. 29, No. 49, No. 24, No. 14, No. 31 |
Year-round | Ranches, dairies, honey, history, olives, wine | No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 11, No. 22 |
Before You Go: 5 Tips From a Farm Owner ✅ Check the day. Crops depend on weather. In 2026 a March freeze wiped out most Hill Country peaches. ✅ Bring cash. Some smaller farms still don't take cards. ✅ Wash your hands after petting animals. It matters more than most people think. Here's why handwashing after animal contact matters. ✅ Read the sign at the gate. Texas law limits a farm's liability for the normal risks of farm activities when the farm posts the required warning sign or has you sign a warning statement. It doesn't cover negligence. Learn more in our guide to Texas agritourism insurance. ✅ Go early. Peaches, berries and parking spots go fast on Saturday mornings. |
How We Ranked the 50 Best Farms to Visit in Texas
Every "best of" list should show its work. Here's ours, so you can judge it for yourself.
Step 1: The entry tests. A farm had to pass all of these to be considered:
Open to the public, with set hours or bookings
Still operating, with recent visitor reviews
4.3 stars or more on Google, from at least 100 reviews
A real working farm or ranch, where you see crops or animals being raised, not just rides with a farm theme
Step 2: The 100-point scorecard. Every farm that passed was scored on the same eight things:
What we scored | Points | How we judged it |
Google star rating | 25 | 4.3 stars scores 0, 4.9 or more scores full marks |
Number of Google reviews | 15 | More reviews means more proof, on a sliding scale so giants don't crush small gems |
Press and awards | 15 | National press scores most, then state, then local; awards and landmarks add points |
Things to do | 15 | U-pick, tours, animals, mazes, shop, food, stays and events |
Recent reviews | 10 | Are this year's visitors as happy as past ones? |
Story and uniqueness | 10 | Century family farms, landmarks and one-of-a-kind crops score highest |
Value for money | 5 | Do reviews say worth it or tourist trap? |
Ease of visiting | 5 | Clear hours, prices, online booking and more than one season |
Step 3: The red flags. We removed any farm with recent news of a serious injury, lawsuit or animal-welfare complaint, a pattern of reviews about unsafe rides, dirty restrooms or rude staff, or suspicious bursts of reviews. We also left out places that are mainly amusement parks, plant nurseries or hunting ranches, and farms that appeared to be for sale.
Step 4: The balance check. We capped vineyards at five so this stays a farm list, and made sure every region of Texas is represented.
Google ratings were checked on October 16, 2026. We don't print each farm's star rating because ratings change every week; every farm here had 4.3 stars or more on that date. We'll recheck the list every six months. If a farm closes or slips below 4.3 stars, it comes off.
Know a farm we missed? Tell us. No farm can buy its way onto this list, but every great farm deserves a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best farm to visit in Texas?
On our 2026 scorecard, Alpaquita Ranch in Monte Alto scored highest, just ahead of Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls and BeeWeaver Honey Farm in Navasota. The best farm for you depends on what you want: U-pick fruit, a ranch stay, history or animals.
Where can I pick my own strawberries in Texas?
Sweet Berry Farm near Marble Falls, Froberg's Farm in Alvin, Goober Bub's in Justin and Sweet Eats Fruit Farm in Georgetown are top picks. Most Texas strawberry seasons run from late winter to May, so check each farm's picking report.
When is peach season in Texas?
Most Texas peaches ripen from mid-May through August. The Hill Country around Fredericksburg and Stonewall is famous for them, but a hard freeze can cut the crop, as it did in 2026, so call ahead.
Are there farm stays and dude ranches in Texas?
Yes. Bandera is home to Dixie Dude Ranch, Mayan Dude Ranch and Silver Spur Guest Ranch. You can also stay at Alpaquita Ranch, Kiepersol, Prude Ranch, Wildcatter Ranch, BeeWeaver Honey Farm and Boggy Creek Farm.
Which Texas farms are free to visit?
Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm and the Licon Dairy petting zoo are free, and Nash Farm is free during regular hours. Sweet Berry Farm and Moorhead's Blueberry Farm charge no entry fee; you pay for what you pick or do.
How did you rank these farms?
Every farm had to pass entry tests, then was scored out of 100 on Google ratings, number of reviews, press and awards, things to do, recent reviews, story, value and ease of visiting. No farm paid to be listed.
Own a Farm? 5 Lessons From the Top of This List
Here's something I noticed while scoring these farms. The winners weren't the biggest or the richest. They were the ones that did a few simple things better than everyone else.
Farmer's Takeaway: What the Top Texas Farms Do Differently ✅ They sell a story, not just a product. BeeWeaver's 1888 wedding gift and Licon Dairy's comeback bring people from hours away. ✅ They give people a reason to come back every season. Sweet Berry Farm has spring strawberries, summer sunflowers and a fall festival. ✅ They remove the first barrier. No entry fee at Sweet Berry Farm means more families walk in and spend on what they love. ✅ They sell direct when wholesale fails. Mill-King Creamery survived low milk prices by selling straight to customers. ✅ They treat reviews as their storefront. Every farm here earned its place with at least 100 Google reviews from happy visitors. |
If you want to build a farm like these, start with the basics: how to start a pumpkin patch, how to start a farm stay, and the Kuipers Family Farm story, where a weekend pumpkin patch grew to more than 150,000 visitors a year.
Then find out how ready your own farm is. Take the free quiz, and download the 21-Point Agritourism Blueprint, my step-by-step checklist for opening your gates to paying visitors.
P.S. Pumpkin season ends in early November, and some of these farms close for the winter right after. Pick one farm from this list, put it on your calendar this weekend, and go. Then tell me which one you chose.
Written by Stephen Loke of AgritourismSuccess.com, whose farm is featured in Bloomberg News and Asahi Shimbun. Google ratings and review counts were checked on October 16, 2026. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm with each farm before you visit. No farm paid to be included, and no farm was told in advance. Facts about each farm come from the public sources listed below.
Photo Credits
Wildseed Farms, Fredericksburg: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Strawberry field at Sweet Berry Farm: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Wagons at Sauer-Beckmann Farm: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Asadero from Licon Dairy: Megalibrarygirl (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
LBJ Ranch main house: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Nash Farm house: Renelibrary (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.jpg)
Barrington Living History Farm: Pi3.124 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Messina Hof villa: Ejoi (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Longhorns near Chappell Hill: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Goat at Heritage Farmstead Museum: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Prude Ranch entrance: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Herff-Rozelle Farm: Renelibrary (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Strawberries in Gillespie County: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Riders at King Ranch: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Charts and maps: AgritourismSuccess.com
Sources
Data and method:
USDA Economic Research Service: 2022 Census of Agriculture, agritourism income
Penn State NERCRD: Agritourism and Recreational Services on US Farms, 2022 Census data brief
Google Maps star ratings and review counts for every farm, checked October 16, 2026
Farm websites and press coverage:
No. 1 Alpaquita Ranch: Website, Texas Highways (2024)
No. 2 Sweet Berry Farm: Website, Tex Appeal Magazine (2025), RFD-TV
No. 3 BeeWeaver Honey Farm: Website, Texas Co-op Power (2023)
No. 4 Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm: Website, Texas Highways (2016), Texas Monthly (2024)
No. 5 Licon Dairy: Website, Texas Highways (2019), Texas Monthly (2020)
No. 6 Dixie Dude Ranch: Website, Texas Highways (2022), txgenwebcounties.com
No. 7 Homestead Heritage: Website, Texas Monthly (2002), destinationwaco.org
No. 8 Bonton Farms: Modern Farmer (2020), Dallas Innovates (2016)
No. 9 Historic Boggy Creek Farm: Website, Preservation Magazine (National Trust for Historic Preservation) (2018), Austinot (2017)
No. 10 Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West: Website, The Texas Bucket List (TV) (2024)
No. 11 LBJ Ranch: Website, National Parks Traveler (2023), home.nps.gov
No. 12 Wildseed Farms: Website, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine (2016), Austin Chronicle (Day Trips)
No. 13 Veldhuizen Family Farm: Website, Texas Monthly (2026)
No. 14 Nash Farm: Website, Community Impact (Grapevine) (2014), en.wikipedia.org
No. 15 Goober Bub's Orchard and Bakery: Website, Southwest Farm Press (2022)
No. 16 Mayan Dude Ranch: Website, Texas Highways (2010), Houstonia Magazine (2015)
No. 17 Barrington Living History Farm: Website, Texas Monthly (2024), en.wikipedia.org
No. 18 Zin Valle Vineyards: Website, Texas Cooking (2007)
No. 19 At'l Do Farms: Website, KCBD NewsChannel 11 (2025), The Agriculturist (Texas Tech) (2010)
No. 20 Creek House Honey Farm: KFDA NewsChannel 10 (2024), visitamarillo.com
No. 21 Kiepersol: Website, Edible Austin (2015)
No. 22 Texas Hill Country Olive Co.: Website, texashillcountryoliveco.com, texashillcountryoliveco.com
No. 23 Mill-King Market & Creamery: Website, The Texas Bucket List (TV) (2020), rd.usda.gov
No. 24 Froberg's Farm: Website, Community Impact (2025), Houstonia (2026)
No. 25 Messina Hof Estate Winery: Website, KBTX (sponsored content) (2026), messinahof.com
No. 26 Turquoise Acres Ranch: Website, Houstonia (2026)
No. 27 Ham Orchards: Website, Texas Co-op Power (2018), Dallas Morning News (2016)
No. 28 Moorhead's Blueberry Farm: KPRC Click2Houston (Houston Life) (2025), Texas Co-op Power (2017), KXXV 25 News (2020)
No. 29 Spring Creek Growers: Website, Texas Farm Bureau (Texas Agriculture) (2023)
No. 30 Blueberry Hill Farms: Website, Texas Highways (2016), The East Texas Weekend (KLTV) (2025)
No. 31 Heritage Farmstead Museum: Website, Community Impact (Plano) (2025), Community Impact (Plano) (2019)
No. 32 Robinson Family Farm: KWTX (2022), Fruit Growers News (trade) (2023)
No. 33 Vogel Orchard: Texas Highways (2019), Texas Highways (2021), Texas Monthly (2026)
No. 34 Prude Ranch: Website, Christian Science Monitor (2000), atlas.thc.texas.gov
No. 35 Blase Family Farm: Website, Blue Ribbon News (2015)
No. 36 Silver Spur Guest Ranch: Texas Highways (2010)
No. 37 Rose Therapeutic Farm: KHOU 11, Community Impact (2022), Houstonia (2026)
No. 38 Efurd Orchards: Website, Texas Farm Bureau (Texas Neighbors) (2015), visit.pittsburgtx.gov
No. 39 Blessington Farms: Website, Houstonia (2026), Covering Katy News (2024)
No. 40 Denton Valley Farms: KTXS (Abilene) (2018)
No. 41 Sweet Eats Fruit Farm: Website, Fruit Growers News (trade) (2023)
No. 42 Joshua Farm & Vineyard: Website, guide.txwinelover.com
No. 43 Royalty Pecan Farms: Website, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Neighbors (2024), Vegetable Growers News (trade) (2014)
No. 44 Herff Farm: Website, en.wikipedia.org
No. 45 Haak Vineyards & Winery: Website, grapevinetexasusa.com, galveston.com
No. 46 Jenschke Orchards: Website, Texas Highways (2019), Texas Monthly (2026)
No. 47 P-6 Farms: Website, The Texas Bucket List (2018), KPRC Click2Houston (2025)
No. 48 Wildcatter Ranch: Website, Texas Monthly (2023), wildcatterranch.com
No. 49 Walls Family Farm: Website, FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth (2017)
No. 50 King Ranch: Website, Texas Monthly (2016), en.wikipedia.org
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