Last time, we talked about preserving and protecting your investment from the beginning of the season until the last guest leaves your gates. For now, we are focusing on your corn maze, but the principle applies to every aspect of your venue and to every small part. It’s equally important to make sure to maintain the camp fire pits just as much as the duck races and the corn cannon. If there is an overall feel of quality and professionalism, you will demonstrate that you care about providing a good experience from start to finish.

One of the biggest challenges for a venue that uses a corn maze is to make sure that it lasts until the end of the season. Most venues are open for at least 6-8 weeks, which means that thousands or even tens of thousands of guests will be on your property and in your corn! And since most venues wrap up around Halloween, the majority of your guests may come at the end of your season.

This article will focus on those things you can do during the long off-season to keep your guests engaged and looking forward to when your doors are open again.

The first thing to remember when you are building pens or preparing accommodations for animals is to build according to the animal. Different animals have different needs as well as different interests. For instance, goats love to climb and rabbits like to burrow. So when you prepare an area for animals, make sure that they are built specifically for that animal. Pen construction is very different from one animal to another.

The second thing to consider is the amount of space that your animals will need. Animal size and the number of animals will determine how much space they will need. For instance, they usually recommend 20 square feet...

Last time we talked about the decision as to whether or not to add animals to your venue. I posted some questions to help you determine the feasibility for you personally. There is a ton of value, but again it may not work for everyone. From here on out, we’ll assume that you are either moving forward or have already added animals to your attraction. I’ll do my best to help you get started or refine what you already have.

Probably the first part of the process is determining the best location. Since animals appeal to a broad range of ages, it is usually best to keep them most accessible to your youngest guests. When people enter your ven...

Long lines are one of those things we consider a “good problem to have”.  Unfortunately, long lines can be a frustration for your guests and not a good way to start their fun day at the farm.  Here are some tips to keep those lines moving.

1. Good Signage

Be sure you have easy-to-read signs at your check-in area.  Not just at the cash register but in several places that can be easily seen from the lines so customers can be more prepared when it is their turn to pay. 

2. Limited Options

Keep it Simple.  Don’t have too many combo packages or options.  Studies have shown that limiting options to 3 or less is the sweet spot in situati...

Agritourism burnout can not only impact the success of your business, but all areas of your life.  It is important to take steps to ensure that you have enough “fuel in your tank” to make it through the season with a smile on your face (even if it is fake sometimes).  When burnout sets in, the negative impact will be felt all the way down to the guests that visit your venue.  Here are some tips to help avoid Agritourism burnout.

1. Delegate Menial Tasks
It is tempting to save a few bucks and do things like cleaning up trash from the parking lot, setting up the inflatables, re-stocking your concession stand.  All those menial ta...