Unearth The Voyage
One small farm in southern Idaho turns a simple berry-picking trip into something much bigger. Depending on the season, families can pick fresh strawberries and raspberries, fire apples from pressurized cannons, tackle a massive straw maze, visit farm animals, and grab apple cider donuts or pumpkin chili before heading home.
The story behind it is just as unexpected. It all began when two fourth-generation Idaho farm kids asked their four-year-old daughter what their family should grow. Her answer was simple: berries.
That childhood suggestion eventually grew into a seasonal destination with far more hiding beyond the berry fields, including a few fall attractions you probably would not expect to find on a working Idaho farm.
Where It All Began: The Farm’s Family Roots
A four-year-old’s casual suggestion changed everything for one Idaho family. When Kirk and Heidi Tubbs, both fourth-generation Idaho farm kids, asked their young daughter what they should grow, she said berries, and that simple answer planted the seed for what would become Tubbs Berry Farm at 1250 S Park Ave W, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.
Founded in 2005, the farm was never just a business plan. It was a heartfelt mission to preserve a way of life and share it with others. Kirk and Heidi wanted their own children to grow up with soil under their fingernails and a genuine understanding of where food comes from.
That founding spirit is still visible in every corner of the property today. The staff greets visitors with real warmth, the fields are tended with obvious care, and the whole atmosphere feels less like a commercial attraction and more like a neighbor’s backyard. Family legacy runs as deep here as the roots in the ground.
Strawberry Season and the Joy of U-Pick Berries
June at Tubbs Berry Farm is something close to magic. The strawberry fields turn into a sea of red, and families fan out across the rows with baskets in hand, hunting for the ripest, plumpest berries they can find. There is a particular satisfaction in eating a strawberry that you picked yourself, still warm from the sun, with juice running down your chin before you even make it back to the basket.
The U-pick experience is straightforward and genuinely fun. The farm lays out the rows clearly, provides picking containers, and lets visitors go at their own pace. No rushing, no pressure, just the quiet pleasure of working through a field at a leisurely summer stroll.
Later in the season, raspberries and fall strawberries take over, typically running from September until the first hard frost arrives. Checking the farm’s website before heading out is always a smart move, since berry availability shifts with the weather. The harvest rewards patience beautifully.
Beekeeping, Honey, and the Buzz Behind the Farm
Most people arrive at Tubbs Berry Farm thinking about berries, but they often leave talking about bees. What started as a modest side project with a couple of hives has grown into a full beekeeping operation that is now a genuine highlight of the farm experience. The Tubbs family has become a trusted local resource for beekeeping supplies, equipment, and hands-on education.
Every year, typically on the last Friday and Saturday of April, the farm hosts its popular Bee Days event. Visitors can watch live hiving demonstrations, browse a gift shop stocked with raw local honey, and pick up practical knowledge about keeping hives healthy through southern Idaho’s distinct seasons. The farm’s online Beekeeping Mentorship Blog extends that education year-round.
Raw honey harvested directly from the farm’s own hives is available at the farm stand, and it tastes noticeably different from anything you’ll find on a grocery store shelf. The flavor carries a richness that reflects the farm’s clean, natural growing practices, and one small jar is rarely enough.
The Straw Maze That Swallowed an Afternoon
Nobody expects to spend over an hour lost in a pile of hay, but that is exactly what happens at Tubbs Berry Farm’s legendary straw maze. Built fresh each fall season, the maze takes on a new shape every year, sometimes resembling a bee, other times a tractor or another whimsical design that keeps returning visitors genuinely surprised.
The real twist is the punch card system. Hidden throughout the maze are hole punches, and collecting them all earns you a free bag of popcorn at the concession stand. That small reward turns the maze into an actual mission, and suddenly everyone in the family is invested in finding every last punch station.
A smaller, kid-friendly version of the maze runs alongside the main labyrinth, so even the youngest visitors get their own adventure without feeling overwhelmed. The straw walls tower overhead, cutting out most of the outside noise, which creates a surprisingly immersive experience. Getting lost here is honestly half the fun, and nobody seems to mind.
Apple Cannons and the Most Fun You Can Have on a Farm
If there is one activity that gets mentioned by nearly every visitor to Tubbs Berry Farm, it is the apple cannon. Guests load apples into pressurized launchers and fire them toward targets set up across the field. The satisfying thud of a direct hit, combined with the collective cheer from nearby families, makes this one of the most genuinely entertaining farm activities anywhere in the region.
The large bucket of apples is absolutely worth the purchase. Each shot feels like a small victory, and even adults who came just to pick pumpkins find themselves going back for more rounds. Kids who struggle to hit the target on the first try are usually the ones most determined to stay until they nail it.
Beyond the apple cannon, a pumpkin slingshot range offers a similar thrill with a seasonal twist. Rubber duck races, a bounce pad, corn pits, and a full playground round out the lineup of activities. The farm has clearly put real thought into making sure nobody runs out of things to do.
Petting Zoo and the Animals That Steal the Show
Goats have a way of stealing the spotlight without even trying. At Tubbs Berry Farm, the petting zoo is a genuine crowd-pleaser, featuring goats, sheep, calves, chickens, and, during some seasons, baby pigs that draw a crowd the moment anyone spots them. The animals are approachable and clearly accustomed to curious visitors of all ages.
The petting zoo area is accessible both inside and outside the main festival zone, which means you can pop in for a quick visit with the animals without having to navigate the full maze area first. That flexibility is a small but thoughtful detail that parents with younger children especially appreciate.
Watching a toddler meet a goat for the first time is one of those genuinely heartwarming moments that no screen can replicate. The animals add a layer of rustic authenticity to the farm experience that ties everything together. For many city kids, this is their first real encounter with farm animals up close, and the wonder on their faces tends to be contagious.
The Farm Stand: Honey, Jams, and Handmade Treasures
The farm stand at Tubbs Berry Farm is the kind of place where you walk in for one jar of jam and leave with both arms full. Raw honey harvested directly from the farm’s own hives sits alongside homemade jams crafted from the berries grown in the fields just steps away. The connection between what grows here and what ends up in those jars is direct and unmistakable.
Beyond edibles, the stand stocks handmade soaps, moisturizing lip balms, and lotion bars, all made with care and reflecting the farm’s broader commitment to natural, wholesome products. During the fall festival season, the offerings expand to include decorative corn stalks, small straw bales, and pumpkin-decorating supplies that make great additions to any autumn front porch setup.
Prices at the stand are consistently described as reasonable, and the quality speaks for itself. Picking up a jar of raspberry pumpkin honey or a bar of farm-made soap feels like bringing a piece of the experience home with you. It is one of those small purchases that keeps reminding you of a really good day.
Fall Festival Food That Goes Beyond Typical Snacks
Farm food at Tubbs Berry Farm is not an afterthought. The concession menu during fall festival season leans into the harvest in a way that feels creative and genuinely satisfying. The fresh pumpkin chili, made with tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins pulled straight from the fields, is a thick, warming bowl of comfort that tastes exactly like autumn should.
The Idaho Nacho takes that same pumpkin chili and layers it over crispy waffle fries with nacho cheese on top, creating a dish that is equal parts playful and filling. It has become a fan favorite, and for good reason. During special festival weekends, the menu sometimes features a Honey Raspberry Pulled Pork that showcases the farm’s own honey in a savory context.
Apple cider donuts and chocolate-covered raspberries round out the sweeter end of the menu. Classic options like hotdogs and Indian popcorn are always available for picky eaters. Eating here feels like a natural extension of the harvest itself, and the food quality consistently matches the care put into everything else on the farm.
Gourmet Garlic and a Farm That Keeps Growing
Berries and pumpkins get most of the attention at Tubbs Berry Farm, but there is a quieter chapter of the story that deserves recognition. In 2018, the farm acquired a decades-old family seed garlic operation called My Dad’s Garlic, integrating it into their own growing program. Today, the farm is one of Southern Idaho’s largest producers of gourmet seed garlic.
The garlic is cultivated within a certified white rot-free quarantine area, which is a significant distinction that makes the seed garlic highly sought after by growers across Idaho and Oregon. It is the kind of agricultural detail that might sound technical, but it reflects a serious commitment to quality and responsible farming practices.
Kirk Tubbs has noted with characteristic farm-owner practicality that diversifying into garlic was smart insurance, because pumpkins, berries, and garlic cannot all fail in the same year. That kind of levelheaded thinking is part of what makes this farm feel so grounded and sustainable. The garlic operation is a quiet powerhouse running alongside the more visible seasonal attractions.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit
A little planning goes a long way at Tubbs Berry Farm. The farm’s operating hours shift significantly depending on the season, and during fall festival season, weekday evening hours typically run from around 4 PM into the evening, while Fridays and Saturdays offer extended daytime access. Checking the farm’s website at tubbsberryfarm.com or their social media pages before heading out is genuinely useful, since hours and picking availability can change with the weather.
Pumpkins are priced at 59 cents per pound, with a maximum wheelbarrow load price capped at $85, which the farm will apply automatically if your load exceeds 144 pounds. Wheelbarrows and trimming tools are provided, making the pumpkin patch experience easy and self-sufficient. Parking is plentiful, and the overall layout of the farm is easy to navigate even with young children in tow.
Dressing in layers is smart for fall visits, since evenings in Twin Falls can turn cool quickly. Bringing the whole family, including grandparents, is always a good call here, because the farm has a way of making every age group feel equally welcome and entertained.
