Dewberry is a staple for many families and we are looking forward to going this year. Their opening day is September 24th and this will be their 15th year! I am so grateful for Wyn for sharing Dewberry's history with us. I love learning more about Katy.
The 100 acres where Dewberry Farm is located was purchased in 1996 for use as a agricultural research farm by Larry Emerson. The land was originally a part of the L-N Bar rice farm which was owned by the Nelson family. Johnny Nelson, former mayor of Katy, Wesley Nelson, and Lo Poorman were all members of the Katy pioneer Nelson clan.
Dewberry Farm was started in 2002 by Larry and his original partner, Dan Bradshaw. Today, Larry and his wife Mary are the Farm owners with help from their daughter, Wyn. The Farm struggled through the first few years, slowly adding more activities and food locations. The first year, the only food available at the farm was cooked on the BBQ pit from Larry's home.
Each year brought new activities and food locations. 2016 will be the 15th season for the Farm. Today there are over 30 activities. The 8-acre corn maze, the pumpkin patch and the barnyard are still the main attractions. Other popular attractions added over the years were Slide Mountain, the Jumping Pillows, pedal carts, zip lines, flower picking and a train that will carry 100 passengers on a one-mile ride around the farm. A very popular antique 36 horse carousel was added in 2013. Other activities available are hay rides to the pumpkin patch, Fort DewHickey, Pumpkin Stroll, Hay Mountain, Gemstone Mining, Spider Webs, Farmer Flinger, Black Hole, Little Farmersville, Pony Rides, Apple Blaster Cannons, Ball Zone, Friendly Fire, Rubber Duck Races, Giant Roller Slides, Rat Racers, Barrel Train ride and Pig Races.
Birthday parties and company parties can be scheduled during the Fall weekends and school field trips are very popular during the weekdays.
Food venues include Piggy's Pizza, Roosters, Mattie’s Pavilion, Snow Cones, real squeezed Lemonade stand, Annabelle’s, the Ice Cream Parlor, the Sweet Shop, Bev's Taters and Corn, Zeke's Drink Station and Papa Joe's Kettle Corn. Windmill Park is a quiet place to relax that features 8 restored antique windmills spinning quietly in the breeze.
The Farm opens the last weekend in September and closes the 2nd weekend in November. The day after Thanksgiving, the farm reopens for cut your own Christmas trees. Twenty acres of Leylands, Murrays and Arizona Blue Ice are growing in the back of the Farm.
The Farm's website, www.DewberryFarm.com, and the Face Book page are great sources for current information about what is happening at the Farm.
