This holiday season enjoy a “Country” Christmas on the farm at The Rock Ranch, a 1,500 acre “agritourism” destination located an hour or less from Atlanta, Macon, and Columbus. Starting in mid-November, guests are invited to experience more than one mile of magical Christmas lights. In December, as Christmas gets closer, there are multiple Christmas themed events including Wagon Rides through the lights, Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Express train rides, and Santa’s Workshop.
Country Christmas Nights
On nine special nights in December (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays), guests are invited to enjoy Country Christmas Nights at The Rock Ranch. A general admission ticket ($8) provides guests the opportunity to ride through the beautiful Christmas lights on tractor-pulled, covered wagons. They’ll be dropped off at the Christmas Café where they may purchase dinner from a variety of homecooked options. Shopping is available at The Christmas Country Store and admission includes a visit with Santa, where visitors may take photos with their own cameras. A limited number of general admission/wagon ride tickets are sold per hour time slot. Time slots do sell out and should be purchased online in advance.
These special nights also allow guests to enhance their visit with rides through lights on the Christmas Express Train* (add $8) and ornament making, cookie decorating and craft activities in Santa’s Workshop* (add $12).
Country Christmas Nights and dedicated activities are available on Dec. 6, 7, 8 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Seats are limited for the Christmas Express Train and are purchased by time slot. Children age two and younger are free if they ride in a parent’s lap.
Breakfast with Santa
The perfect way to start a day during the Christmas Season is Breakfast with Santa. A visit with Santa and a plentiful breakfast with delicious items such as scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and more. Tickets are $15.95 (plus tax) per seat. Breakfast will be offered Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. When these slots sell out, a second time slot for each date,11:30 a.m., will be opened featuring the same menu. Parents are asked to bring personal cameras to capture fun memories at a themed photo spot with Santa and his sleigh. Reservations are required for this event as space is limited. Children age two and younger are free if sitting in high chair or sharing a seat and meal with a parent.
Additionally, Santa’s Workshop craft activities will be available as an add-on during Breakfast with Santa ($12). Tickets are purchased in advance, online.
Drive-Through Christmas Lights Nights
Experience a simple Country Christmas on the farm with more than one mile of holiday lights and decorations on Drive-Through Christmas Lights Nights. On select nights, guests can enjoy the lights from the comfort of their vehicles.
Tickets are available for purchase Dec. 1 to 5, Dec. 9 to 12, Dec. 16 to 19, Dec. 23 and 24 for $10 per personal vehicle and $20 per bus.
The lights will be available on a monetary donation basis Nov. 22 through Nov. 30 as well as Dec. 25. These tickets can be ordered in advance or donation collected on site.
Tickets for any of the Christmas offerings can be purchased at www.therockranch.ticketleap.com. Annual memberships are available for purchase. For more details, times, and frequently asked questions, visit www.therockranch.com. Please note that The Rock Ranch does not offer refunds or rain checks, and the locomotive train is not wheelchair accessible. The wagon rides have a wheelchair lift.
For families and groups who would like to make it a getaway, a limited number of Farm Stay Houses are available for rent. For details, visit https://therockranch.com/farm-stays/.
The Rock Ranch, located at 5020 Barnesville Hwy., The Rock, Ga., is a 1,500-acre ranch created by Chick-fil-A founder, S. Truett Cathy as a foster home for children. Now, in addition to foster homes, the ranch has evolved into a public destination that serves all families and groups. Its tag line is “Growing Healthy Families.”
