Amid the fall and Halloween season, one local business is buckling down in preparation for what they project to be their busiest season yet.
Paradise Acres, a family farm park located in Johnson City, is run by Eric and Laressa McCarty, a husband and wife team who have turned a 24-acre farm into an entertainment center.
The McCarty’s saw a need for the region to have an outlet where people of various ages and interests could come together, and they responded by opening Paradise Acres two years ago.
“Our goal is to help families and groups create stronger relationships through fun, shared experiences,” Eric McCarty said.
While Paradise Acres has many amenities available to patrons year-round, like mini-golf, outdoor laser tag, walking trails and picnic areas, the business must adapt with the seasons, which is why the McCarty’s have introduced more attractions in keeping with the fall season.
Paradise Acres currently offers hayrides, a pumpkin patch, “The Mangled Maze” and “The Hayground,” in addition to their year-round attractions. The park is also hosting “Scarecrow Alley,” a contest where local businesses, churches, groups and families compete by decorating a scarecrow, and visitors get to vote for their favorite.
“[Fall] certainly has a big impact on our business,” McCarty said.
Eric McCarty credits the cooler temperatures to the typical consumer-boom they experience during the fall season; this increased patronage is a consumer trend they’ve seen in years prior, and McCarty is certain that this season will not stray from this pattern. In fact, he projects this October to be their busiest month yet.
McCarty shares that preparations for the fall season begin in early summer. The McCarty’s start by planting pumpkins in order to have them ready in time to harvest for the fall. The decorating and construction of the maze take weeks of planning and execution before it is ready.
Paradise Acres is open Monday through Sunday, with hours varying throughout the week: Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 2-8:30 p.m.
For more information on Paradise Acres and their available hours, attractions and pricing, visit their website: paradiseacres.fun
