POPLARVILLE — At the BlueJack Ridge Ranch in Poplarville there is more to do than attempt to find your way out of a corn maze.
However the corn maze is a major feature that is expected to draw crowds. Some of the other activities that will be offered include a petting zoo, shooting gallery and a chance to rope a dummy steer while sitting on a dummy steed.
Kristi and Darrin Harris are the owners and operators of the ranch, which will open next Saturday, Sept. 19. The land the attraction sits on was purchased by the couple shortly after Hurricane Katrina, Darrin Harris said.
The 10 acre corn maze sits on a 400 acre ranch and looks like the adjoining states of Mississippi and Louisiana from the sky. On the ground visitors will attempt to navigate its more than two miles of twists and turns. Along the way hints as to which direction to take in the maze can be earned by answering questions posed by maze staff. The answers to those questions will be gathered by the visitors when they visit the education center prior to entering the maze. Material presented at the education center will focus on farm animals and farm life, Kristi Harris said.
The corn maze, cut to represent the two southern states for education purposes, will help school children gather historical information. In the education center, farm animal and corn facts will give younger children easy facts to remember as they attempt to navigate the maze. Older children will pick up historical facts about the two states and the Mississippi River.
Visitors begin their adventure with a visit to a western town and from there can determine what activities they would like to participate in. At the town there is the opportunity to pet baby farm animals, such as potbelly pigs, miniature palomino horses, a miniature donkey and a calf. From there, hay rides will be available to transport visitors to the maze.
“Even in rural Poplarville a lot of children don’t ever experience petting a horse,” Kristi said.
Also in the town is a saloon that will offer refreshments and a big screen television so sports enthusiasts can watch football games. A general store adjacent to the saloon will offer, among other items, plush versions of the farm animals in the petting zoo for kids to take home among other items.
For those who would like to see what their face would look like on a wanted poster the ranch will offer them the chance to dress up in western wear and pose for their own mug shot. And at the shooting gallery, older children have the opportunity to shoot paintballs at targets in a controlled environment.
Cowboys in training can hone their cattle roundup skills on the stationary and moving versions of roping dummies. The ranch will also offer a free play area with slides at the Kid’s Coral, as well as duck and pig races. A pumpkin patch will be available in the fall.
Kristi said the ranch will offer a safe place for children to have a new experience that will not rely on a lot of electronic equipment. “There’s no Ferris Wheel or any of that stuff... ,” Darrin added.
Each year the couple said they plan to add new attractions and activities. So far about 3,000 students have been booked to visit the ranch through the upcoming season. Kristi said they expect to be able to cater to about 300 visitors a day. Of those visitors that have already made reservations, local schools include Nicholson, Pearl River Central and Hancock. Schools in other counties, such as Lamar and Stone, have also made reservations.
Kristi estimates that visitors might spend anywhere from two to three hours at the ranch. She continued that the maze itself could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to navigate. The ranch will be open day and night, up to 9 p.m. She also said that reservations are recommended for large groups and schools, but that small groups of visitors do not need to make a reservation, and discounts will be available for large groups.
Depending on the events persons attending would like to participate in, cost for admission could range from $8 to $15. Security at the ranch will be provided by the Pearl River County Sheriff Department’s reserve division.
The ranch is located at 172 Burrus Blvd., just outside of Poplarville. More information about hours of operation, directions and pricing can be found by calling 601-795-3888, 601-795-9949 or visiting their Web site at www.mscornmaze.com.
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