Darnell Farms Reviews

Most of the fruits and vegetables are not locally produced, you can see that from the labels that they have.
Local products are inexplicably expensive.
You can buy more organic products form a quality superstore for example.
This place is really unbearable on a rainy day. Be careful!

October visit was so enjoyable. Tons of Fall Apples, Vegtables, Jellies, Jams, Pumpkins, Plants, Hayrides, Boiled Peanuts..and more!!! Love going every Fall visit

I love living here with such a great resource so nearby. If visiting or you live here you should stop by for all your vegetables, jams jellies, country ham and a wide range of goodies. This is a family operated business please help our local community, the money you spend local stays local

Darnell Farms is excellent. From the pumpkin patch to the drive through produce stand. I have done most of the events, but all buy a lot of produce there. The customer service is great. The hay ride is the best around. It is so much fun to visit.

We enjoyed strolling through produce almost too pretty to eat. They also have amazing peach whip in a cone.

Plants are also available. Great stop.

We had the strawberry whip and it was delish! However our service wasn't great and the strawberries we purchased were disappointing. Maybe 4 on top of quart were good then the rest were mush. We were going to go back the next day because we did have fun when there but felt burnt by our purchase.

Great produce, would rather get it here than the market! You can tell just by the color and feel it is the best quality. Community involved to the utmost and keep jobs local. One of the best small town businesses around!

What an adorable farm to visit in the fall with the family. From pumpkins to produce, live music, hay rides, a swing set, tree climbing, the waterfront, picnic tables, a fire-pit and a couple of vendors.

We couldn’t love this place more. Beautiful, friendly, calming, magical place. Also, the only time I’ve ever seen a wild otter was in the river at Darnell Farms.

We had a lovely time, not many people in the morning was awesome. They had a lot of interesting things for sale, lots of produce and jam, honey and the like. None of it was cheap but you got to support your local farmers so we bought a few things. Everyone seemed crazy for that stupid soft serve ice cream, but that’s tourists I guess. We enjoyed some breakfast burritos, which were high, but they were good and tasty. It’s nice to have something like this place close by, an alternative to the grocery store. Support your local farmers

Best fruit and vegetables ever! Wish we could have went back for a second trip! Atmosphere makes this a must do if you are in the area! The blackberries were delicious, I ate them all because they were almost too good to share 😂 we should have bought more! Great place for pics! The playground was great for our family and the river and trees were beautiful!

Our horseback riding guide recommended for us to stop and get a whip. It was quite delicious. A bit out of our way to grab but thankfully it did not disappoint. Grabbed some syrup and jam too.

We had a good time. Plenty of free parking available. Had prepaid for tickets, but we didn't have a guide or directions to led us to the right locations. We figured it out though.

Was visiting family in the area & my sister was looking for Blackberries so we dropped in for our First & Last visit. She found the berries and we saw some nice looking vegetables but knew they wouldn’t keep well on our long, out of state trip home so I only purchased 3 peaches. One was small size, 2 larger. The girl at the register looked at the scale and announced that will be $8.42. 😱 The most “posh” organic stores in the south sell peaches for less than $1 per lb. I knew she was scamming me but she was stressed out & commenting about being the mother of a teenager & she had gotten sticky from the soft-serve they sold. I chose to say nothing & handed her a $10 bill took the change & moved along for the sake of the long line behind me that I had just stood in. Maybe she needed it more than I did but I will always wonder if she scammed everyone like that? $3 Peach? 🤦‍♀️ Maybe in Barrow Alaska.

This place is so much fun for a farm stand. Great strawberries, beautiful produce, these frozen treats with fresh fruit, and boiled peanuts, with friendly service, a playground for kids along the river, really fun place to spend a few hours.

This was not in my research but glad we happened upon it travelling between our cabin and Bryson. Being a beautiful fall afternoon, it was a great place for all things autumn. Nice playground along with river with fun swings and activities for kids (and adults). They seem to specialize in some fancy ice cream type treats which I was not able to try out, The pumpkins and gourds were amazing and loads of apples and various jar filled, unique treats. And a hay ride available for fun. Looks like they are set up for music but not while we were there. Easy to get in and out and nice parking too. Really nice farmer's market Just be sure to check your receipt to be sure it is correct.

The Darnell family and farm is one of the highlights of WNC !! You should follow Nate Darnell on Facebook. He post updates on The Gardens and shares family stories that will both touch you and make you laugh. Then scare you too death at The Haunted Corn Maze every fall for Halloween. Great hard working people.

I love taking my granddaughter to Darnell Farms to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables we always have a great time. The staff and family are always great and so very nice to everyone that comes to the farm. The food is always great and always tastes amazing. We love that they don't use harsh chemicals on their food, that's a big plus for us!! It's also a way for me to bond with my granddaughter, it's a great family atmosphere. We enjoy everything at the farm, especially during the fall, hay rides, corn mazes, picking pumpkins and so much more. Great place to be!!

Great place to visit with kids. Ice cream swings small playground. Right on the river
Fruit and veggies are fresh.
Made one mistake going to the petting zoo. It’s not free and it’s $10 a person to see only goats and pigs. Of course they don’t tell you until you pay. Otherwise my great niece 8 enjoyed it.

Lovely produce stand with a little bit of everything. Definitely happy with the quality of their produce and the helpful staff.

It was raining on the day we visited! The fruits and veggies was fun to choose from and the canned relishes and jellies! It was not very busy due to the rain I suppose. I ask if they sold boiled peanuts and the girl said "yes", however they were the ones you put in the crock pot so that was a "NO, thank you" for me. I love the fresh boiled peanuts boiling over a fire you see on the roadside and seasonal markets you come up on here and there. We purchased a green apple whip with caramel and loved it! If the day had been dryer we would have probably went on their hayride they offer and sat by the river a little while! You should stop in!

Darnell Farms is a must stop when visiting Bryson City. Beautiful setting along the River with picnic 🧺 and fishing 🎣 at no charge. Their produce stand has everything from flowers to fresh produce of every kind. They offer dream whips too. So friendly and welcoming!

this farm is a great place not only to get your fresh veggies, but also to spend a day. Located right on the Tuckaseegee River, Darnell Farms has campsites, picnicking right on the river banks as well as festivals that are fun for the whole family. Check out their haunted corn maze in October, Strawberry Jam Festival with hay rides and live music in June. Open year round this place is loved by locals and visitors alike. Afton and Nathaniel, brother and sister work hard to make everyone's visit memorable.

What a super pleasant surprise! Huge market along side the river with shade line banks, picnic tables and swings! Huge selection of fresh fruits and local bacon and sausage. Bought corn that was just picked on adjacent field.

The biggest surprise? Fresh fruit soft serve ice cream!!!!

Make this a stop on Hwy 19 between Bryson and Cherokee!

Great fun (especially during Halloween)! Amazing mouth watering treats & the best people running it who work very hard! Love the scenery, good vibes & friendly atmosphere.

Darnell farms is one of the best places to go in Bryson City for the scenery and the fruits and vegetables are wonderful. Enjoyed the people that worked there and Brylee, Lambert.
If you end up going there, say hi

The whipped slushie-like dessert was very good but their lack of Covid safety was terrible. None of the employees were wearing a mask as they made our slushies. My granddaughter said how uncomfortable she was being there. Also, we had to walk through a crowd of anti-maskers to stand away from everyone while our dessert was being made. Very poor crowd control. Are North Carolina health ordinances that lax? I would not recommend going there as a result.

Corn and tomatoes in season when we were there. Tomatoes to die for. Must stop! This is a real working farm with a store to buy things. Want fresh stuff, go here.

I have to be honest, I avoid your farm like the plague, and for good reason. My corn was inedible, my tomatoes are rotten after 2 days (and we picked the "best ones" you had). This is waaaaay not the first time this has happened but since my regular, fresh, never perishing before consumption, produce stand closed, I am stuck with your fruit fly infested, rotting veggies with the hope of "next year it will be different". Wasted $50 on your crap produce.

We visited the farm the summer of 2020, when being outside and away from too many people was paramount. Finding this true gem is easily one of my favorite memories of an extremely stressful year. We look forward to returning again one day and say thank you for that in person!

The apples were disappointing. They were not crisp and snappy as I was so sure they would be in September and I was told they’re crisp. They were mushy and just not good. The Carmel Apple dream whip, however, was very good. If I ever went there again that would be my reason. The help was nice. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t walk around the fruits and vegetables. That’s always a good time to me. It was drive thru only. The river and surrounding areas were beautiful.

We stopped by this roadside produce stand based on a recommendation. We were pleasantly surprised. The blackberries were huge and oh so sweet. We bought some corn on the cob, peaches and a variety of jellies and jams. The people are very friendly and all the food and produce was great. Even the local honey.

We have enjoyed visiting the farm for years. The playground is great for kids of all ages and it is right next to the river which makes an excellent fishing spot.
The staff and family is amazing, also! A few years ago we came by to grab some vegetables for dinner and I caught my son grazing the apple samples. He is a very picky eater so I was both pleased and appalled that my son was gobbling up all of the samples. To my surprise and delight, the staff encouraged him to eat what he wanted and even gave him a free apple! He felt so welcomed that this is now one of his favorite places to be and we come often. The produce is fresh, tasty, and REAL ( not the fake GMO stuff that never spoils).
We are looking forward to this fall for the corn maze, hay rides and pumpkin patch!!

Please stop by here when you're in the area! The produce is great, especially apples! I always get apples and as much goods and I can haul away. Can't beat the freshness and variety. Come get some goodies and go on a picnic!

Stopped in to check out the place. Found the best strawberries that have had all season. Staff was very helpful and friendly.

My family and I LOVE going to Darnell's! We go to pick fresh strawberries and pumpkins, enjoy the hayride, go fishing, play on the playground, dance and sing on the stage, eat delicious whips, and get the best locally grown produce!! Our family always feels completely welcomed, and we have never had a bad experience! Highly recommend if you want to have good family time amd help teach your kids the important things in life!

Darnell's had lots of different in-season produce, also jams and jellies, etc. In the spring, they grow strawberries, very large and sweet. They also have several special events each year; Plow Day is coming up the last Saturday in October. This is a festival with various vendors and live entertainment. Apples are in season and they have many different varieties. Prices are good as well.

We were in the area for the Polar Express Train and wanted another activity for the kids. I saw reviews for Darnell Farms and thought it would be fun to do the hay ride. I was wrong. I made reservations online for 7 of us. The website said that those with reservations got priority. Nope. We were waiting to check in in a line with people with reservations, people without reservations and people waiting to pay for purchases. There was only one woman at the register. We finally get up there and cannot get on the hayride for the time purchased. She gave us our wristbands told us to wait in the area until she called for the next ride. Apparently I am an idiot....I asked what we should listen for and she screamed at me very loudly "hay ride". (People turned and looked at us) The hot chocolate was horrible, the coffee was old and people were crammed into the hayride. We went down one row of lights and then turned around and came back. Not the description on the website. The only bright spot was Patrick. He was smiling and helpful while loading and unloading on the hayride.

Darnell Farms is without a doubt my happy place. I've been getting my vegetables, strawberries, ramps, boiled peanuts and yes,... Dream Whips, for over 10 plus years now and I leave looking forward to my next visit back. Afton and her family have put love and devotion into their farm and it shows. They have a variety of produce along with other canned goods, honey, and hanging baskets of beautiful flowers. Across from the Farm Shed, they have set up picnic tables next to the Tuckaseegee River where your babies can swing and see saw. There has never been a time where i havent left happy. I plan to darken the doors as much as I can with my grandbaby in tow. She loves it as much as I do. Can't wait for the Fall!!! Pumpkins, hayride, etc... It will be here quicker than we know it.

This was a neat stop on our way back to Bryson from Cherokee. They have a nice selection of produce and local jellies, honey, and sauces. They have a stand that serves several different varieties of a frozen dessert called "Dream Whip" which is pretty popular. We tried it and enjoyed it. They have some swing sets and such as well.

This is a nice produce market. We bought some blackberries and strawberries and they were very good.

They have a nice selection of fresh fruit and veggies so stop in.

We visited Darnell in Oct on our honeymoon. We are from FL and this places gives the best FALL-Mountain vibe around. We went on a hay ride, picked our pumpkins in a patch, and also walked through the sunflowers. The sunflower pics were amazing! The vegetable stand is very clean and offers many different varieties. The river around the property is very relaxing to sit by. Staff is family owned and very friendly. Can't wait to go again this October. Must do!

Not far from the cabin we were renting for Christmas week, was this farm that was so festive for the holidays. They carried all kinds of fruit and vegetables, including locally made jams, preserves, ice cream, etc. At an employee's request, we returned the following night for their colorful hayride and live music. Even Santa Claus was there to the enjoyment of the kids.

We were lucky enough to be in town during the Strawberry Jam. We had fun looking at all the vendors and the produce. The main reason we came was for the whips. And we were not disappointed. I wish someone near us made these as well. I'm guessing during normal days this would be a peaceful place to rest beside the river.

We enjoyed the views, friendly service,dream whip (peach/mango and pineapple) and fresh peaches! Worth the stop!

Peaches are at their peak right now, but NOT at Darnell Farms. I was excited to buy some nice juicy sweet South Carolina peaches from them, and then when I got home 15 minutes later found out that maybe 5 out of the 16 were even decent. Most of them were brown mush! The ones that had some yellow flesh didn't taste very good. They are certainly the worst peaches I have ever had over my 63 years and I am a native of Georgia so I know peaches. In order to add insult to injury they are selling those peaches for twice as much as anybody else. I will not buy anything from them again.

Amazing as always when we visit! Everything is always on point from the produce to the amazing staff! ❤️

I go here often to get fresh grown vegetables for myself. It is an amazing family farm! They have several events throughout the year, strawberries in the early summer, pumpkins and hay rides in the fall. The Halloween corn maze is a must and very scary!

Our visit down by the river at Darnell Farms started with “Dream Whips” which are a fresh blend of fresh fruit slushees. We had a pineapple strawberry but the mango peach sounds yummy also.

After shopping their plethora of fresh veggies & fruit, we took the kids across to the play areas beside the river. They played for over an hour & had fun throughout. They played with the workers sweet dog, Bobo, & with customers’ dogs.

The farm even has riverside camping for $15 without water or electricity. Portable toilets are available in each sex.

Me and my family love Darnell farms, we enjoy all the wonderful produce they have and my daughter loves the playground they have. I can't begin to tell you how awesome the staff is there, everyone is so nice and approachable and so very happy to help with any questions we may have and to help us find the best produce. The produce is awesome and taste very good since there are no harsh chemicals used on them. Overall we love Darnell farms and everyone that works there!! If you haven't got a chance to visit yet please do you won't be disappointed!!

I absolutely love this farm, fresh fruit and vegetables for my family, locally grown and managed. Friendly staff

Cute area, very quiet and peaceful. Had a wonderful selection of fresh fruit and produce. We both had a desert which was delicious. They have dairy-free deserts which is a rare find and to top it off they were amazing.

Nice working farm, everyone very friendly, we bought Peaches, Strawberries, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, (All very good)- Don't forget the Dole Whip (Tasty)

We stop here for a very short time. It Consider a total waste of time But maybe it will be better in spring or summer. Maybe one day we will try it again

Locals love this family owned business and enjoy the fresh produce (strawberries!) and fund seasonal activities - especially in the fall!

We had a great time here. Kids and adults enjoyed it all equally. very friendly staff as well and made you comfortable

Best farmers market I’ve been too. My kiddos love the river, swings, entire atmosphere is fun and quiet and you can stop and enjoy yourself. Lots of fun treats and great selection of veggies and market style canned salsas, etc.

We stopped at Darnell Farms hoping to find some good produce after reading the reviews. This place was terrible! All the fruit and vegetables were literally covered in gnats!!! It was dirty and poorly managed. Roadside fruit & vegetable stands are way better than this place. Disgusting:0((

This place is awesome . Check it out . We’re passing through and too pretty to pass up Tasty apples and produce ! My husband and I pulled the quilt out and sat and enjoyed the flowing water for a bit . Thanks Darnell Farms !

Even when fresh fruits and veggies aren’t in season, you can always find something good! Big, juicy strawberries in season. Best white half runners anywhere! Wonderful tomatoes! Great place, staff and produce!

After seeing multiple roadside signs, as well as the sheer amount of lights that came on after dark, we decided to check this place out. It's definitely a hidden gem in the Bryson City area.

Parking is ample, but it is somewhat rough. If you're not expecting washouts or potholes, they'll surprise you. However, once you're in and parked, it's a very interesting place. There are several play areas on the bank of the river that my kids (10 and 3) enjoyed. The swings feel as if you're about to head out over the water, which is very cool. There are tractors to climb on (not sure if this is allowed, but it's fun!), and, depending on the season, other activities to pursue. During the fall, it was apparent that a hay ride, pumpkin-picking, and other things were the to-do. Once that season ended, the variety of Christmas trees allowed for an impromptu maze. There is also a stage for what looks like local performances.

The shop itself was a delight, with fresh produce and a variety of homemade goods that looked delicious. Had I more time, room in the truck, and money, I probably would have purchased a little of everything. There were brands and recipes on the shelves that I hadn't seen since I was a little kid in the SC countryside, so it brought me home for a bit. I'd recommend at least stopping by the shop if you're in the area!

Fruit, jams, jellies, veggies, music, food, events. This place has it all..it sits on a brook and has play ground for the kiddos. This is not a quick stop it is an outing.

Wow! What a great place to visit! Very family oriented and full of fun and adventures. Went on a pumpkin pick ride and then had lunch. Everyone was super nice and answered all my questions. Highly recommended and will take the family back for their Christmas hay rides! AA ++++

This place has been around a long time and you can purchase the best veggies right from their fields , these are the people that supply many of the local groceries stores.

We have been coming to Bryson City for years and started visiting Darnell Farms a few years ago.
All produce is fresh and of 1st quality.

We visited their hayride and pumpkin patch while on vacation and had a wonderful time at Darnell Farms. The man who took us on the hayride up to the pumpkin patch was very friendly and knowledgeable about the farm. We had fun in the corn maze and then visited the produce stand to pick up some items for dinner and a frozen pumpkin whip treat - you have to try one!!

When we stopped here they had lots of different types of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Also nice looking tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables and different kinds of jams and jellies. In October they also have a 6 acre corn maze that you can walk through.

Standard Farmers Market but the upside was the Dole Whip which they have in Pineapple, Blackberry, and Strawberry I think. I was very happy with the Pineapple.

We visit for fresh fruits and vegs, jellies and jams and the Dream Whips. It is a working farm and they sponsor monthly on site events that are open to all. Cute stage and seating area (rocking chairs included) as well as picnic and play areas right on the river. Worth a visit, just south of Bryson City.

I am sad to say that these guys use pesticides indiscriminately. Purchase their strawberries from someone you wish was not breathing. One can smell the poison from their sprinkler system.

This place is magical. You MUST try a whip and simply relax by the water while you enjoy it. Last weeks was butterbeer and it was like eating a cold version of my great grandmother's butterscotch pie. Huge variety of produce and now they have pumpkins and mums. Pure heaven.

Drive thru due to covid and they have people who come to your car to help you.

Love, love, love!!!!! Highly recommend! Produce quality is great, huge selection, amazing taste, great prices, wonderful employees (who actually are involved, care about what they are selling and knowledgeable), and awesome play area for kids (and grown ups!)

Great fresh veggies & fruit, but a bit pricey especially since the overhead would be low since the farm is 100 feet away!

Bryson City

Family farm

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Such friendly people!!!! Makes you feel like family.....love love love this place....so family friendly

Deff. all for tourists! Prices are not good on anything as far as produce or pumpkins. I won't ever make the trip again that's for sure! The employees were nice, tho!

delicious homegrown strawberries! nice local business that is family owned and operated. they have an online ordering as well.

My son and I came here twice while staying in Bryson City, it's a beautiful farm on the river, they have swings near the water to relax on ...just so nice! We did the hayride, the pumpkin patch and the corn maze...very fun time! A great place to get some good photos too. A very chill vibe and beautiful scenery. We loved this place!

Great place to go some good ol down home country fun!!!! All year round.
There also have season events like Hayridess,corn maze ,straeberry jam ,mater fest and a play area from kid or the inter kid in you.

Love seeing their Facebook posts showing the family working their farm. We love to support local farms and wish this beautiful farm much success!

ALways go here when in Bryson city. Good selection of fruits and vegetables .Cold drinks snacks cheeses and other refridgerated items .

We were lucky enough to be there when strawberries came in season and were ready to buy this year! We brought home a gallon of fresh NC strawberries to PA and enjoyed them before anyone at home were able to have fresh! :)

My husband and I went here today to get a gallon of strawberries, the workers were very rude. They didn't speak to us, also no body was wear a Mask. (Which is Required in our state still). Once we went to pay he worker snatched the money from my husbands hand, like we was an inconvenience to them with us trying
to do business. The strawberries also look very dirty and not well taken care of. We will not be going back which is sad because we are locals.

Great produce. Great prices. All with one great family running it. The Darnell's work hard to get you quality produce for all seasons and a great place to relax by the river.

*Of course try one of the whips too...you won't be disappointed!

Good selection of produce. Tractor ride and maze were fun. Picking your own pumpkin at the patch was included in the price. Would have liked to seen more vendors though.

We were spending for days at a remote cabin in Lake Santeetlah and stopped in Bryson City for lunch on the way. Sunshine suggested we go to Darnell Farms. We didn't need tomatoes because I brought some from home. But we bought some green beans, zucchini, corn on the cob and a peach. We didn't try the zucchini yet. But the peach, which we bought hard, turned mushy the next day and wasn't even sweet. And the corn and beans were clearly old. They were literally inedible. I am 65 years old and have been going to farms and farm stands all over the country and have never bought anything this bad. Plus, the line was ridiculously long. Don't go there!

Includes pumpkins, kids games, corn maze, hayrides, haunted mazes. snacks including ice cream, sodas, pork rinds. The apple crisp ice cream is AWESOME!!! Its non dairy also.

We had a great family day on the farm. The pumpkin patch was great . Also a great dog friendly place.

Excellent produce! We bought peaches, blackberries, beans, grapes, and heirloom tomatoes. Then I got the pineapple soft serve with pineapple and strawberries. It was delicious! Comparable to the whips at Disney World!

Everything shouts Fall at this little piece of Heaven along the river. We visited there the end of October and purchased apples to take back home. I was disappointed in the Honey Crisp this year. No taste and not crisp at all. Last year they were very crisp and tasty. Next year I will sample one before buying a bushel. For $38 a bushel, I guess I should have bought one to taste. BUT, I still love visiting there.

We visited during the week and were able to eat our packed picnic lunch at the tables and use the kiddie equipment on the playground. Purchased fresh veggies-prices were a bit high. All food was delicious! We will return for one of the many planned weekend events at the Farm!

Cozy feeling. Can't beat the Dream Whip. Huge selection of fresh fruits and veggies. Nice atmosphere.

Stopped by the farm had a very great experience.friendly service produce was stocked and displayed beautifully.and fall is just around the corner so all the pumpkins and fall displays will be out and it is pretty.so if you visit Bryson city nc be sure to stop by the farm as they call it.Darnell farms where all their produce is grown there.

Acres & acres of tomatoes that are shipped all over the country. One of the largest tomato shippers in the U.S

While slightly high prices. Quality of produce was very good. Even more reasonable in quantities for canning. Staff was friendly and helpful. Definitely worth a stop.

Most veggies come from places like the market that they buy in bulk instead if tomatoes are in season then they grow them