There will be one less local fall farm destination this season.
Last week, Liberty Mills Farm owners Kent and Evie Woods announced that they have chosen to close their agritourism business. The closure comes nearly one year after the Woods opted to end their fall season early following what they said was a particularly hard weekend with negative customer interactions, threats against staff and the removal of several groups from the corn maze by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“While we have had thousands of amazing visitors over the years – of all ethnicities – and have created many lasting friendships with some of you, the encounters with the few who insist on profanity-laden language as well as the intoxicated college students who find it fun to crash through the corn and damage our crop we will harvest, have worn us down,” the family wrote. “The anger directed towards our family and staff, the loss of sleep and continuous stress are not worth continuing operations.”
At the time, the family said they would evaluate the future of the business over the coming months. On Thursday, they announced their decision to close.
“Our farm has been much more than a business to our family,” the Woods family said via a statement posted to social media. “It has been a place where memories were made, families discovered the joy of working together to solve a puzzle and friendships were formed amongst strangers lost in our maze. We are incredibly grateful to every person who visited, supported us, shared a word of encouragement, brought a family member or friend, referred our farm or simply followed us along on our journey.”
The Woods family said operating the business included long days and hard work, but the amazing moments made it worthwhile. Liberty Mills found success as an agritourism operation. The corn maze, opened in 2010 soon after the family arrived in Orange County from Wisconsin, was one of the largest in the country, eventually growing to 34 acres. It was recognized as the best by The Pioneer Woman Magazine and was voted third best by USA Today and Popular Outdoorsman. Over its lifespan, the farm welcomed thousands of guests from 60 countries and all 50 states including local school children who enjoyed field trips picking pumpkins and learning more about agriculture. In addition to being a local fall favorite, Liberty Mills was also home to pick-your-own strawberry fields, a Blooms and Butterflies event, a Sunflower Festival and Home for the Holidays with Santa.
“While closing this chapter of our lives is bittersweet, we are choosing to focus on the beautiful memories and the incredible staff, vendors, neighbors and community that support us along the way,” the Woods family said. “Thank you for believing in us, supporting our farm and being part of our story as we created first the largest maze in the state, then the East Coast and finally in the country. We will carry those memories with us for the rest of our lives.”
