The Rock Ranch is opening Thursday, June 11, 2020, with exciting options that will allow all families to experience fun on the farm in safe, new ways. Located in The Rock, Georgia, The Rock Ranch is just an hour south of Atlanta, an hour northeast of Columbus, and an hour north of Warner Robins.
“We are excited to once again be able to safely share this big, beautiful, open property and our fun attractions,” said Adam Pugh, general manager of The Rock Ranch. “Our mission is and has always been ‘Growing Healthy Families’ through fun experiences. We are ready to re-open and serve families by providing an outdoor recreation destination offering lunch, ice cream, fishing, shopping, and fun. To heed the direction of federal, state, and local organizations, we have adjusted the way guests visit the ranch and we think guests may enjoy the new options even more. We’ve added multiple new hand sanitizing stations, we have spaced café tables in multiple new covered seating areas, and we have taken other precautions to ensure social distancing. While we are not requiring our guests to wear masks, our staff, who are preparing food and working closely with guests, will wear them.”
What is New?
New Days to Visit
The Rock Ranch will be open three days a week – Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Now, guests do not have to wait for a special event or festival to visit the ranch,” said Pugh. “We are opening with plans to prevent crowds while creating a great experience.”
New Ways to Play
“In our new normal, guests have multiple options,” said Pugh. “They can visit simply to have lunch or enjoy our famous strawberry Icedream® and walk about the farm on marked walking paths. They may choose to extend their stay by purchasing a punch card to enjoy select attractions and food items, make an appointment online for a zip line experience, or they can contact The Rock Ranch to make a reservation for a personal, guided VIP experience. But they can be assured that safety is paramount.”
Buy Online in Advance and Save!
To keep attendance numbers in check for safety, guests are advised to make advanced online reservations. This will allow The Rock Ranch to carefully plan and schedule personnel. There will be a built-in discount for online orders to make it even more attractive for guests to schedule ahead of time. For guests traveling a long distance, they can ensure that they will get to do everything they want by booking in advance. “The Rock Ranch will sell punch cards and zip line appointments online and at the new ‘hub’ retail location in Truett’s Barn,” Pugh shared. “There is a limited quantity for each time slot throughout the day and tickets may sell out, so we really advise guests to buy online in advance of their visit.”
Gate Admission Waved In Lieu of New Punch Card System
There is no admission fee to visit this summer. To enjoy attractions*, there are new punch card options which are discounted by $3 when purchased online at www.therockranch.com (taxes are additional).
Punch cards are:
8 punches: $12 online; $15 on-site
16 punches: $20 online; $23 on-site
24 punches: $30 online; $33 on-site
Punch cards redemption values are:
One punch: cow train, pedal carts (closed toe shoes required), ball toss, jumping pillow, fishing, sweet tea, lemonade
Two punches: paddle boats, carousel, train, small ice dream, slushie, frozen lemonade, animal feed, kettle corn, Dippin’ Dots®
Three punches: large Icedream, boiled peanuts, prospector gem mining bag
Four punches: pay dirt or arrowhead gem mining bag
Outside of the punch card system, guests may reserve a zip line ride online for $15 (save $3) or in person for $18 (weight restrictions: minimum 6o lbs. and maximum 250 lbs.)
Where to Arrive is New, Too!
When guests arrive, they should enter at the gate near the office and follow the signs to The Country Store, which has moved to Truett’s Barn, and will now feature a Cafe serving homemade sandwiches, salads, sweets, and treats. There also is the highly anticipated introduction of a brand-new sweet treat…the Ultimate Icedream® Sundae. Additionally, the store sells a variety of meats, specialty grocery items, casseroles, home décor, and toys. There will be indoor dining and covered, outdoor patio seating.
Dogs are Welcome!
For those who just want to get some fresh air, there are acres and acres to enjoy. Guests may walk select areas of the property and, now, guests may bring their dog (proper dog etiquette required). “We are excited to share that in the future, there are plans to expand these areas and, over time, add bike trails,” Pugh stated. “While there is no paid gate admission, we hope people will enjoy lunch with us and shop in The Country Store.”
Isolation Vacation
For families who would like to make it a getaway, a limited number of beautifully renovated Farm Stay Houses are available. One of the homes features its own private pool. For details, visit https://therockranch.com/farm-stays/.
Camping
The Rock Ranch has ample open spaces, rolling green hills and Conestoga Wagons equipped with bunk beds ready for a unique camping experience. For details, visit https://therockranch.com/conestoga-wagon-camping/.
Country Curbside Pickup
Since March, The Rock Ranch has been providing curbside service for online orders of home-cooked casseroles, groceries, meats, and other products. This will continue with a few changes. While orders will still be placed online, guests may now choose a day -- Thursday, Friday, or Saturday -- between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to pick up their order inside the new Country Store in Truett’s Barn. If the guest prefers not to come inside, they may let the ranch know at the time of their order and someone will bring it out to their vehicle. The site for ordering items is www.therockranchstore.com.
Annual Members
Members of The Rock Ranch may come any or every day that The Rock Ranch is open this summer (open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays). Upon arrival, annual members will present their membership card and receive a special “members only” punch card. Memberships purchased in 2019 have received a six-month extension. Memberships are not activated until the first visit. So, anyone who has purchased a membership but not yet visited still have a new membership. These will be activated on their first visit and they will have a year from that date. Memberships are available for purchase at www.therockranch.com.
Other Important Notes
Celebrate America for this year has been cancelled as The Oak Ridge Boys, scheduled to perform at The Rock Ranch on Saturday, June 27, 2020, have postponed their concert until next year. It will be Saturday, June 26, 2021. And, The Rock Ranch hopes to host its regularly scheduled Fall Family Fun Days beginning in October.
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. It hosts festivals, school groups, corporate groups, everyone. Its tag line is “Growing Healthy Families.”
For additional information, visit www.TheRockRanch.com, on social media @TheRockRanch, or call 706-647-6374
