4180 M-20, New Era, MI 49446
(231) 861-5730
Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo is a 700-acre farm in New Era, MI that is open in spring, summer, and fall.
In addition to their delicious farm market and old-fashioned bakery treats, there are acres and acres of activities for your kids and family to enjoy, including an extensive petting zoo.
We love the activities at Lewis Farms that are not found elsewhere. Their corn barn is literally a full-size pole barn filled with corn! They also have huge spinning tunnels (think a hamster on a wheel!), and have you seen their slide?!
Lewis Farms opens in May with special spring activities and will continue to put on special events until they close in the fall.
Summer is a busy time at the farm, as many families visit while on vacation in nearby Silver Lake, MI. The Sunflower Festival and Jeffrey's Birthday Party are highlights of the summer at Lewis Farms.
Fall brings out all of the harvest fun in addition to the farm's regular offerings.
Plan on spending a least two hours on your visit - there's a lot to do at Lewis Farms!
You'll likely want to stay longer and eat while you're here.
What We Loved about Lewis Farms:
4180 M-20, New Era, MI 49446. Lewis Farms is located in West Michigan, about an hour northwest of downtown Grand Rapids and just 17 miles north of Michigan's Adventure. It's not too far from Muskegon, either.
20 minutes to the north, you'll find the famous pro-ORV sand dunes: Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
Lewis Farms is open Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm; Sunday 10 am - 5 pm.
Entrance to the grounds ends an hour prior to closing.
They open for the season on May 13, 2022.
The farm closes for the season on October 31, 2022.
Right here! This gives a good overview of the attractions included at the farm.
The 100+ animals at the petting zoo love visitors with treats.
You can purchase a cup of animal feed, and the animals know exactly what that cup looks like.
As soon as they see you with it, they'll come right up to the fence to get their treats.
We fed goats, donkeys, camels, llamas, and the friendliest deer.
My kiddos (ages 9 and 7) loved how eager the animals were to get treats, especially the goats.
We also were able to feed birds in the aviary by purchasing feed sticks at $1/each.
There are more exotic animals on the farm as well, including tortoises, lemurs, and wallabies, and everyone's favorite - SLOTHS!
PRO TIP
Pay the extra $ for the feed cup. These animals love treats!
JEFFERY THE CAMEL
I have to mention my favorite animal at Lewis Farms: Jeffery the camel.
What's so special about a camel? Jeffery is full of personality.
He always comes over to greet you, he loves to be pet, and he poses for the camera better than your kids. Jeffery is the biggest sweetheart - the true star of Lewis Farms.
Choose from the Sloth Encounter or Zoo Keeper Experience
Lewis Farms offers Sloth Encounters on select dates and times. You can feed and pet Brooke, Sid, or sweet baby Bella, and best of all - snap a sloth selfie!
You will learn amazing fun sloth facts from the Zookeeper during your encounter including how they care for the sloths at the farm. (20-30 minute experience, ages 8 & up.)
The Sloth Experience isn't the only hands-on encounter you can book at Lewis Farms.
They also have a ZooKeeper Experience where you learn to safely feed and pet kangaroos, capybaras, lemurs, and more.
Baby Animal Bottle Feeding is available as well. (Cue the "Awwwwww"!)
Pro tip: Plan ahead and book these encounters in advance on their website to ensure you don't miss out.
Good Old Fashioned Fun!
In addition to the animals, there are so many activities to entertain and exhaust your clan.
There are giant jumping pillows for kids and adults, pedal cars, races, strength tests pulling tractors and lifting straw bales (which brought out my competitive side!), and good old-fashioned farm-themed playground equipment.
There is also a section dedicated to a farm-inspired carnival or midway games: skee ball, basketball, and fastpitch.
New this year is an activity course reminiscent of the Ninja Warrior obstacles. Ropes, tunnels, bridges: there is something for all ages and abilities in this unique playset.
Here's a closer look at the hands-on activities we found at Lewis Farms:
Climb to the top, sit on your bag, and race to the bottom!
A fun tossing game for all ages.
Take off your socks, this pillow rocks!
This activity course is reminiscent of the Ninja Warrior obstacles. Ropes, tunnels, bridges: there is something for all ages and abilities in this unique playset.
Put the kids on 4 wheels close to the ground on a flat, paved surface and watch them go! Carts come in different sizes, so as long as a kid can pedal, they can drive.
Kids are pulled on a ride through the orchards and farms on this classic ride.
The corn barn at Lewis Farms is unlike any other - It's huge!
As a parent, I appreciate that it is very clean and not at all dusty as one might expect.
Plus, it's one activity I can't resist. There is something so soothing about walking through the corn and running it through your hands!
We usually plan to spend a significant amount of time here while the kids bury each other and take turns on the twisty slide.
BONUS
Even the handwashing stations are fun at Lewis Farms! Located throughout the farm, they make it easy to wash your hands after touching the animals.
Come Hungry and Take enjoy the Homemade Eats
After the running, playing, animal-feeding, and corn-lounging, you'll no doubt work up an appetite.
Lewis Farms has delicious meals to quell those hunger pangs.
The farm market kitchen cooks up staples like chicken tenders, pretzel bites, and pulled pork sandwiches.
We ate lunch at Hilltop Cheese, the concession stand in the middle of the farm.
As the name implies, we devoured cheesy meals like brisket mac and cheese, grilled cheese on homemade bread, plain mac and cheese, and.wait for it.a mac and cheese grilled cheese!
The fresh lemonade and homemade chips were perfect accompaniments.
You can also purchase fudge, ice cream, donuts, kettle corn, or pies, among other tasty treats.
Special events happen often at Lewis Farms! Here are a few to look forward to in the summertime:
August 13, 2022
Help celebrate Jeffrey's 15th birthday. Jeffrey is Lewis Farm's beloved camel and you're invited to be a part of this big celebration.
Enjoy all kinds of delicious food and LOTS of corn. Additionally, there will be bonus events and performances to make the day extra special!
August 13-27, 2022
Saturdays & Sundays
Color is blooming! Come and see the stunning fields of Zinnias. There will be stunning backdrops for the perfect picture.
Plus, you can take some of your favorite flowers home with you.
Fall in West Michigan is special indeed, with all of the fall activities and fall things to do in full swing.
You can bet autumn brings even more excitement to Lewis Farms when apple picking, the corn maze, and wagon rides are on the agenda.
Visit the Farm's facebook page to learn more about special events and happenings.
September & October U-Pick Apples Available
U-Pick apples are a fall staple at Lewis Farms.
Depending on timing, you may be able to pick Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, McIntosh, Red Delicious, or other types of apples.
Opening Date TBA
The most fun you'll ever have getting lost! Maze details.
Pick your own pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. They have lots to choose from!
Saturday, September 10th - Sunday, September 11th, 2022Saturday, September 17th - Sunday, September 18th
Saturday, September 10th - Sunday, September 11th, 2022
Saturday, September 17th - Sunday, September 18th
See World Champion Lumberjacks in head-to-head competition!
Chopping, Sawing, Axe Throwing, Log Rolling, and Speed Climbing - it's a great combination of action-packed fun and comedy!
Saturdays & Sundays, Sept 3 - Sept 18, 2022
Explore brilliant sunflower fields during the Sunflower Harvest beginning September 3rd!
U-pick bouquets and vases will be available for purchase.
Saturdays & Sundays, Sept 10 - Oct 30, 2022
Looking for something to do with the kids this fall? The Lewis Farms Fall Festival is a great place to start.
Enjoy pig races, apple cannons, u-pick apples, a dog show, and stilt walkers in addition to all of the other attractions.
Then, capture the perfect photo in the Pumpkin Patch and enjoy 46+ farm attractions.
Finally, Don't forget about the apple cannons in the back of the farm. Nothing says stress relief like watching apples explode on cars and other fun targets!
OPENING DAY: May 13, 2022
SUMMER Season: May 13 - September 2, 2022
Fall Season: September 3 - October 31, 2022
OPEN HOURS:
The farm market and donut area do not require paid access but anything beyond that building - all of the play structures and hands-on fun -require admission.
When you visit, expect to pay an admission fee to access the activities.
Check the attraction list on their website to see what's open on weekdays vs. weekends
Online: $14.95 + processing fee
Gate: $17.95
General Admission is required for ages 3 & up and includes entrance into the farm.
ALL TICKETS ARE FINAL SALE, THIS TICKET IS SINGLE-USE, VALID ANY DAY OF THE 2022 Summer SEASON
Most activities are included with your admission ticket but several, like apple picking, require an additional fee.
Lewis Farms is also an excellent spot for fall photo ops, from the sunflower field to the gorgeous landscaping and custom-made props.
Here's a 360-degree view of what's in store when you visit Lewis Family Farms!
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