Brookdale Farms

Our take

Brookdale Farms is the largest corn maze in the St. Louis area, spanning nearly 300 acres with rolling hills and river views. It’s a high-capacity, activities-focused destination that reads more like a festival than a working pumpkin farm.

The Core Offer: Multiple Activities at a Mild Price Point

Admission is $12 per person on Wednesday and Thursday (online), and $15 Friday through Sunday (online). That gives a family of four budgeting flexibility: a mid-week visit costs $48, versus $60 on weekends. The gap is worth noting if you’re flexible on timing.

What that admission covers is substantial: the corn maze itself, wagon rides, hayrides, a petting zoo, a low-ropes course, inflatables, a corn box, and lawn games. A family spending three hours here can rotate through most of these without paying again. That math works better on a weekday when crowds are lighter and you’re not racing the sunset.

The pumpkin experience sits differently. There’s a pumpkin patch on-site, but pre-picked pumpkins are not a surprise after you pay admission. If picking your own matters to you, know that pick-your-own pumpkins cost extra, priced by weight. The record doesn’t specify the rate per pound; the difference between a small pie pumpkin and a large carving pumpkin could be significant. VIP weekend passes ($70 per person) include a small pumpkin and a drink, which nets you a pumpkin if you plan to buy one anyway.

Maze, Crowds, and Season Timing

The corn maze itself is the draw. Nearly 300 acres with rolling terrain is a genuine 2+ hour commitment for adults; families with younger kids should allow 90 minutes to 2 hours. The record notes that weekend VIP passes exist, which suggests weekend volumes are high enough that the farm sells queue-skipping passes. That’s a useful signal: this place gets crowded on Saturdays and Sundays, especially in October.

Early-season visits (mid-September) will be quieter and still offer good pumpkin selection. Mid-October through the end of October is prime time for families with school schedules, which means full parking lots and longer wait times at the maze entrance. If crowds wear on you, a Friday afternoon in late September or early October is a sweet spot: the place is open and ready, attendance is lower than weekends, but the weather is cooling and pumpkins are abundant.

Humidity lingers into September in Missouri, so even early-season visits can feel muggy. Plan for sun exposure on the rolling hills—bring sunscreen, hats, and water.

What’s Not in the Record

The farm does not publish details on parking surface (paved vs. unpaved), accessible facilities, or detailed pricing for pick-your-own pumpkins. If accessibility or parking quality matters to your visit, call 636-938-1005 before you go. Likewise, if you’re planning to pick your own and want to budget precisely, ask about per-pound rates.

Bottom Line

If your family enjoys multiple activities and you’re flexible on weekday timing, Brookdale is efficient value. You’re not paying for a single main attraction; you’re rotating through four or five things. The downside is that it runs like a festival rather than a working farm, which means trucked-in infrastructure, higher volume, and a commercial feel. The upside is predictability, capacity, and low per-activity cost when you average across the visit. Wednesday or Thursday afternoon in September offers the best crowd-to-cost ratio.