2 Best Petting Zoos and Farm Animals in Gunter, TX
Jump to: 1. Preston Trail Farms 2. The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm
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The 2 best petting zoos and farm animals in Gunter, TX are Preston Trail Farms and The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm, ranked by rating and review volume. Here's what each offers, how it's rated, and how to get there — followed by the questions we hear most about visiting. For every pumpkin patch we track nearby, see the full list of pumpkin patches in Gunter, TX or browse all of Texas. You can also browse petting zoos and farm animals everywhere we track them on our Petting Zoos and Farm Animals near me page.
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Preston Trail Farms
Preston Trail Farms takes the top spot, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 437 reviews. Visitors come here for petting zoo and farm store.
15102 TX-289 b, 75058
Petting zooFarm storePreston Trail Farms is ranked #1 on this list, located at 15102 TX-289 b, Gunter, TX, 75058. It carries a 4.6-out-of-5 rating on Google from 437 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches in our data. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for petting zoo and farm store, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Preston Trail Farms yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Farm, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch, as well as a cafe and a store." Preston Trail Farms is one of the farms we track with a petting zoo, which typically means for families with toddlers and preschoolers, an animal barn is often worth more than every other attraction on the farm combined. most are included with admission; feed cups usually cost a dollar or two..
Based on its public listing, Preston Trail Farms is typically open Monday 8AM-6PM, Tuesday 8AM-6PM, Wednesday 8AM-6PM, Thursday 8AM-6PM, Friday 8AM-6PM, Saturday 8AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-5PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Preston Trail Farms either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. It accepts credit cards, debit cards and nfc mobile payments, though it's still smart to carry some cash — field admission and wagon rides at farms like this are sometimes handled separately from the main store.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Preston Trail Farms can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Preston Trail Farms sits, near Gunter, TX, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Preston Trail Farms's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm
The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is next up, rated 4.4 out of 5 from 144 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and petting zoo.
15102 TX-289 b, 75058
HayridesPetting zooThe Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is ranked #2 on this list, located at 15102 TX-289 b, Gunter, TX, 75058. It carries a 4.4-out-of-5 rating on Google from 144 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches in our data. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides and petting zoo, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Family-friendly pumpkin patch with a hayride, petting zoo and feed for animals." The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is one of the farms we track with a hayride, which typically means hayrides run on a loop from the barn out to the pumpkin field, typically ten to twenty minutes, and at many farms they are the only way to reach the picking field at all. some are free with admission, some are a few doll…
Based on its public listing, The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is typically open Monday 8AM-8PM, Tuesday 8AM-8PM, Wednesday 8AM-8PM, Thursday 8AM-8PM, Friday 8AM-8PM, Saturday 8AM-8PM, Sunday 8AM-8PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm sits, near Gunter, TX, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best petting zoo in Gunter?
Based on rating and review volume, Preston Trail Farms ranks first among the petting zoos we track near Gunter, with a 4.6-out-of-5 rating. See the full breakdown above, or its <a href="/texas/gunter/preston-trail-farms/">full listing</a> for hours and directions.
When is petting zoos and farm animals season near Gunter?
Most farms with a petting zoo open it alongside the rest of their pumpkin season, roughly mid-to-late September through the first days of November, though the exact window shifts year to year with weather. Check the listings above or call ahead to confirm current dates.
How much does it cost to visit a petting zoo near Gunter?
It varies by farm — some bundle the petting zoo into general admission, others charge separately. See the admission details on each listing above where we have them, or call the farm directly to confirm current pricing.
Are these petting zoos and farm animals good for young kids?
It depends on the farm and, for haunted attractions in particular, can vary a lot in intensity. Check the individual listing pages above for feature tags and details, and call ahead if you're planning around a specific age group.
Do I need to book ahead for a petting zoo near Gunter?
Some farms run first-come, first-served, while others — especially haunted attractions and festival-weekend events — use timed tickets. Check the farm's website or call ahead, particularly for a visit on a weekend in mid-October when demand peaks.
Summary
Preston Trail Farms is our top pick with a petting zoo in Gunter, TX, rated 4.6 out of 5, with The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm rounding out the list. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and hours, admission and what's actually running on a given day can vary week to week during the season — always confirm with the farm directly before you drive out. For more options nearby, see the full list of pumpkin patches in Gunter, TX or browse petting zoos and farm animals across every state on our Petting Zoos and Farm Animals near me page.