Explore Texas Tulip Fest and more at Robinson Family Farm in Temple
By TONYA WARREN | Photos courtesy of ROBINSON FAMILY FARM, JERROD LEHNICK and LEGACY IMAGING
You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy. Born, bred and raised on about 200 acres, six miles from where the family lives today, Brian Robinson learned to appreciate the benefits of fertile land and Texas beef cattle. Although times have changed and the farm changed with the times, Brian hopes his grandparents would be proud of his visionary thinking. Although mainstream society is less agriculture oriented today, Brian and his wife, Helen, conceived a well-received business plan to bring back a taste of old-fashioned, family-oriented fun — fun you can find at Robinson Family Farm.
In recent years, there’s been a trend of get-back-to-nature activities, thus the USDA has coined the term agritourism — a commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors to the farm for education and entertainment while generating income for the farm or business owner — such as the Robinson Family Farm. Roadside produce stands, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more all fall under the term agritourism.
In 2013, Helen said, Brian set the wheels in motion to give the community an opportunity to get away from electronic devices and spend quality time outdoors enjoying the simple pleasures of past generations. The couple envisioned a large outdoor attraction offering activities for any age. After sleuthing around similar businesses in Texas and scouring social media pages nationwide for ideas, the Robinsons were careful not to put the cart before the horse.
“We started talking about building a pumpkin patch, and in September 2014, we opened our doors to guests,” Helen said.
Thanks to fickle Texas winters and brutal summer heat, the farm is only open in the spring and fall. Putting dreary winter days behind them, folks are ready to play in the sunshine on the farm’s 56 acres. Having outgrown their previous place, the couple opened their current location in January 2022. With the world still in the throes of the global pandemic, Helen said, “It took a lot to move our whole operation, especially with the economy the way it was.”
The community has embraced the farm with weekends around Easter averaging crowds of 10,000 to 15,000. Open in the fall for around seven weeks, the farm normally hosts 30,000 to 35,000 guests, all ready to choose their perfect pumpkin.
Not to be missed this spring is the colorful Texas Tulip Fest. Trying to cultivate any natural resource can be challenging no matter the circumstances, and these finicky flowers are no exception, but Helen said she was proud of the farm’s first year growing tulips, noting that it was a huge learning experience.
“Tulips are very temperature and weather reliant,” Helen said. “This year, we’ve doubled our order to 200,000 tulip bulbs and we anticipate a better germination rate.”
She encourages families to bring a basket and enjoy gathering tulips. Tulips run on their own schedule, so check the farm’s website in early spring to keep up with tulip opening dates. Also, the farm makes a lovely spot for Easter egg hunting and snapping pictures of smartly dressed kids with full Easter baskets.
Many different activities are offered at the farm, so there’s no shortage of fun. How about flying down the super mega slide? Zip lines, hamster wheels (for kids, not hamsters), archery, a giant Jenga and axe throwing are also available. Don’t forget skee ball, a gaga pit, a tire mountain for a mountain of play, tug-o-war, horseshoes, washers and more. Sifting for gems is also popular, which can result in finding gold, emeralds, amethyst and more. Kids always have fun in the critter corral.
Helen noted they add new activities annually, and they listen to suggestions from customers. A dog park and bounce pillows have been added this year along with a wheelchair swing on the big playground and a tram going around the farm that includes wheelchair accessibility. Mini golf also debuts this spring. Food trucks are on site as well. Helen said folks are welcome to bring in a cake for parties, otherwise no outside food or drink is allowed.
Running a family-oriented business allows the Robinsons to get to know repeat customers, thus playing a small part in their lives. Wedding proposals, gender reveals and birth announcements are always exciting times, Helen said.
The Robinsons pride themselves on offering a unique experience for folks looking to enjoy fun and time-treasured outdoor activities. Last May, more than 60% of their farm was destroyed by a tornado. Helen said they were so thankful for various businesses who helped them get up and running again in four months, just in time for fall.
So, this spring, under the giant Texas sunshiny sky, Brian and Helen will welcome crowds with open arms, thankful for their unwavering loyalty to Robinson Family Farm.
“In the end we just want everyone to know how much we appreciate their business and support.”
Robinson Family Farm
Address: 2651 Bob White Road in Temple
Phone: 254-931-9564
Website: www.therobinsonfamilyfarm.com
Social Media: www.facebook.com/therobinsonfamilyfarm
