Listen, if you live North of Atlanta and you’re looking for things to do this weekend or things to do over school break in Atlanta, The Rock Ranch may not even be on your radar. The Rock Ranch is located just over 60 miles from Downtown Atlanta, making it nearly 100 miles from where we are in the ‘burbs. If you are looking for Atlanta day trip ideas or for where to go for a weekend getaway, let me be the one to tell you that The Rock Ranch is worth the drive.
Our visit to The Rock Ranch was hosted. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Rock Ranch Events Calendar
Before you visit The Rock Ranch, be sure to consult their event calendar, as they’re not open to the public every weekend. They offer special events and open times every season. We were thrilled for an invitation to visit during the fall, as it’s our favorite time of year. The weather was perfect!
Accommodations
The Rock Ranch does offer accommodations to visitors at an additional cost. There is so much to do, that even after a day full of fun, we didn’t get through everything. I would love to go down there with friends and stay for the weekend next time. The rental options include farm stay houses and for something truly unique, Conestoga wagon camping.
What to Wear
Be prepared for a lot of walking! Also, you’re on a ranch, so expect to get dirty—especially your shoes. In hindsight, we would have worn beater sneakers, and I probably would have worn workout wear.
We were invited to attend a blogger reception, where we got to learn more about The Rock Ranch’s history and programming. Learn more here.
Admission and Attractions
General admission includes access to more than 25 attractions including the giant jumping pillow, carousel, Tiny Town, pedal carts, cane pole fishing, locomotive train rides, pony rides, and more. For an additional cost you can zip line, climb the rock wall, and purchase gemstone mining bags.
More things to do in Atlanta.
There is a beautiful garden on The Rock Ranch! I love a beautiful garden and definitely took the opportunity to take photos of both the flowers and our family.
Food and Dining
Just FYI—they do not allow outside food or coolers unless you’ve reserved a private campfire site. There are lots of options for food and dining, including Chick-fil-A!
The attraction that Benjamin was most excited about and the one I put off until the end of our visit, was the zip line. I have a fear of heights and there have been many experiences I have missed out on because of it. I wasn’t able to go on the AquaDuck when we took the Disney Dream Cruise a couple of years ago, because I couldn’t make it all the way up the stairs. 14 years ago I tried to do a zip line in Mexico and had to take a donkey down the mountain when I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I wanted to do the Cow-a-Bunga zip line with my family and I set my mind to it. There are two lines—the long and the fast. We were going to do the long, which ended near the parking lot, but because of the winds they raised the minimum weight to above Benjamin’s. I was set to go first but I couldn’t let go, once at the top. Ben ended up going first and then Benjamin. He showed no fear at all! It was so amazing and inspiring. I had to do it for him and for myself. I can’t speak highly enough about the young staffers at The Rock Ranch. The girl at the top was so friendly and encouraging, without being pushy. She really helped me through the mental gymnastics that was happening in my mind. I’m tearing up right now thinking about it. It wasn’t the ride I was afraid of, it was the first step off. She was so kind and cheered as I was finally able to do it. It was the perfect experience to end such a fun day.
We will definitely be back for fun at The Rock Ranch! I am really considering getting a family annual membership. If you live in Atlanta and are looking for family-friendly fun things to do, The Rock Ranch is worth the drive! To quote Benjamin:
“It was worth it!”
PIN TO YOUR FAMILY TRAVEL OR ATLANTA PINTEREST BOARD
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