Fall is when Utah Valley goes to the farm, for the corn mazes and pumpkin patches, but kids who love animals do not stop loving them in November. A few places let them meet farm animals year-round, from a working farm in Lehi to a free county farm in Murray. This guide covers the year-round options, the spring baby-animal season and the fall farms, with the drive from Provo.
Curiosity Farms at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi
Curiosity Farms, at 2502 West Wildflower Lane, is Thanksgiving Point's farm attraction, about 26 minutes from downtown Provo. It replaced the older Farm Country in 2024 and mixes farm animals with hands-on agriculture and technology exhibits. Kids can meet goats, cows, pigs, ponies and rabbits.
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
- Admission: time-ticketed, so buy ahead. Regular-season single admission is $24 for adults, $19 for ages 13 to 17 and $17 for children 3 to 12 when bought online (a few dollars more in person). Children 2 and under and Thanksgiving Point members are free.
- What is included: daily cow-milking, plant and animal shows, the Play Patch Playground and train rides.
- Paid extras: goat brushing ($8, or $7 for members) and pony rides at Saddle Up Stables for children 10 and under who meet the height and weight limits.
- Discounts: with a WIC card and photo ID, Utah's WIC program lists dependent children 3 to 12 free and teens and adults at $9 each, for up to six people, in person only; see Free Museum and Attraction Days for Utah Families.
For the rest of the campus, see Thanksgiving Point.
Wheeler Historic Farm, Murray
Wheeler Historic Farm, at 6351 South 900 East, is Salt Lake County's working farm and public park, 75 acres with a historic farmhouse, wagon rides, trails and a playground, about 45 minutes from Provo.
- Free: the park is open every day from dawn to dusk, and walking the farm costs nothing.
- Hands-on time: the county runs animal chats and animal encounters; check the farm's program calendar for times and any fees.
- Farmhouse tours: by reservation.
- The rule: it is a working farm, so ask staff before touching or feeding the animals.
The zoo and the aviary
- Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, about an hour from Provo: open year-round, with a discounted ticket for families with a WIC card.
- Tracy Aviary, Liberty Park, about 57 minutes from Provo: birds rather than barnyard animals, and free for up to four people with a WIC card.
The seasons
- Spring: young animals, including seasonal baby goats at Curiosity Farms.
- Fall: the corn mazes, pumpkin patches and harvest festivals; see Every Fall Farm Festival in Utah Valley.
- Holidays: for school-break plans, see Easter and Spring Break Week in Utah Valley and Labor Day Weekend in Utah Valley.
Practical notes
- Skip Sundays at Thanksgiving Point. Curiosity Farms is closed.
- Book Curiosity Farms ahead. Entry is time-ticketed with limited availability.
- Go to Wheeler for free. Walking the farm costs nothing.
- Plan spring for babies. That is when young animals are most likely to be out.
Related Guides
- Free Museum and Attraction Days for Utah Families
- Easter and Spring Break Week in Utah Valley
- Labor Day Weekend in Utah Valley
- Every Fall Farm Festival in Utah Valley
- Thanksgiving Point
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a petting zoo in Utah Valley open year-round?
Thanksgiving Point's Curiosity Farms in Lehi, which replaced Farm Country in 2024, is the closest year-round option to Provo. It has goats, cows, pigs, ponies and rabbits, pony and train rides, and paid extras such as goat brushing. It is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Sundays. Admission is time-ticketed, with regular-season prices of $24 for adults and $17 for children 3 to 12 online, and children 2 and under free.
Is Wheeler Farm free?
Yes. Salt Lake County's Wheeler Historic Farm in Murray, about 45 minutes from Provo, is a 75-acre working farm and public park open every day from dawn to dusk, and walking the farm costs nothing. Some activities, such as wagon rides, are separate.
Can kids pet the animals at Wheeler Farm?
Treat it as a working farm rather than a petting zoo. The county runs animal chats and animal encounters, which are the hands-on part, so ask staff before touching or feeding any animal.
When is the best time to see baby animals?
Spring. Curiosity Farms says baby goats may be on hand depending on the season, and spring is when farms are most likely to have young animals out.
Are there discounts for families on WIC?
Yes. According to Utah's WIC program, at Thanksgiving Point venues dependent children 3 to 12 are free and teens and adults are $9 each, for up to six people in the household, with a WIC card and photo ID, in person only and excluding some special events.
Is Curiosity Farms open on Sundays?
No. It is open Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Is Tracy Aviary free with a WIC card?
Yes, for up to four people of any age, according to Utah's WIC program.
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Discounts with WIC, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, WIC. Checked October 12, 2026.
- Salt Lake County: Wheeler Farm, Salt Lake County. Checked October 12, 2026.
- Curiosity Farms, Thanksgiving Point. Checked October 12, 2026.
- Farm Country Becomes Curiosity Farms, Thanksgiving Point. Checked October 12, 2026.
- New Thanksgiving Point attraction encourages curiosity in agriculture, technology in interactive space, Daily Herald. Checked October 12, 2026.
