Cagle's Family Farm To Leave Hickory Flat

HICKORY FLAT, GA -- After more than 20 years of providing educational farm tours, Hickory Flat-based Cagle’s Family Farm in will sprout a new beginning in Ball Ground.

The farm, known about metro Atlanta and north Georgia for its annual fall corn maze and working farm tours, will be relocating after more than 100 years in central Cherokee community. Last week, the family purchased 70 acres on Conns Creek, which is situated in extreme northeast Cherokee County.

The city of Holly Springs recently purchased the 58-acre tract from the Cagles, with plans to turn it into a city park, Vicki Cagle said.

“It has definitely not been easy to leave the farm in Hickory Flat," Cagle said. "We have prayed our way through this, for sure. There is so much history there and countless memories. Although not an easy decision to make, we feel that this was not only the best for our family, but also the best and most beneficial decision for the community as a whole. You know what they say, 'when one door closes, another one opens'.”

The family owned 58 acres in Hickory Flat, Cagle explained, but more than 200 acres of the land used for the farm were leased from neighbors. In recent years, much of that land has been sold or developed into residential areas, leaving little room for the family farm to operate as it once did.

“We have no hard feelings towards any of our neighbors for this," Cagle continued. "It was their land to do with what they wanted and what was best for them as the owners."

But unfortunately, the land sold by neighbors included much of the farm’s parking space and the entire corn maze area. Cagle said with these recent sales and developments in mind, the family decided to end their time in Hickory Flat “on a high note,” by allowing the land to remain a community landmark in its new role as a public park.

Cagle added the family is pleased to see that the land will be turned into "something that families can still enjoy together."

With the close of its Hickory Flat farm, Cagle said the family’s Corn Maze was harvested for the last time after 16 years of entertaining adults and children alike. Cagle said her family is excited to live a more normal life with their children.

“At this time we do not intend to try to have a corn maze at the new location," she added. "While we have truly enjoyed having the corn maze every fall, it was very stressful. We would literally work from sun up until sundown. We look forward to a little slower paced life counting our cows and feeding our own chickens. Of course we are also really excited to share the new farm with guests through events and gatherings.”

Cagle said her family has been admiring the new farmland for decades, and they are excited about the move.

“We truly feel like the farm on Conns Creek is all part of God's plan for us and our family because so many different parts of this situation have fallen perfectly into place,” she said.

The family is also looking forward to farming as well as raising sheep and cattle. Additionally, the Cagles will open the farm to guests for weddings, reunions, corporate events and church gatherings. The new property offers a historic farm house, two pole barns, a nature trail along the creek and "breathtaking sunsets," Cagle stated.

The farm at Hickory Flat in Canton had been in the family for over 100 years. With more than 1 million visitors over the years, including about 70,000 visitors a year, families from all over Georgia and beyond enjoyed learning about a working farm and attending special events like the annual corn maze and pumpkin patch.

Five generations of Cagle family members have lived and farmed on the land. Etowah Maid Dairies, a milk processing facility that was once located in north Canton at the corner of Ga. 140 and Highway 5, relocated to the farm in 1972 where milk was processed there until 2009.

A longtime family friend, Krystle Russell with the Path & Post team at ERA Sunrise Realty, was the Cagle’s agent during the transaction.

“This was not your typical move that took only the family’s emotions and feelings into consideration," Russell said. "This was a move that took the entire community’s feelings into consideration."

Russell grew up with the Cagles, and said she was pleased the old 58-acre farm was being developed into a park. Russell was charged with finding new land suitable for the farm’s future.

“Once we found the Byers Family Farm on Conns Creek that was listed for sale in northern Cherokee County, it didn't take long for Ben and Vicki to start envisioning their dream and drafting plans for the future.”

The Byers Family Farm had been passed down several generations, just as the Cagle’s Family Farm was, Russell said, and the sellers were happy their land would remain an agricultural area and event center.

Russell said the Cagles plan to begin by renovating the old Byers home site for a groom and bridal suite.

“They already have weddings booking up fast, so there will not be much a down time for their family,” Russell said. “The property has dramatic sunsets, and a creek that will soon be a wonderful family photo backdrop. And that is just the beginning.”

Brad Nix, managing director for the Path & Post real estate team, said Path & Post exists to help enrich the life transitions of its clients, and that mission was on display during the Cagle family transaction.

“Like all real estate transactions, there was much more than selling and buying property at stake," Nix said. "This move not only took the family’s emotions into consideration, but the sentiment of the entire local community. Cagle’s Farm has made memories for everyone that ever visited. We were there to help through the tears and ensure there is laughter at the end of the path. It has been an honor to help the Cagle family transition from Cagle’s Farm to their new location at Conn’s Creek Farm. I can’t wait to see the Cherokee County community and beyond create more memories on Cagle property.”

Image via Path & Post