Ripley’s Believe It Or Not brings a charming experience to the Smoky Mountains area with a huge mini golf course in nearby Sevierville. Known as Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf, the family-friendly destination features multiple courses for varying levels of mini golfers. With 18 holes per course, the entire attraction has a total of 54 holes.
Younger golfers tend to prefer the easiest course, which, as one happy attendee puts it “is designed to make you feel good.” The medium level course is still fairly friendly for beginners, but the difficult one offers ample challenges even for seasoned mini golfers.
The attraction makes ample use of its ‘old farm’ theme, with decor depicting Old MacDonald and all his barnyard friends. Each hole offers a new farm-themed adventure; keep an eye out for sunbathing pigs, flying pigs, a chicken coop, and horses Gertrude and Elmer. A feast for the senses, the courses also feature goofy sound effects that add to the farmyard vibe.
Clean grounds and regular maintenance are clearly priorities at Ripley’s Old Farm; you can rest assured knowing that your golf game won’t be destroyed by twigs or other random debris.
Although standard courses feature ample steps and other pathway features that could be difficult to navigate for select visitors, Ripley’s offers a handicap-accessible option.
A hole in one is always the prime objective at Ripley’s Old Farm Mini Golf, and with good reason: score the holy grail of mini golf and you win a free game!
An arcade housed in a barn near the course offers additional entertainment after a satisfying mini golf session. Known as the Super Fun Zone, the arcade features such favorites as Deal or No Deal, Wheel of Fortune, Guitar Hero, and Rock’n Moon Rally.
If there’s one common complaint about Ripley’s Old Farm, it’s the price. Cost depends on the age of the golfers and the number of courses completed; you can either purchase tickets for a single course or a discounted pass for all three. Keep in mind that advanced players tend to go through each course quickly, so a single game might not feel worthwhile if you make a special trip to the attraction. Skilled mini golfers stand an excellent chance of scoring the free game with the hole in one opportunity, so factor that possibility in as you assess pricing.
Insider Tips:
While the arcade typically fills up in the evening, nighttime can be the best time to golf at Ripley’s Old Farm. Specially lit, the courses take on a slightly eerie feel after the sun goes down. Evening mini golf provides an additional challenge for those who might otherwise breeze through the course. Nighttime golf is available until midnight on Friday and Saturday.