MECHANIC FALLS — For 2½-year-old Greyson Gaines, the best part was seeing the pigs.

For 6-year-old Lukas Cook, it was the haunted house. Mostly, he said, “‘Cause it was haunted.”

But for 8-year-old Kaden Finley, the best thing about Pumpkin Land at Harvest Hill Farms was the opportunity to choose his own pumpkin. He wandered through the pumpkin patch for several long minutes before he spotted the perfect one: large, mostly round, just a little green on one side.

“I’m going to make a jack-o’-lantern,” he said, struggling a little to heft the pumpkin that was larger than his head. “And then I’m going to plant the seeds so I can have a bigger one next year.”

For six hours Saturday, about 1,000 kids and adults roamed through Pumpkin Land on opening day, checking out Harvest Hill Farms’ 12-acre corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo and other activities. For some, it was their first time. For others, like Travis James, Kaden’s father, Pumpkin Land is a family tradition.

“It’s a nice drive,” said James, who lives in Augusta. “There are lots of activities, and you can let your kids go. It’s not restricted. (It’s not), ‘Get back here, get back here, get back here!'” he said.

Founded 18 years ago in Poland by the Chipman family, Pumpkin Land was bought by Peter Bolduc and moved to Mechanic Falls three years ago to join a corn maze he’d already started. This year, Pumpkin Land includes various inflatable play areas, a zip line, a pedal car track, apple-fired air cannons and large slingshots, a giant jumping pillow, a petting zoo and horse-drawn wagon rides. On Saturday, workers were still putting together Fort Hard Knox, an enclosed area filled with hay bales. 

“It’s a place for kids to just raise holy hell and jump from one hay bale to the other,” Bolduc said. “Sometimes, the simpler (the activity), the better. Over there is the sandbox and look how many people are there. It’s a sandbox.”

But for some visitors, the more complex the activity, the better. After wandering through Pumpkin Land, Mike and Judy Barrett of Shapleigh took their grandkids, Greyson and Dyllan Gaines, through the corn maze. Greyson helped lead the way with his grandmother while his 1½-year-old sister, Dyllan, bounced along in her stroller, giggling as her grandfather pushed her over the path made rocky with corn husks. 

The family was confident it could navigate the giant puzzle. After all, the adults had carefully chosen just the right section to try.

“This is the Munchkin Corn Maze,” Judy said.

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