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Published Wednesday, October 08, 2008 in Close-Up

Wagon Wheel Market Day Saturday at The Rock Ranch

Wagon Wheel Market Day is Saturday, Oct. 11, at The Rock Ranch, a 1,250-acre working cattle farm owned by Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy.

Cathy opened the ranch in 1989 with one simple vision in mind: He always had a passion for agriculture and he wanted to instill that passion in his children and others. Over the years it has expanded and focused on uniting families with the land and each other.

Saturday's event provides an experience for the whole family. For mom, it's a a premium shopping experience. Ellen McEwen, director of The Cotton Pickin' Fair in Gay, Ga., has partnered with the ranch to assemble 35 arts and crafts exhibitors. All of these exhibitors have unique products that are hand made, and many of them offer items for children.

Guests will also enjoy a larger gift shop with toys, antiques and Christmas decor. Also, beginning this weekend, guests will be able to shop in the tent of Christmas treasures. This 40 by 40 tent is full of Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, ceramic houses, pre-lit artificial Christmas trees and other Christmas items -- all priced 40 to 60 percent off the original retail price.

This is not your typical crafts festival -- while the shopping is great, it is not all The Rock Ranch has to offer. Dads will enjoy a blacksmith who handcrafts knives and other steel and iron items. The men will also enjoy "guy toys" like the pumpkin cannon and the corn cannons.

The ranch has more than 30 attractions for the youngstes ranging from locomotive train rides to paddle boats to The "Explore Georgia" corn maze. There will also be a puppet show by Peter Hart who is masterful with marrionettes.

The Rock Ranch is south of Griffin, off Highways 36 and 341.

Driving south from Griffin, take Highway 41 toward Barnesville. Take the 341 bypass, go past the Ingle's, over the railroad tracks, then take the next right, Highway 36. Go 7 miles and the ranch entrance is on the left. Look for the big statue of a horse and rider.

From I-75 south, drivers may take exit 201 (Highway 36). Follow Highway 36 west through the Barnesville business district (do not take the highway 36 bypass); cross U.S. Highway 341, and the ranch is 7 miles ahead on the left.

Admission is $13 for adults and $11 for children age 11 to 13. Admission is half price with a military ID.