New Albany, IN Outdoor Activities

Before venturing into Deere Farms’ labyrinthine corn maze, visitors are equipped with a map, a short orientation, and—as a last resort—the farm’s cell-phone number. Groups work together to seek out all the checkpoints scattered across 8 miles of twists and turns. Even with an acute sense of direction, adventurers usually take about 45 minutes to navigate their way to freedom.

The checkpoints are one of many ways that Deere Farms infuses traditional fall activities with creative twists. Shortly after Halloween, the farm hosts an annual pumpkin-smashing festival, inviting visitors to drop overripe pumpkins from a 50-foot platform. And at the concession stand, chefs serve gourmet treats such as apple-cider slushes and pumpkin-caramel cheesecake.

The farm also hosts classic fall adventures on its 170 acres. Visitors can take an idyllic hayride through the woods or hop aboard an antique tractor and ride into the 12-acre pumpkin patch in search of the perfect gourd for carving or stomping into a pie. Before departing, they stop to see the menagerie of farm animals, including cows, alpacas, and piglets.

Classic Biplane Tours' certified pilots helm modern versions of the 1935 Waco YMF, as they trace premapped and custom routes through the sky. Each pilot possesses years of professional flight experience, whether working as a missionary pilot, corporate pilot, or commercial pilot, and cheerfully shares savvy knowledge of the skyways throughout each flight via voice-activated headphones and microphones. Once safely returned to earth, passengers are bestowed certificates that designate them as qualified barnstormers, which budding aviators can then proudly display at home or use to legally commandeer an eagle.

From its site on Bowman Field, Eagle Aviation lets humans defy gravity by slicing through the skies in a Piper Warrior airplane. Though experienced pilots can rent the aircraft for themselves, instructors escort novices in supervised trips to the clouds, sharing tips on taking off, landing, and avoiding midair collisions with basketball players.

Alpine Ice Arena grants blade-borne guests from well-padded tots to aspiring pros a friction-free winter haven. Stands hold up to 500 spectators while a snack bar warms their bellies with hot dogs, hot cocoa, and other delectable treats. Staff in the pro shop or figure- and hockey-skating lessons arm gliders with gear, grace, and grit. Spectators dropping by the arena might cross tracks with Kentucky's first adult skating team, Moms on Ice, synchronized ice dancers The Belles, or wistful zambonis donning sequins during downtime.

The organizers of Muddy Fanatic test racers' athleticism by plotting a 5K course through the Sellersburg woods. Participants charge through obstacles that range from slippery ascents out of creek beds to fire-lined paths. After competing to reach the finish line, participants must lend each other a hand to surmount Mud Mountain, a steep wall of earth rising above a pool of knee-deep water.

To celebrate the day's displays of fortitude, organizers pour every drinking-age participant a free beer, as well as provide additional drinks and food for purchase. Muddy Fanatic's team also encourages racers to self-nominate themselves for awards that include muddiest, best body, and best and worst costume. Audience members determine the winners by applauding and throwing roses at their favorites.