It started more than 100 years ago, as a quaint family farm. Today, it’s one of the hottest family-friendly hangout spots in northern Michigan.

Such is the epic story of Jacob’s Farm, a 40-acre slice of gorgeous agricultural property off M-72, just minutes from Traverse City. For years, the farm has been a popular autumn destination, known especially for its meticulously designed corn maze. The fact that it’s right across M-72 from another wildly popular fall agritourism spot — Gallagher’s Farm Market, itself famous for some of northern Michigan’s very finest pumpkin donuts — hasn’t hurt.

In the past year, though, Jacob’s Farm has raised the bar. In 2020 – in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, when indoor dining, drinking, and hanging out felt most risky — Jacob’s offered a solution: A sprawling outdoor space, complete with picnic tables for the adults and playground structures for the kids, where families and friends could congregate safely. An indoor-outdoor bar, designed to mesh perfectly into a barn setting, offered local beer, wine, and spirits. You could even order food — including some world-class pizza options — and enjoy it all without ever having to set foot indoors. Live music, the corn maze, and even a dog-friendly menu helped tie the whole experience together.

Now in its second season, the new Jacob’s Farm is regularly one of the most hopping places in town. In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, writer Craig Manning talks with proprietor Mike Witkop about the farm's history and what’s next for this growing epicenter of northern Michigan agritourism. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.