FIRE DEVASTATES LENOIR CITY SWEET SHOP, FORCING EARLY SEASON CLOSURE
A popular East Tennessee fall destination has closed its doors for the remainder of the year after a pre-dawn fire destroyed its on-site sweet shop on Friday, October 30.
The blaze, sparked by a donut fryer inside the main barn at Blackburn Farm Pumpkin Patch, broke out before opening hours, resulting in no injuries to staff or visitors. While the sweet shop was completely destroyed, owners Liz and Brian noted that the rest of the barn structure appears salvageable.
Community Impact and Support
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Cancellations: The sudden closure forced the farm to cancel all activities for the final two days of its peak fall season, including the busy Halloween weekend.
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Local Collaboration: Neighboring agritourism businesses stepped in to assist, with Deep Well Farm accommodating scheduled school field trips, while displaced visitors were directed to Narramore Farms, Oakes Farm, and Echo Valley Corn Maze.
Looking Ahead
Blackburn Farm will remain closed for the rest of 2026 as recovery efforts begin. Customers who pre-purchased tickets for Friday and Saturday will receive full refunds. Expressing deep gratitude for the community’s outpouring of support, the owners confirmed plans to rebuild and reopen in time for the fall 2027 season.
