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Tennessee (TN)
Athens
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Mayfield Dairy Farm
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Mayfield Dairy Farm

See all things to do
See all things to do
Mayfield Dairy Farm
4.5
265 reviews
#1 of 16 things to do in Athens
Farms
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
265 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
82
Average
19
Poor
7
Terrible
4
Linda G
Fayetteville, Georgia, United States38 contributions
What a "Moo"valous Tour!
Nov 2014 • Family
On our way back from Pigeon Forge, we decided to detour a little to Athens TN and visit Mayfield Dairy Farm. Now, you won't see any REAL cows here, but you will get a nice little tour to see what it's like to package milk and ice cream in a factory. It was a great little field trip for my 10 year old granddaughter! It is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. The tour begins every hour. You watch a short video and after that, you put on hair nets to abide by the health code. Then you begin on the walking tour throughout the factory. You go to the areas where the plastic cartons are produced, where the milk is packaged and then where the ice cream gets processed and packaged all while a tour guide is explaining everything. When you get finished, you are treated to a choice of an ice cream cone or cup in any of the flavors they have in their ice cream parlor. There are even a few flavors that you can't get in the store.This little adventure was well worth our time spent. There was even a nice little gift shop and the restrooms were very clean. If you love southern history and ice cream, this is the place to visit. We loved it! The only negative thing to say about this is that is not accessible for wheel chairs. You have to climb a few dififferent steps to get back and forth different areas.
Written November 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JoeyandMorgan
3 contributions
Local Family
Jul 2015 • Family
We went on our second tour of the plant today after 8 years since our first tour. A few things have changed has changed. Tour admission is $4.50 for adults $3.50 for kids and 3 and under are free but this also includes a large scoop of any flavor icecream with the tour. *** Tours are Monday-Friday every hour from 10am-4pm Saturdays from 10am-1pm NO TOURS WEDNESDAYS or SUNDAYS EVER.*** You watch a short history movie first and everyone wears a HAIRNET to protect the milk and ICECREAM. Then see how milk jugs are made and milk and icecream production.
Molly was our tour guide. She was very charismatic and knowledgeable. She gave us a lot of fun facts and really involved our kids.
The gift shop has a lot to chose from and is not over priced like a lot of tourist stops are. The staff are all very kind and welcoming. I loved the Peach ice cream!
Written July 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tess M
85 contributions
Best ice cream ever
Dec 2014 • Family
A great pit stop on the family trip. The tour isn't too long, but long enough to see and learn some interesting facts and history. You only physically see the packaging process. No real cows at this facility. Afterwards you get a super fresh scoop of ice cream that is very good. Eat lunch first though because no real food is served here.
Written January 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brad
Crossville, TN16 contributions
Disappointed
Oct 2020 • Family
Mayfield Dairy Farms is still not offering tours. We checked the website and your hours were still listed so we drove 30 minutes to take the tour. When we arrived we were greeted with a sign on the fence stating that tours are not currently being offered. We were very disappointed that this information would not have been made available on their own website.
Written October 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Andrea R
Knoxville, TN4 contributions
Do this and the Sweetwater Valley Farm together to get the full experience
Dec 2013 • Family
First of all, the Mayfield Dairy Farm is a processing center and not a working farm. It was neat, but you definitely need to do it and the Sweetwater Valley Farm up the road to get the most out of it. The Mayfield Dairy Farm is actually just a processing center and just shows how they bottle the milk and make the ice cream etc. (Turns out Mayfield doesn't even have their own cattle I guess. They contract out to about 150 farmers). So basically a short tour of machines and conveyor belts. But you get ice cream at the end, so that is a plus. But then I recommend going up the road to the Sweetwater Valley Farm where they actually have a ton of cattle and show how they make cheese. And in the months March-October, you get to walk around the farm and see the cows being fed, milked, etc.
Written December 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SueKeaton
Oak Ridge, TN452 contributions
5 minutes off the interstate & $5 tour that ends with ice cream!!!
Jun 2014 • Family
Great way to spend an hour & $5!!!! Tours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. No tours on Wednesday!! They start every hour on the hour 10-4 week days & 10-1 on Saturday and ONLY 1 tour per hour. We went on Saturday & not much production except for milk jugs and chocolate milk. We plan to do it again during the week & early so we can see ice cream production. Tour starts with an 8 minute video (which had started when we arrived, so we were able to watch it after the tour WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE to get in a MUCH shorter ice cream line!) The tour is $5 per person. You also have to wear a hair net (EVERYONE TAKING THE TOUR) and men who have facial hair wears a beard net. If you take off the hair net you must leave the tour, so be advised for small children. You make your way through the dairy starting with milk jug production, then milk products & finally ice cream. Since there was no ice cream production on Saturday they had an awesome video. The tour is very informative!!!!!! We learned a lot and plan to go again. After the tour head to the ice cream counter to pick up your free scoop!! They have TONS of flavors not offered in stores!! They also have milk shake concoctions featured. The gift shop has everything imaginable for the cow lover!!! We had a great time, fun for all ages. There are stairs and wet surfaces, especially in the afternoon when they are cleaning all machines. You do get so close to the milk jugs on the line you could reach out & grab one..my husband wanted to grab some chocolate milk!! The earlier you go in the day, the more likely to see more production.
Written July 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
west73
Atlanta168 contributions
Great Tour
May 2014 • Couples
So glad we detoured off 75 to take this tour. After looking around the gift shop, we were shown a 8 minute video on the history of Mayfield then were taken on a tour of the facility. The tour guide was knowledgeable and it was interesting to see the process. However, there are a few things to share before you visit. I wish we had known that each person must wear a hairnet so in my case with long hair, I wish I had a clip because it was tough to keep it all tucked into he cap. Also, there are lots of steps so if there is anyone who is in a wheelchair, a stroller or can't climb and descend steps, this is not the tour to take. We went on the last tour of the day which was at 4:00 and unfortunately, the staff was hosing down and cleaning up so we did not get to see the milk jugs being produced or the ice cream being made. Still, we were glad we did it and we did get free ice cream at the end of the tour.
Written May 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
John P
Knoxville, TN26 contributions
Milk and Ice Cream, Learn How it's prepared.
Feb 2015 • Solo
The main stay for Athens TN for about 100 years, Mayfields is the milk from our area.
Most of us in the area love and swear by the taste of Mayfields Milk, their Ice Cream is some of the best in the world. No Lie.
There is a gift shop and tour of the facility. The tour takes you behind the doors of a working dairy production plant. You find out how your milk is processed and packaged. Did I say Ice Cream, Mayfields has any number of different flavors to suit any taste. Once you have finished the tour, make sure and stop by the ice cream stand and try a couple of scoops or treats.
Written May 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NAUTICL1
Athens, TN26 contributions
Fun family activity
Oct 2014
We took the tour of Mayfields & it was super cool! Very informative & you just might learn something too! A great activity for the whole family& it ends in the snack bar/ice cream shop!!
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Carspino
132 contributions
Good Tour
This tour starts off with a ten minute video and then your taken into the production plant where you see how they manufacture and produce their milk and ice cream. The tour guide provides detailed information of each process and if you have any questions they are very informative. I did notice they have limited access for anyone with a handicap as we have to go up and down several stairs. We had an older person who was not able to continue part of the tour due to this. They also give a ticket to claim a scoop of ice cream at the end of the tour. Overall not a bad tour.
Written September 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Mayfield Dairy Farm (Athens) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Mayfield Dairy Farm
Mayfield Dairy Farm is open:
  • Mon - Tue 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thu - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM