With just three weeks to go until Halloween, a Raleigh County family is giving southern West Virginians an alternative to finding that perfect Jack-O-Lantern: The Okes family of Cool Ridge is opening their farm and pumpkin patch to visitors for the very first time.

"It's unique. There's nothing else around here that you can go and do the same thing," said Jennifer Okes.

Jennifer and Kevin Okes, an agriculture teacher in Fayette County, help operate the farm. They came up with the idea to start the pumpkin patch together and have added various activities to make the environment family-friendly.

"My great grandfather lived on the other side of this mountain for years and my grandfather purchased this land back in the 30's and it's been in our family every since," said Kevin Okes, a third generation family farmer.

Picking pumpkins isn't the only activity people can try; there are hay rides and a corn maze, where the 12-foot tall corn hides presents that children can find.

"We went out in the corn patch and we found these little tokens and then we found all six of them and we got a free little pumpkin," said Julia Henry, who was visiting the farm Sunday.

"We were joking that if we got lost we might have to eat corn and build a house and everything," said Kristen Porterfield, who also went through the maze on Sunday.

Parents said the farm is a great place for kids to play. "They were running through the cornfields and having a wonderful time," said Catherine Henry, Julia's mother. "They were just running and playing tag and hide and seek. It was great."