Lane Packing

I have been coming to Lane Packing now for 15 years, and have seen this place grow from a fruit stand to this local attraction that has so many vistors around the world to visit and eat some of the best tasting fresh Georgia Peaches has to offer. Every year Lane Packing does a amazing Corn Maze just right next to the packing shed, each year there is a different logo in the maze. This year it’s the BUDDY WALK. Every year it’s amazing the amount of travelers that come out and stop by to walk the maze. If you walk inside the packing shed there is gift shop and restaurant. What a great place to visit and it’s just off the exit a few miles going into town.

Though my visit here was not altogether perfect, how can you argue with anyplace that delivers mounds of soft serve peach ice cream? Really? We’re going to complain about that? No, we are not.
This is an oasis a few miles west of Interstate 75 amidst rural fields of pecan trees, peach trees and corn/​cotton/​soybean fields. The place is mostly a restaurant and gift shop that draws tourists and bus loads of hungry patrons, but they also really do pack produce here when those crops are in season. The peach processing line in the back of the main building is interesting to watch when it’s operating.
The restaurant mostly offers sandwiches, soups and salads. I had a classic club, which was tasty enough but it completely fell apart. The bread slices were too small to be cut into quarters and hold the many-​layered contents. I ended up with about 7 mangled sections, picking the droppings off the plate with my fingers. The bread tasted good (toasted and buttered), and all of the ingredients were fresh, but the sandwich needs to be re-​engineered. Too messy to eat in any sort of socially graceful way.
To avoid going through the line a second time, I ordered my peach ice cream when I ordered the sandwich. I was hungry, so I ordered a large cup of ice cream, but that is too much if you are also going to have a sandwich. One or the other; not both. A small ice cream would have been better, and I saw lots of people eating cones of ice cream, which looked to be about the right quantity. The rocking chairs out front are perfect places to enjoy the breeze — if there is one and it’s not too humid (say July or August).
Not great food, just good, in an interesting setting for young and old. Enjoyable all the way around.

So sorry to see that LANE’S has changed into a tourist attraction. The place is more beautiful than ever. But they have forgotten their LOYAL customer base that sustains them throughout the years. The slightly over priced soup and salad bar was the reason we would eat there. But as of today… they no longer offer it. Food is pretty good but pricey for what you get. Hamburger and hotdog and 2 teas was $ 20.00. We referred many people to this restaurant throughout the years but will no longer do that. Food is not too bad. Yet no side choices with a sandwich unless you pay full price for a side or about 7 for a regular salad. No small side salads to add. Sandwiches served with greasy homemade (?) chips. Beware. Served cold and greasy to us today. It is a unique place to stop by, the bread smells great and the ice cream and peach cobbler is similar as other stops along the way. If you are traveling, this is a nice rest stop. No fast food, chain restaurants or fuel stations at this exit. Peaches will be ready soon. Might be a nice treat.

I’m only rating their restaurant here, although they have a lot more to offer. Their restaurant has an all-​u-​can-​eat soup, salad or hot bar or you can get all three for a hefty price. They also have cook to order items. The price of soup and salad bar is a bit high, but the soups are great (shrimp & corn… mmmm) and the salad is always fresh. I never touch the hot bar due to it being typical fatty greasy southern food which just looks like it would clog your arteries. One thing I’m annoyed at is that they now will not give credit for 2 or more meals on their punch card. I told the cashier I would just order separately then to get the two punches and I got a funny look. I mean cmon, a free meal should be in order after paying $ 20 for 2 people ten times over. Besides that, the place is great, but it can get crowded during peak lunch hour on a Fri or Sat. If you get the peach lemonade, it’s delicious, but I think they load it with sugar so you crash hard about 30 minutes later. Be sure and save room for desert because there’s peach ice cream and cobbler which are the best I’ve ever had.

We have lived here in Middle Georgia for about 7 years now. It never fails that when family comes down to visit they want to go to Lane’s. There isn’t a whole lot to do here, so Lane’s is a big hit for all of us. They have the best peach ice cream and peaches. They also offer a tour of the farm. I haven’t been on it yet, but I plan to very soon. Highly recommend!

Yesterday the Hub and I ventured down to middle Georgia to visit family and to pick up some peaches. We drove down I-​75 about 30 minutes from Macon to the middle of bumble**ck nowhere. There was nothing but pecan groves and corn as far the eye could see.
After steering a right off the interstate we drove about 10 miles to a huge pavilion that housed the Lane Packing Company’s Boxing Factory and Store. There were a LOT of people there. Enough so that a police officer had to coordinate traffic in and out of the place. First we toured the factory where the peaches are unloaded from picking, cleaned, and sorted into boxes. There was a platform above where you could walk and watch as you please.
At the front end of the store there are smaller specialty sections– a fudge shop, bakery, canned goods section, local veggie section, and of course the peach area. They offer 16 variety of peaches (I had no idea there were that many). We picked up a bushel of peaches, some elderberry jam, and frozen peach cobbler. The best part is that there is a restaurant and desserts area to the right of the store there they offer their own homemade peach ice cream. Gosh it was wonderful. We got two quarts and some dry ice to bring home. :)
Highly recommend this place, but all the SUVs and strollers take two stars off.