In the 1970s, Mike, Lydia, and their children began raising vegetable and flower plants for the roadside market. They supplied and sold fresh vegetables and plants all spring and summer. In the fall, the family grew acres of pumpkins, soon to become known as the pumpkin farm. Along with pie and Halloween pumpkins, the farm supplied large quantities and varieties of squash, gourds, turbans, Indian corn, popcorn, shocks, and other farm crops.
In 1982, the oldest son Michael returned after college to the farm with his wife Beth of Harrisburg, PA. Michael began raising and selling trees and shrubs at the market. Along with selling nursery plants, the landscape business began. Soon after college, brothers Tom and Mark returned to the family business to begin a partnership that exists to this day.
In 1990, the brothers had an idea to convert the farm house that had been abandoned since 1971 to build and operate a haunted house. The original house and surrounding haunts began as Rich’s Haunted House and was eventually named Fright Farm. Over the years, Fright Farm has continued to grow and today is known and visited by patrons from hundreds of miles away. It has also had the distinction of being voted best haunted house in Pennsylvania.
As the garden center grew, Richs Garden Center became known for their many high end departments. The buildings and grounds included a nursery, a full supply water garden shop, grills, floral shop, outdoor patio furniture, pottery & statuary, wall and patio stone, gardening supplies, large greenhouses, nursery stock area, and a large Christmas shop. Each November and December the Christmas shop also opened seasonal shops in the area’s malls. .