EXPLORE: Orchards & pumpkin patches
By Sofia Legaspi Dickens
If you didn’t visit an orchard or a pumpkin patch, did autumn even happen?
CENTER GROVE ORCHARD
32835 610th Ave., Cambridge
centergroveorchard.com
Thirty minutes north of Des Moines, Center Grove Orchard boasts a 20-acre apple orchard, 7-acre sunflower meadow, and 25-acre pumpkin patch. The Farmyard includes food stands and 25-plus family attractions including a corn pool, jumping pillows, hayrides, farm animals, corn maze, pedal tractors, apple slingshot and more. Don’t forget to stop by the Country Store for a famous cider donut.
THE PUMPKIN RANCH
2425 Hiatt Apple Trail, Winterset
thepumpkinranch.com
The Pumpkin Ranch has all the pumpkin patch staples — corn maze, hay rides, jump pillow, tunnel slides — plus toddler town and a farm ninja obstacle course. On specified Sundays during the season, visitors can enjoy free rope-led horseback rides. Open through Sunday, Oct. 30.
HOWELL’S GREENHOUSE & PUMPKIN PATCH
3145 Howell Court, Cumming
howellsgreenhouseandpumpkinpatch.com
Family owned and operated for six generations, Howell’s is a fall favorite for many. Activities include a 7-acre corn maze, corn and pumpkin cannons, bathtub train, wagon rides, zipline and pony rides. And after all that fall fun, you’ll need to come back during the summer, when you can cuddle and bottle-feed baby goats from their goat nursery.
PUMPKINVILLE & CORN MAZE
618 Center Ave. S., Mitchellville
pumpkinvillecornmaze.com
Pumpkinville charges zero general admission to the farm. They offer a large and mini corn maze, saw train, tug-a-pumpkin, granary, sack races, hayrack rides and a football field. Groups can book a campfire — roast s’mores and hot dogs to your heart’s content.
IOWA ORCHARD
9875 Meredith Drive, Urbandale
13140 N.W. 102nd Ave., Granger
iowaorchard.com
Winton Etchen first opened Iowa Orchard in 1975, with its second location in Granger opening in 2014. The Urbandale location includes a pie bakery that is open year-round, plus a farm market, pumpkin patch and family fun zone. The Granger location offers “u-pick sunflowers” through October, plus seasonal apple and strawberry-picking. Dogs are allowed on leash at the Granger location during the fall.
UNCLE BILL’S FARM
244 400th Ave., Grinnell
unclebillsfarm.com
Uncle Bill’s Farm makes the drive worth it. For a quarter century, visitors have created fall memories with hayrack rides, giant mums, barnyard animals and more. Weekends feature entertainment in the Barn Loft and train rides for the little ones. Uncle Bill has also been in the chicken business for more than 40 years.
UPSTREAM GARDENS
5987 N.E. 88th St., Altoona
upstreamgardens.com
Upstream Gardens is not your typical pumpkin patch. Instead of the regular family activities, the gardens offer an admission-free, peaceful country environment. They sell fruit, produce, plants, beekeeping supplies, honey and beeswax products.
WILLS FAMILY ORCHARD
33130 Panther Creek Road, Adel
willsfamilyorchard.com
The 19-member Wills family purchased land in Adel back in 1991. Now the farm consists of 60 acres total: 30 acres of timber, 6 acres of apple trees, 1 acre of peach trees, 4 acres of pumpkins and 1 acre of other produce including winter squash, melons and berries. Visit the farm during Apple & Pumpkin Fest, the first four weekends of October. n
If you didn’t visit an orchard or a pumpkin patch, did autumn even happen?
CENTER GROVE ORCHARD
32835 610th Ave., Cambridge
centergroveorchard.com
Thirty minutes north of Des Moines, Center Grove Orchard boasts a 20-acre apple orchard, 7-acre sunflower meadow, and 25-acre pumpkin patch. The Farmyard includes food stands and 25-plus family attractions including a corn pool, jumping pillows, hayrides, farm animals, corn maze, pedal tractors, apple slingshot and more. Don’t forget to stop by the Country Store for a famous cider donut.
THE PUMPKIN RANCH
2425 Hiatt Apple Trail, Winterset
thepumpkinranch.com
The Pumpkin Ranch has all the pumpkin patch staples — corn maze, hay rides, jump pillow, tunnel slides — plus toddler town and a farm ninja obstacle course. On specified Sundays during the season, visitors can enjoy free rope-led horseback rides. Open through Sunday, Oct. 30.
HOWELL’S GREENHOUSE & PUMPKIN PATCH
3145 Howell Court, Cumming
howellsgreenhouseandpumpkinpatch.com
Family owned and operated for six generations, Howell’s is a fall favorite for many. Activities include a 7-acre corn maze, corn and pumpkin cannons, bathtub train, wagon rides, zipline and pony rides. And after all that fall fun, you’ll need to come back during the summer, when you can cuddle and bottle-feed baby goats from their goat nursery.
PUMPKINVILLE & CORN MAZE
618 Center Ave. S., Mitchellville
pumpkinvillecornmaze.com
Pumpkinville charges zero general admission to the farm. They offer a large and mini corn maze, saw train, tug-a-pumpkin, granary, sack races, hayrack rides and a football field. Groups can book a campfire — roast s’mores and hot dogs to your heart’s content.
IOWA ORCHARD
9875 Meredith Drive, Urbandale
13140 N.W. 102nd Ave., Granger
iowaorchard.com
Winton Etchen first opened Iowa Orchard in 1975, with its second location in Granger opening in 2014. The Urbandale location includes a pie bakery that is open year-round, plus a farm market, pumpkin patch and family fun zone. The Granger location offers “u-pick sunflowers” through October, plus seasonal apple and strawberry-picking. Dogs are allowed on leash at the Granger location during the fall.
UNCLE BILL’S FARM
244 400th Ave., Grinnell
unclebillsfarm.com
Uncle Bill’s Farm makes the drive worth it. For a quarter century, visitors have created fall memories with hayrack rides, giant mums, barnyard animals and more. Weekends feature entertainment in the Barn Loft and train rides for the little ones. Uncle Bill has also been in the chicken business for more than 40 years.
UPSTREAM GARDENS
5987 N.E. 88th St., Altoona
upstreamgardens.com
Upstream Gardens is not your typical pumpkin patch. Instead of the regular family activities, the gardens offer an admission-free, peaceful country environment. They sell fruit, produce, plants, beekeeping supplies, honey and beeswax products.
WILLS FAMILY ORCHARD
33130 Panther Creek Road, Adel
willsfamilyorchard.com
The 19-member Wills family purchased land in Adel back in 1991. Now the farm consists of 60 acres total: 30 acres of timber, 6 acres of apple trees, 1 acre of peach trees, 4 acres of pumpkins and 1 acre of other produce including winter squash, melons and berries. Visit the farm during Apple & Pumpkin Fest, the first four weekends of October. n