Fall is finally here in central Iowa, which means it is a perfect time to put on a flannel, pack up the SUV, and head to one of these must-see fall attractions around the Des Moines metro area.
Here are eight stops, from pumpkin patches to corn mazes, for a guaranteed gourd time in central Iowa.
Center Grove Orchard
With 25 acres of ripening pumpkins and gourds, Center Grove Orchard is a pick-your-own paradise. Admission for the patch is required for people ages 3 and up but includes access to the farmyard and unlimited train rides.
Pre-picked pumpkins are available for purchase outside of the admission zone. Small pumpkins are $2.95 while large pumpkins run $5.95. With a valet, the pumpkins cost $3.95 for a small and $7.95 for a large.
- Location: 32835 610th Ave., Cambridge
- 2024 season: Sept. 21-Nov. 3
- Hours: Hours vary weekly and can be found online
- Contact: 515-383-4354; centergroveorchard.com
- Admission: Farmyard admission, $16.95; children age 2 and younger are free; pumpkin prices vary
Deal’s Orchard
Deal's Orchard features 45 acres of apples, 10 acres of pumpkins and grows other produce including squash, sweet corn and tomatoes, as well as Christmas trees.
Its Apple Acres family play area includes a four-acre corn maze, corn box, petting zoo, giant slides, jumping pillow, apple slingshots, and more.
The farm also offers bakery items such as apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples, apple pies and fudge, and produces about 35,000 gallons of apple cider each year. Plus, the owners make their own hard cider. They've been open since August, and close the first weekend of November.
- Location: 1102 244th St., Jefferson
- 2024 season: Late August through the first weekend in November
- Hours : 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting
- Contact: 515-386-8279; dealsorchard.com ; Facebook
- Admission: $12.95 for ages 3 to 64; free for ages 2 and younger and 65 and older
More: Six apple orchards to visit this fall near the Des Moines metro
Harvest Barn Marketplace
You may know the Boyer family from its stand at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market. In addition to raising and processing beef and making fudge, cheeses, salsa and more, the famiy alsos take pride in its assortment of pumpkins and gourds. Visit the Harvest Barn to select a pre-picked pumpkin. Make sure you bring the kids and come with an empty stomach.
Fall farm fun for the whole family is in full swing now through early November. Enjoy family dodgeball, the human hamster wheel, a round bale hay maze, zipline and much more. On the weekends, go for a wagon ride.
- Location: 2721 U.S. Highway 34, Osceola
- 2024 season: Sept. 26-Nov. 3
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
- Contact: 641-342-4039; harvestbarnmarketplace.com ; Facebook
- Admission: For select attractions: $8 on Fridays, $10 on weekends, free for children age 2 and under
Howell’s Pumpkin Patch
At Howell’s Pumpkin Patch, it's all about having fun on the farm. You can pick your own pumpkin or buy one pre-picked. It offers plenty of attractions including a pumpkin cannon, corn mazes, wagon rides, two seater trikes, a jump pad, bathtub train, corn cannon and pool, observation deck, hamster wheel and so much more. The patch opened Sept. 7 and will close Nov. 2.
- Location: 3145 Howell Court, Cumming
- 2024 season: Sept. 7-Nov. 2
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in November
- Contact: 515-981-0863; howellsgreenhouseandpumpkinpatch.com ; Facebook
- Admission: $18 per person at the gate or $14 online ; $12 for seniors 65 and up, free for children under age 2
Iowa Orchard
When fall sets in, Iowa Orchard's unmistakable display of pumpkins appears. The apple cider is famous here, as well as 22 varieties of family-recipe pies with a flaky crust. Don't miss the corn box, big slides, jumping pillow and giant Legos. The orchard opens on the last weekend of September and closes on Halloween.
- Location: 9875 Meredith Drive, Urbandale
- 2024 season: Late September through Halloween
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
- Contact: 515-276-0852; iowaorchard.com ; Facebook
- Admission: Free. Hayride and Farm Fun Zone (open weekends only) is $5 per person; children 2 and younger are free.
Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch
Since 1981, Pierce's Pumpkin Patch in Chariton has been the place to go for more than 145 kinds of pumpkins and gourds. Pierce's offers dried gourds to craft and a range of pumpkins and gourds and a country store. They'll be open the last weekend of September through the end of October.
- Location: 2491 Iowa Highway 14, Chariton
- Hours: Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
- Contact: 641-344-1344, 641-344-2052; piercespumpkinpatch.com ; Facebook
- Admission: Free for all ages. Call ahead for group tours.
Pumpkinville & Cornmaze
You can use your GPS to navigate your way through the 20-acre "scavenger hunt" big maze at Pumpkinville & Cornmaze in Mitchellville or you can let the kids loose in the 15-minute mini-maze. Both mazes and all activities opened on Sept. 23.
Show your strength with a game of "Tug a Pumpkin," closely resembling tug-of-war, or show your speed with a sack race.
There's no shortage of straw here — kids can jump around a straw train or jump into a big pile of straw. Shop for a wide variety of pumpkins, savor some cinnamon-spiked cider and hot chocolate, and nibble on tasty treats, including nachos, burgers and hot dogs. The patch opened in August and runs through October.
- Location: 618 Center Ave. S., Mitchellville
- 2024 season: August through October
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- Contact: 515-720-7502; pumpkinvillecornmaze.com ; Facebook
- Admission: No general admission fee
Wills Family Orchard & Pumpkin Farm
It's Apple and Pumpkin Fest time at Wills Family Orchard on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 20. Pick your own pumpkins or choose from a pre-picked selection. When you're not roaming through the rope maze, take a ride on the hay wagon or pet the barnyard animals. Then go shopping for cider, wine and other treats made from apples picked right on location.
- Location: 33130 Panther Creek Road, Adel
- 2024 season: Sept. 14-Oct. 20
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 6 p.m. Sundays
- Contact: 515-321-1847; willsfamilyorchard.com ; Facebook
- Admission: Free to visit the farm store and pumpkin patch. $9 for adults and children plus tax for the corn maze and activities; free for children 2 and under.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ready for fall? 8 pumpkin patches to explore around Des Moines
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