The Largest Pumpkin Patch In North Dakota Is A Must-Visit Day Trip This Fall
By Tori Jane|Published September 19, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Autumn is such a wonderful, magical time of year. There really is just something about the transitional seasons that makes them special, and fall is especially known for being an adventure all on its own. After all, there are countless autumn traditions we can think of right off the bat – like, for example, the legendary pumpkin patch! There’s a huge pumpkin patch in North Dakota that’s so awesome it’s worth driving out to no matter where you’re starting from. Check it out and be utterly enchanted by its autumn awesomeness:
In 1983, a family friend of the farm owners had a request: Could they grow some pumpkins for them to use for a parade float?
Between a not-so-great growing season and the parade being rescheduled for weeks earlier than originally planned, the pumpkins weren't going to be ready in time... so what was there to do?
Once the pumpkins turned orange, the kind folks at the farm decided to invite some elementary school classes to come enjoy the patch, letting everyone take one home. One thing led to another, and soon enough there were 8,000 school children visiting the patch with their classes every year!
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In 1989, Papa's Pumpkin Patch finally opened to the general public, and ever since, it's been a wonderful highlight of autumn in North Dakota.
Considering North Dakota is the single least-visited state in the United States, any one attraction that isn't a state or National park bringing in that kind of attention is absolutely remarkable.
It's affordable, too, at just $6 per person (and kiddies two years and under are free).
There's so much more to do than pick out the perfect pumpkin (or three). This is an awesome place for picture-taking, bale mazes, a nature trail, swings, and SO much more.
It's a veritable autumn playground, perfect for the entire family to enjoy.
Most of the attractions on the farm are free. There are some that ask for a small fee, like horse-drawn hayrides ($2 per person), pony rides ($5 per person), a barrel train, wagon rides, and more.
Literally, this huge pumpkin patch in North Dakota is the most fun you'll have all year!
Need more to do while in Bismarck? Check out the one-of-a-kind experiences up for grabs with our friends at Viator! Need more information about the pumpkin patch? Visit the official Papa’s Pumpkin Patch website.
What are your favorite fall traditions in North Dakota? Do you know of any other enormous pumpkin patches? Let us know!
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