Despite all the hubbub of the year, here we are, heading into the fourth quarter. I’m absolutely ready to greet October and get all of my harvest-festival decorations up, have some spiced cider and all that other autumn stuff. Maybe you’ve exercised your green thumb and grown your own pumpkins. I tried that one year and had some really pretty pumpkin blossoms growing. I was already thinking about how I would be able to brag about making pumpkin pie from my very own home-grown crops. But you know who else thought my little pumpkins looked great? The deer, that’s who. Since then, I’ve gone the pumpkin-patch route for my fall decor. (Plus, the pumpkin farms usually also have some spiced cider on hand, yum-yum!) So let’s take a look at some of the area’s harvest-fest hotspots. Photo at left: Wikimedia Commons, Morn the Gorn.
The Corley Ranch in Gardnerville has to be at the top of this sort of list, given that it’s a working cattle ranch and hay and pumpkin farm, and not just some straw bales scattered over a vacant lot. That being said, they do go all out for the month of October with special harvest festival attractions. On the weekends, look for a hay slide, a straw maze AND a corn maze, hayrides, pig races, farm animals and more. There will also be food vendors and other attractions on site on the weekends. If you go during the week, the price of admission is a little lower, but not all of the fun stuff (the pig races, for one example) is available. And on any day of the week, you can browse in the ranch’s country store or buy a pumpkin. Visit the website for up-to-date information. Photo at right: Facebook, Corley Ranch Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.
Another big name in area agriculture is Lattin Farms over in Fallon, and they haven’t let the year’s events put a damper on their fall festival. They’ve already kicked the season off with the theme of the Roarin’ 20s and will keep it up through the month of October. The activities here include a huge corn maze, a scarecrow factory, a crafter’s market and the ever-popular pumpkin tower. You may remember the Kids’ Corner from past years, and while it will be closed this year in the interest of health and safety, the cow train will still be running. There’s also a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find just the right gourd to take home with you. A lot of the events at Lattin Farms this year are by advance ticket only, so be sure to check out the offerings online. Photo at left: Facebook, Lattin Farms.
Down in Smith Valley, the corn maze at the Renner Farm is in the shape of a firefighter hat and ax, a tribute to the Smith Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Yet another working farm in the area, the Renner Farm offers eggs and honey throughout the rest of the year, but through November 1, they’ve added (in addition to the firefighter corn maze, which also features a mystery to be solved as you gather clues along the way) a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a bounce house and other local produce. The corn maze and pumpkin patch are both already up and running for the season and will be open Tuesdays through Sundays until November. For more information, including hours of operation, visit their website.
If you’re looking to combine a day at the pumpkin patch with a trip in the direction of the Biggest Little City, you can take a gander at last week’s Reno blog https://renothisweek.com/blog/how-you-gonna-keep-pumpkins-down-farm for a roundup of some of the seasonal offerings up that way. Just keep in mind for all of these places that this year more than any other, conditions can change direction on a dime, so always check ahead with the venue before piling into the car and heading out for some farmyard family fun.
About the Author Keith Rugg
R. Keith Rugg has worked on staff for a number of local publications, including Lake Tahoe Action Magazine, the Tahoe Daily Tribune and the Reno Gazette-Journal.
