Gourd vibes only
By Chelsea Yarnell
It’s time again to let the gourd times roll at the Kilchis River Pumpkin Patch in Tillamook.
“It’s a different kind of pumpkin patch in a beautiful, remote, authentic and relaxed setting,” said owner Patrick Zweifel. “Come for the afternoon and enjoy the good, wholesome family fun.”
Boasting thousands of u-pick gourds and pumpkins and the biggest corn maze on the Oregon Coast, the patch will operate every Saturday and Sunday in October. Get the full, down-home experience with free hay rides behind one of the farm’s tractors, or snap a cute family picture at one of multiple photo booths.
“People who come here remark about how family-friendly and non-commercial it is,” Zweifel said. “It is very relaxed. People come with their families and a basket of food and hang out for several hours.”
Once at the farm, grab a wagon near the farm’s rustic “small barn,” which now boasts a water feature, and head out into the patch. Scope out the perfect pumpkin, choosing from classic, specialty bi-colored and unconventionally shaped pumpkins and gourds.
Want to get lost? The five-acre corn maze is a unique design with miles of trails and possibilities.
“I used to look at maze pictures on Google or Pinterest to come up with ideas and adapt them to our space,” Zweifel said. “But the past few years I came up with my own design. Sometimes it is laid out on graph paper beforehand, other times I freehand it in the maze.”
Taking the maze from “light” to “fright” are the two nights of the “Maze of Murder,” where live actors create an immersive experience that sends visitors screaming. The haunted nights, recommended for visitors agesd13 and older, will take place on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25, from dusk to 10 pm. Admission is $12. Half of the admission profits will be donated to the Lil’ Titans hunting program.
The patch is hosted at the Hydrangea Ranch, one of Oregon’s premier flower farms, and the seasonal event is a rare time to experience its beauty.
“It’s the best opportunity for people to visit and walk around the farm,” Zweifel said. “It is closed to the public the rest of the year and only open for special events. Now is their chance.”
The patch will be open Saturday and Sunday through October 26 from noon to 5 pm. Parking and entrance to the farm is free. All pumpkins are priced according to size. The corn maze is $7 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and younger.
The Kilchis River Pumpkin Patch is located at: 9455 Kilchis River Road in Tillamook. For more information, go to hydrangearanch.oregoncoastalflowers.com or call 503-815-3762.