Fall in Iowa is crisp air, crunchy leaves, and big smiles. At Howell’s Greenhouse and pumpkin Patch, it all comes together with a pumpkin patch that feels like tradition.
Bring your crew and plan a day that’s equal parts adventure and cozy: start in our 8‑acre corn maze, snack your way through fall flavors, roam the farmyard fun, soak up sweet moments with your favorite people, and make it a yearly thing. Below, we’ll show you how to do fall the Howell’s way—from the maze to the treats to the moments you’ll talk about all winter.
Get Lost (On Purpose) in the Corn Maze
There’s something magical about stepping into tall golden rows and letting the world get quiet for a minute. Our 8‑acre corn maze is designed for wanderers of all ages—part challenge, part pure joy.
Grab a map or go rogue, split into teams, and turn it into a friendly race. If you’re a strategist, pick a landmark and keep your right hand on the wall. If you’re a romantic, go at golden hour when the light turns the stalks to shimmer and the farm hums with evening energy.
Pro tip: maze time gets even better with a theme. Parents vs. kids, couples vs. couples, or “no phones allowed” to bring on the laughs. And if you’ve got little legs in your group, aim for the shorter loops—just enough thrill without the tired feet. However you play it, the maze is the heartbeat of fall at Howell’s: a little lost, a lot found.
Bringing a school group or coworkers? The maze makes easy icebreakers and big cheers at the finish. And don’t worry, our crew is nearby if you need a friendly nudge in the right direction.
Savor Cozy Corners & Sweet Treats
Nothing says fall like warm hands wrapped around something delicious. Between turns in the maze and moments on the lawn, treat yourselves to kettle corn that’s perfectly sweet‑salty, caramel apples with a glossy crackle, pumpkin bars that taste like Grandma’s best, and apple‑cider mini donuts that seem to disappear in seconds.
Wash it down with an apple cider slush or a hot cider. Either way, your cheeks will be rosy and your smile a mile wide.
Find a hay bale, share a blanket, and take five. Listen for the giggles from the corn pool, the squeak of pedal karts, and the gentle bleats from the goat pen. These are the cozy pauses you’ll remember on winter’s coldest day.
You’ll find cozy nooks near the food stations and plenty of picnic tables, so lingering isn’t just allowed—it’s encouraged. Share bites, swap stories, and plan your next round of farm fun.
Explore the Farmyard Beyond the Maze
The maze is just the starting line. Keep the good times rolling with wagon rides (yep, wheelchair accessible), the bathtub train chugging through the grounds, and our jump pad where grown‑ups remember how to be kids. Try your aim at the corn cannon, zigzag the obstacle course, and challenge your cousin to grain wagon hoops or two‑seater trikes.
Got a need for speed? Pedal go‑karts deliver instant grins. Little ones can wiggle‑car, dig into mud‑pie making, or conquer the kiddie playground. And don’t miss the observation deck: it’s the perfect perch to watch the colors stretch across the fields and to spot your champion emerging from the maze.
Gather Cozy Moments with Loved Ones
Fall is the season that makes togetherness easy. Families plan their “everyone’s free” Saturday, friends roll in with car‑pool playlists, and couples wander hand‑in‑hand between snacks and sunsets. Bring layers, a portable phone charger, and a small flashlight if you’ll be around after dusk. Then let the day unfold.
Make time for the little rituals: a group selfie with caramel on your noses, a quiet minute feeding baby goats, a slow stroll past the drying‑flower displays, and a “one more lap” on the wagon ride just because. Golden hour turns the whole farm into a postcard; find a spot by the rows, lift the camera, and capture that one photo Grandma will frame.
Make It a Tradition
Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch has been a working farm since 1878, and those roots are why it all feels so welcoming.
Over the years we’ve evolved from cattle, hogs, and row crops to greenhouses, dried flowers, pumpkins, and loads of agri‑tainment fun but the heart hasn’t changed. We still believe in fresh air, open fields, and the kind of hospitality that makes you want to linger.
Start your family’s fall tradition here or add another leaf to the memory tree. When generations walk the same paths—through the maze, onto the wagon, past the goats—something special sticks. That’s our favorite part.
Ready to Visit?
Ready to get lost in fun and found in cozy moments? Round up your favorite people, toss flannels in the backseat, and plan your day at Howell’s. Grab maze maps, snack often, try something new, and leave room for one last stop at the pumpkin patch. We can’t wait to welcome you to the farm and send you home with cheeks flushed, bellies happy, and a camera roll full of keepers.
There’s nothing quite like a fresh idea popping up just when you need it most. At Howell’s, we’ve faced more than a few farming curveballs, especially when prices and weather don’t go our way. But when corn started stacking up and profits started shrinking, we knew we had to get creative.
That’s how our corn cannon came to be—one clever twist that turned surplus into smiles. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s just another reason why our pumpkin patch is such a blast to visit every fall.
Finding Fun in the Unexpected
Farming has always been about adapting. Whether it’s rotating crops, tweaking greenhouse methods, or finding a use for surplus corn, the goal is the same—keep the land alive and the farm thriving. A few years back, we found ourselves staring at an abundance of corn that wasn’t worth much at market. Instead of getting discouraged, we got creative in turning corn into fun—something that caught the attention of many.
And that’s how the corn cannon was born. What started as a “what if” around the dinner table quickly became a full-blown attraction. The concept? Simple: take an ear of corn, load it into a specially designed air cannon, and launch it toward fun, quirky targets set up around the farm.
A Corn Cannon Is Born
When we first rolled out the cannon (no pun intended), we weren’t sure what kind of reaction we’d get. Turns out, nothing brings out the competitive spirit quite like a chance to shoot corn through the air.
The Nuts and Bolts
Built right here on the farm, our corn cannon combines a bit of physics with a whole lot of fun. Guests step up to the platform, aim the cannon, and pull the trigger to send a cob flying. We’ve set up themed targets—think goofy characters, seasonal symbols, and even old farm tools—for folks to test their aim.
We’ve seen families cheer each other on, coworkers go head-to-head in friendly competition, and more than a few grandparents totally crush it. It’s silly, it’s satisfying, and it turns out corn has more uses than just feed and fuel.
More Than a Laugh
What we love most is how something so simple can bring so many people together. It’s not just about launching corn—it’s about laughing with your kids, surprising your spouse with bullseye accuracy, or high-fiving a stranger who nailed the target. The corn cannon reminds us that joy can grow in unexpected places, even out of a tough situation.
Everything Else You’ll Find on the Farm
While the corn cannon might be one of our more unconventional creations, it fits right in with the full-day fun we’ve got going on every fall. There’s a reason Howell’s has become a go-to destination for families, field trips, and weekend wanderers.
Fall Favorites and Fresh Air
We’ve packed our farm with activities for every age and energy level. Want to climb, crawl, and race? Head to our obstacle course, jump pad, and pedal go-karts. Prefer something more relaxed? Take a scenic wagon ride, feed the goats, or explore our chalk farm. And don’t forget the 8-acre corn maze—it’s a right of passage around here!
Little ones love our swings, wiggle cars, duck races, and hamster wheels, while grown-ups can’t resist a good turn at the paintball range or a cozy spot on the observation deck. And yes, we still have that corn pool (just wait until you see it).
Tastes of the Season
Of course, no visit is complete without some farm-fresh treats. We’ve got caramel apples sticky enough to make your dentist nervous, warm kettle corn straight from the popper, and apple cider mini donuts that never last long. Add a pumpkin bar or cider slush to the mix, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect fall day.
Harvesting Joy
What started as a way to get creative with a pile of extra corn turned into something that reflects the heart of Howell’s: finding joy in the work, sharing fun with others, and turning every challenge into an opportunity to grow. Farming isn’t always easy, but the connections we make and the memories we help create? Those are priceless.
So this fall, if you’re looking for a new adventure, some fresh air, and a whole lot of laughter, swing by the farm. Grab a caramel apple, give the goats a scratch, and take your best shot with the corn cannon. We promise it’s more fun than you ever thought a flying cob of corn could be.
And hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to explore the pumpkin patch. Whether you’re searching for the perfect jack-o’-lantern canvas or just love the look of a wagon full of orange orbs, it’s a seasonal tradition you won’t want to miss.
