A pumpkin patch is good for grandparents bringing grandkids when every generation can enjoy it at its own pace, getting around is easy, and there are traditions worth repeating, and Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, just southwest of Des Moines, is built around all three. Families from Waukee, Urbandale and Altoona can check each point below in one visit to its fall pumpkin patch.
Here is what to look for, with what Howell’s offers on each point:
- Something for every age at once: a corn pool, a corn maze, a playground and wagon rides, so that, as Erin Conner puts it, “you don’t ever age out.”
- Easy access: wagons with electric wheelchair lifts and a wheelchair-accessible restroom, though most of the grounds are gravel and sod.
- Indoor restrooms, which Erin calls everyone’s favorite upgrade.
- A slower option: the farm market and gift shop are open without admission for anyone who would rather shop than walk the fields.
- Senior pricing: guests 65 and older pay $12 plus tax at the gate, and children under 2 need no admission.
- Photo traditions: the “How tall this fall?” sign and the pumpkin wagons, where families come back for the same picture every year.
In Episode 17 of Howell’s Farm Experience, host Mike Downer spoke with Erin Conner, Director of Family Fun at Howell’s, about why Central Iowa families make the farm a fall tradition across generations, and her answers fill in the details below.
How Did Howell’s Become a Fall Tradition for Central Iowa Families?
Howell’s grew from a typical livestock farm into a fall destination after Farmer Fred moved into dried flowers in the 1980s and started growing pumpkins around 1995, Erin said.
Erin’s own kindergarten class took the farm’s first field trip that year, and each year since, the pumpkin patch has grown and more activities have been added.
That growth follows the wider rise of agritourism, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library describes as linking farming with tourism to entertain or educate visitors.
What Do Grandparents, Parents and Kids Do Together at Howell’s?
Grandparents, parents and kids plan the outing together and take the same family picture under the same sign, some of them for 10 or 15 years, Erin said. “It’s common to see grandparents, parents, and kids all come together,” she said.
The playground’s “How tall this fall?” sign stays the same every year so children can be photographed beside it on each visit. “People want those pictures so they can see throughout the years how much their kids have grown,” Erin said.
Parents who visited as children now bring their own kids and share what they remember, like the goat that took one guest’s five-dollar bill right out of her hand in the 1990s. More recently, a man told Erin he had proposed to his wife in the dried flower loft, and she remembered helping set it up.
Which Activities Work for Every Age at Once?
The corn pool and the corn maze work for every age because each generation plays them differently. Little kids love playing in the corn pool, while older kids bury a brother or sister until only a head sticks out for the photo. Younger children run the maze, and teenagers race to finish all the stations of the maze game first.
“We have activities out here for every age group, so you don’t ever age out of the system here at the Pumpkin Patch,” Erin said.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach runs Visit Iowa Farms, a program that teaches Iowans about agritourism and lists farm destinations across the state. For a wider look at what a farm destination offers each age, see what modern pumpkin patches offer every generation.
How Easy Is Howell’s to Get Around for Older Visitors?
Howell’s is set up for most older visitors: its wagons have electric lifts for wheelchairs and the farm has a wheelchair-accessible restroom, though most of the grounds are gravel and sod, so shoes with good traction help.
Erin said the indoor restrooms are, a little surprisingly, everyone’s favorite thing. “Everyone remembers going someplace and having to use an outhouse, but not anymore because we have indoor plumbing bathrooms,” she said.
Grandparents who would rather not walk the fields can shop the farm market and gift shop without buying admission, and inside the activity area, admission covers the wagon rides and the corn maze. The farm stays open when it rains, though some activities may close if conditions become unsafe.
What Has Changed at Howell’s, and What Has Stayed the Same?
The attractions have changed and the farm feel has not, Erin said: the big trees, the white picket fence and the big barn are still there, while the attractions and food offerings change every year.
Since about 10 years ago, Howell’s has added a pumpkin cannon and a large playground obstacle course, along with the indoor restrooms. The gift shop, part of the farm since 1995, is being made bigger this year. “If you haven’t been here in 10 years, you’ve got to come out,” Erin said.
How Should Grandparents Plan a Pumpkin Patch Day With Grandkids?
Plan a day where nobody has to keep the same pace: let the grandkids run the maze or the corn pool while grandparents ride the wagon, take the photos or browse the market.
Fall activities run September 12 to November 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in September and October, so families who want this year’s picture by the pumpkin wagons still have time. For more on judging a patch before you go, see how to choose a good pumpkin patch for your family in Iowa.
Watch the Full Howell’s Farm Experience Episode
Watch Episode 17 of Howell’s Farm Experience on YouTube to hear Erin share the goat, the flower loft proposal and the other stories that keep families coming back each fall.
Ready to bring the grandkids? Check fall admission and hours before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a pumpkin patch good for grandparents bringing grandkids?
Look for activities every age can enjoy at once, easy access such as wheelchair-lift wagons and accessible restrooms, places to slow down, and traditions worth repeating. Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, Iowa, offers all of them.
Is Howell’s wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The wagons have electric lifts for wheelchairs and there is a wheelchair-accessible restroom, but most of the grounds are gravel and sod.
Do seniors pay less at Howell’s?
Yes. Guests 65 and older pay $12 plus tax at the gate during the fall season, and children under 2 do not need admission.
Where is Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch?
Howell’s is in Cumming, Iowa, just southwest of Des Moines and 5 miles west of I-35 exit 65, a fall outing for families from Waukee, Urbandale, Altoona and across the metro.
Does Howell’s add new attractions?
Yes. In the last 10 years it has added a pumpkin cannon, a large playground obstacle course and indoor restrooms, and this year it is enlarging its gift shop.
Can families return to the same photo spots each year?
Yes. The “How tall this fall?” sign stays the same every year, and the pumpkin wagons are a favorite family photo spot inside the admission area.
Mike Downer: Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Howell’s Farm Experience. Boy, my words are slipping with me today. I’m here again with Erin Conner, Director of Family Fun out at Howell’s. How are we doing today, Erin?
Erin Conner: Doing great. It’s my favorite time of year. It is fall.
Mike Downer: It is fall. It is sweatshirt weather, but I don’t even know why I’m wearing a golf shirt when I should have a sweatshirt on.
Speaking of which, fall traditions. Like sweatshirts and campfires and everything else, we’re going to be talking about fall traditions and why Central Iowa families keep coming back to Howell’s.
Today, what we’re going to be discussing is what has made Howell’s a recurring, multi-generational fall tradition for families across Central Iowa, rather than just a one-time visit.
Let’s get into this, Erin. How did Howell’s get started, and how has it grown into the fall destination that it is today?
Erin Conner: Well, Howell’s started—we’ve been farming since around 1856 out here. But we were the typical cattle, horse, pig, and hog farm.
Then Farmer Fred came along. Farmer Fred used to have a hog confinement, but he didn’t want to do that anymore, so he got into dried flowers back in the ’80s when that was popular. He grew that into the ’90s, and then around 1995, he started growing pumpkins.
My kindergarten class was the first field trip we ever had out here back in 1995. I still remember having a little picnic under the tree. It was really cutesy, with a little Hallmark feeling.
Every year since then, we’ve gotten our pumpkin patch bigger and bigger, and we’ve added more and more activities. We’re a greenhouse also, but we are way more than just a greenhouse. We are a huge pumpkin patch that people can make part of their yearly routine for visiting and having fall fun.
Mike Downer: Very cool. I’m sure that after all these years, since you’ve been doing this since your very first field trip, you probably see a lot of returning families. What does a multi-generational visit typically look like?
Erin Conner: It’s common to see grandparents, parents, and kids all come together. Everyone plans this outing. Everyone makes time to spend together and come out to the pumpkin patch to get that family picture under the perfect sign they’ve been using for 10 or 15 years.
We have another sign out in our playground that says, “How tall this fall?” and we keep it the same every year because people come out with their kids and take a picture there every year. Their kids get taller and taller on the “How tall this fall?” sign. It’s a tradition. People want those pictures so they can see throughout the years how much their kids have grown.
They also want to get the new experiences. Yes, the kids are getting older, but we have activities out here for every age group, so you don’t ever age out of the system here at the Pumpkin Patch. There are multi-generational activities to do out here all at once.
Mike Downer: Oh, that’s very cool. Why do you think fall outings like this have become a tradition instead of just a one-and-done activity?
Erin Conner: Every visit is for every generation. We have something for every generation to do out here, and it becomes a repeat year after year for the kids who grew up visiting often. They remember doing this as kids, and they want to experience it again.
At different ages, you appreciate different activities. When you’re a little kid, you love the corn pool and playing in that. But when you’re older, you like burying your brother or sister in the corn pool and trying to get them completely covered so you can get that picture of just their head sticking out of the corn.
The corn maze is fun for little kids to run through, but as teenagers, you want to have a competition to see who can do all the stations, do the game, and finish the game the fastest. Every generation has something to appreciate out here at every age and throughout their whole life.
Mike Downer: Yeah. I have countless pictures through many years of my kids in the corn pool where it’s just the head and the bodies, and then the corn angels and everything else they try to do without realizing gravity takes over. But it’s still fun for them.
My kids are now six foot and six foot three. We should get them out there and make them recreate those pictures, even if they have to be buried up to their heads.
Erin Conner: It’s going to take a little bit more corn, but the corn pool is a lot bigger than it used to be. There’s room for everybody in the corn pool.
Mike Downer: Good deal. Even a six-foot-three, 25-year-old?
Erin Conner: Yeah.
Mike Downer: Good deal. I might have to talk him into that this fall. It kind of sounds like fun. They’re going to fight me, but it’s okay. I’m going to come out there and make them do it—or else I’ll take them out of the will.
So, what’s changed about Howell’s over the years, and what has stayed the same?
Erin Conner: What’s changed over the years is the attractions we offer. But what has not changed is the experience that families feel down on the farm—that back-to-your-roots kind of feeling, that Hallmark feeling of going to that pumpkin patch, that crisp air, and that pumpkin spice feeling has not gone away.
We just have more activities now, so you can stay longer and experience that whole feeling longer.
Mike Downer: Oh, very cool. Do you ever hear stories from families about why they keep coming back when they come out to visit you?
Erin Conner: Yes, all the time. We hear stories all the time. Let’s say this little girl came back in the ’90s. We used to have these certain animals running around, and then she comes back with her kid and says, “Oh, I was here when I was a kid, and I did this. Remember this animal that you had? It ate my five-dollar bill. I was feeding the goats, and it just took the money right out of my hand. Do you remember that goat?”
The stories they come back and tell us about their experiences from their childhood of coming here to the farm—every year, I get new stories. People say, “Oh, a couple years ago, I did this,” or “Do you still have this?” or “What happened to this?”
Mike Downer: That’s awesome. I love the fact that especially with kids, their world is their world. Even though you see hundreds of people a day, you’re supposed to remember that one time they did that one thing, like the goat eating the five-dollar bill.
Erin Conner: There are some memories I remember.
Mike Downer: Give us a good story.
Erin Conner: I’ve been posting a lot of videos on TikTok and Instagram about our dried flower loft and the pictures and everything. I recently got a story saying, “I proposed to my wife up there in your flower loft.”
I started thinking back, and I was like, “Oh, yeah, I remember that. I remember helping set up for that little proposal.” I remember hearing the cheers up there. There are memories I do remember of customers. When they ask, “Do you remember when I did this?” I’m like, “Yeah, I do remember. Yes.”
Mike Downer: That’s very awesome because you’ve got a lot of your own stories. I’m sure there are families who are regulars out there that you’ve gotten to know over the years, and you’re probably looking at them going, “Hey, remember when you did this?”
Erin Conner: Yeah.
Mike Downer: That’s pretty awesome.
How does Howell’s balance staying familiar for returning families while still adding new things every year?
Erin Conner: We stay familiar with our whole family atmosphere right here. We’ve got the huge trees, the white picket fence, and the huge barn. But we change every year with different attractions and different food offerings.
Our gift shop has been around since 1995, so you always get that. But this year, we’re changing our gift shop and making it bigger and better. Every year, we elevate your experience out here. Yes, you still get the mom-and-pop feel, but every year is different and bigger with more to do.
Mike Downer: Very cool. I like how you keep your traditions alive, but you’re always looking to add new, fun, and memorable things for families. That’s a very cool business practice, which I love.
Let’s wind this one up here. Erin, what do you want families who visited maybe 10 or 12 years ago and haven’t been back to know about what’s going on at Howell’s today?
Erin Conner: I want them to recognize that the heart of the experience is filled with a lot more than they remember.
Since then, we’re offering a lot more. I know this is weird to say, but everyone’s favorite thing is the indoor plumbing bathrooms. Everyone remembers going someplace and having to use an outhouse, but not anymore because we have indoor plumbing bathrooms. If you haven’t been here in 10 years, you’ve got to come out. We have indoor plumbing.
That is one of the big things. Also, since 10 years ago, we have a pumpkin cannon now. We have a huge playground obstacle course that we didn’t have 10 years ago. We change and add things all the time. You should come back year after year to see what’s new and what’s happening at our farm.
Mike Downer: That’s awesome. That’s great advice because the experience is still going to be the same, but with a lot more added to it. You can go back to exactly what you did 10 years ago and do it again, plus enjoy all the new stuff.
Erin Conner: Yes.
Mike Downer: It’s still locally owned by the same family and still just as important to your family. I think that everybody, like myself—I keep talking about myself since my kids are grown—maybe it’s time for me to pull them back out there and see the new stuff as well.
So dads, I’m telling you, listen to your wife. Just go out there. Have a good time. Then, when you’re old like I am, make your kids go back out there with you, and you’ll look forward to the experience.
Erin Conner: Yep. You’ll be like, “Oh, remember when you did this? Remember when we did that?”
Mike Downer: Yes. I might even have to bring some of the pictures out just so they can recreate them exactly. That would be kind of cool. I’ve still got physical pictures printed out. My wife used to print everything. Thank God I got her over that one. She finally trusts technology and knows they’re going to stay in there.
Boy, I’ve got a lot of printed ones, so that’s a good thing. Easy access to making them recreate moments. Maybe I’ll have to go find some big-boy sweatshirts and stuff that look like the old ones.
Erin Conner: Get your pictures in front of the pumpkin wagons.
Mike Downer: Absolutely.
Well, again, Erin, thank you. I know it’s our favorite time of year. You’re ready to get back out there in that pumpkin patch, help those families pick out the perfect pumpkin, watch people get lost in the corn maze and giggle at them, and do everything else that you do around there.
Erin Conner: Until next time.
Mike Downer: Until next time. Thanks for taking time out of your day to do this. I know this is your busiest time of year, so we really appreciate it.
Everybody, grab your kids, get back out there, and enjoy the Howell’s Family Farm Experience. See you next time. Thanks, Erin.
