Schaake Pumpkin Patch

I wanted to find a place where I could take my daughter and husband as this is my daughters first halloween and my husband has never been to a pumpkin patch. I have heard nothing but great things about the Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch and I was very optimistic about starting a family tradition of picking out pumpkins here each year. This however will not happen because I will not be returning to Schaake’s. We reached the pumpkin patch late in the day around 5PM thinking we wouldn’t need much longer than this to find a couple of pumpkins. First off the selection was atrocious everything was either rotten or tiny (and when I say everything I mean literally EVER-​Y-​THING.) My husband, my daughter and I walked the length of a city block and back, and only found one tiny, decent pumpkin for our daughter. We were being rushed to leave because it had reached 6PM, we had our pumpkin weighed @ 3 pounds and went to pay. We paid $ 1.45 for a tiny pumpkin and headed to our car but on our way we got stopped by a teenager with a clipboard asking for a receipt. We were not given a receipt because our cashier was too busy talking with her associate. Regardless we got questioned, and practically called liars and theives to our faces. He said «If you had actually paid for the pumpkin you would have gotten a receipt.» We were tired, had a 7 month old and just wanted to go home. We were finally released to leave after the teenage boy noticed we had a ‘Free Bowling’ card we had picked up while at the register. Needless to say me and my husband were very disappointed. On top of all this we got home to find our pumpkin only weighed one pound. not three. I realize that some of this employee neglegance may have been due to the fact that it was later in the day and the employees were also ready to go home but having personally worked in customer service, I know that this is not how you treat customers regardless of the hour.
To Conclude: the selection was awful, we were treated absolutely awful and our daughters first pumpkin patch experience was absolutely ruined (thankfully she will not remember it). We will not be returning and will be highly recommending to anyone who cares to hear not to as well.

Schaake Pumpkin Patch is a great fall tradition for the family to spend time together and to pick up some quality pumpkins.
My wife and I have been going to Schaake’s for around fifteen years. Through this time we’ve seen their business grow and develop into a sizable operation. I could be mistaken, but I think Schaake’s is also the pumpkin patch we visited when I was in elementary school. According to their own information, the whole patch started as a 4H project for one of their kids many years ago, and now has grown to involve serious acreage on which they grow dozens of pumpkin varieties. I also have a special place in my heart for Schaake’s as they sold Mrs. R and me the petite pumpkins we used as centerpieces for our wedding.
The operation is fairly straightforward — head out to the pumpkin patch and pick out your pumpkins. Depending on their crop rotation, the pumpkin patch will be in a couple of different areas. They typically have several tractors that act as shuttles to give rides out to the patch, though if you’re feeling like a walk you can also just stroll out to the patch yourself. One recommendation I would have is that you should bring something to carry pumpkins in if you are planning to get more than one per person. The farm has some wheelbarrows that are used at the end of the process to take the pumpkins to your car, but they’re just for use around the barn and are not to be taken into the pasture. I’ve seen folks that come with little wagons or rolling carts, and those seem to work pretty well.
As pumpkins are an agricultural product and the patch is very popular, it’s a good idea to early in the fall when it opens, as there is a much wider bounty of pumpkins to choose from. They’re open weekdays, so early evening is also an option if you want to avoid crowds. On our recent trip in mid-​October, cars were parked lining the road up to the pumpkin patch for ¹⁄₃ of a mile in each direction, and it was _​very_​busy. When we first made it into the patch, everything close to the tractor drop-​off point was gone, except for some of the goliath pumpkins (those 40 – 70 pound monsters), though after walking through the patch we were able to find a number of good choices. Unfortunately, Mrs. R wanted a squatty Cinderella pumpkin, and while we were able to spot some bad ones that had been left behind (i.e. cracked, rotted, et c.) it appeared that all of the good ones were long gone.
Another good bit of advice for the pumpkin patch is to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes and to have on casual clothes that can get dirty. Since we haven’t had much rainfall this October, the patch was very dusty, and the breezy day was throwing dust and dirt everywhere. You’re also going to be clambering around in a patch where there are thick pumpkin vines all over the ground. A small pocketknife would also be beneficial, for when you find your perfect pumpkin that is still attached to the vine; you can brute-​force tear them off of the vine, but to get that good-​looking stem on your pumpkin it is easier to just cut it free.
Pumpkins are priced by the pound, and once you bring them back up to the barn, you weigh them and pay. In addition to pumpkins, the farm has other fall décor and food items, including kettle corn, hot and iced cider, and other treats. There is also a haybale maze to check out, a range where you can buy small pumpkins to shoot through an oversized slingshot, and some farm animals to pet and gawk at.

This place is gigantic. In addition to the pumpkin patch, they have cows, ducks, and chickens (I know — it’s a farm), a hay maze with a playground, and activities for kids. I came with a friend and our dogs on a sunny day, took them into the hay maze & walked around the pumpkin patch. We never made it onto the tractor, but we did buy pumpkins, priced at $ 0.80/lb. They had a selection of varieties, with a window explaining what each one looked like and what it was good for.

I really like that there isn’t an entrance fee and there are a lot of things for the kids to do along with picking pumpkins. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There are many verities of pumpkins available and the pumpkins were very fairly priced.

When you live in Lawrence, this is your local Halloween-​themed day out. In your reviewer’s many travels, he has seen more impressive pick your own operations, but not by far. First of all, at Schaake’s there are lots of pumpkins — you will find what you want. Second, they are well organized: there is a system, adequate personnel, and supplies (carts, etc.) to get the job done. Third, they have stuff: hay bale maze, cut outs for taking goofy photos, playground, porta potties, pumpkin-​themed books and gifts, tractor rides, yatta, yatta, yatta. In season parking is tight and one may need to park down the road and walk a ways in, but that’s because it’s a good time and a popular destination. Pricing is just fine (by the pound, so a super great deal if you want small but interesting pumpkins). Folks are nice.

Dog friendly and so much cheaper then other pumpkin patches! Also, loved how much space there is to pick out your pumpkin and tractors that constantly going around picking up and dropping off people in the fields. My favorite part was the KU pumpkin that I bought! :)

This was by far the best pumpkin patch I’ve ever visited. There was quite a large crowd there last weekend and we had to park some distance away. Once you get there, you can ride the tractor out into the field (or walk if you prefer). I really enjoyed that they had so many different varieties of pumpkins and they were all mixed together. You never knew what you might find under the next leaf. While there were many people there, there was plenty of room to spread out and the field didn’t feel crowded. We stacked our «short list» selections by the edge of the row and the tractor picked us up when we had made our final selections and were ready to go. The pumpkins were $.45/​lb which seemed pretty reasonable.
Once you arrive back at the main area with your pumpkins, there are wheelbarrows available if you need them. The pumpkins are then weighed and you are given a slip with the total weight. The was a cash register outside and a few more inside the main building. It was very busy, but they were pretty efficient in getting people checked out.
They also have some activities for the kids: pumpkin sling shot ($ 1 for 2 tries), a hay bale maze, some various props to take pictures with, and animals to look at.

What a great place! I know it is a bit of a drive but it is worth it. Plus, this extra drive may use $ 10 extra of gas but save you a ton on money since admission is FREE, unlike most pumpkin patches around KC.
We found five different pumpkins in the huge fields and loved every minute of it! There is a selection of over 90 different types of pumpkins and the fields are packed with fresh plump pumpkins. They charge per pound, 40 cents I think, and that is fairly good in comparison to other patches.
There are animals to looks at including interesting looking chickens and cows and goats. There is a playground and snack shop with pumpkin donuts and hot cider.
The FREE hay ride was great since my pumpkin was over 50lbs and I wouldn’t have been able to haul it back to pay by myself.
I would diffidently recommend this place.
FYI: This is a pet friendly outing so bring fido!

Well worth the trip this time of year if you want to «pick» your pumpkin from the patch. It seems they go through the patch every day and cut those that are ready.
Perfect for little ones who get a charge out of riding on a hay rack, looking at chickens and cows or going through a small maze.

It could be a little nostalgia, but this place is great. It is not Fall without a visit to the Schaake’s. I have been to other pumpkin patches and they do not hold a candle to the enjoyment (and value) found here. All the staff is amazingly friendly (this year the hayrack driver showed my party how to tell the difference between a male and female pumpkin flower).
The pricing is in line with big grocery stores and you get to pick from so many varieties of pumpkins and gourds that it is almost unbelievable. I love the squat-​y ones, the wart-​y ones, and all the others… this can provide hours of fun, tromping through the patch to find your favorite squash.
They have free hayrack rides to the patch, or you can choose from ones that they have selected and left by the entrance, if tromping through pumpkin vines is not your thing.
No matter how you get your pumpkin, be sure to grab some of the kettle corn (made on site) and the cider slush. Delicious.

This is a great place to celebrate the autumn harvest and get in the Halloween mood!
Schaake’s has pick-​your-​own pumpkin patches as well as a variety of already found ones if you are not in the mood or able to peruse the fields yourself.
Schaake’s also offers hayrides and cute photographic opportunities like the «How Tall This Fall?» mural.