Free admission, low-stakes option for families wanting to pick pumpkins without a gate fee or time pressure.
Free to walk in. Your spend here is whatever you choose — pumpkins, food, and any paid activities. That makes it a low-risk stop if you are not sure how long the kids will last.
Many pumpkin patches charge an admission fee in addition to pumpkin prices. Welch’s flips that model: admission is free, and you pay only for what you take home. For families with young toddlers or uncertain schedules, that cuts the financial risk dramatically. If your three-year-old falls apart after 20 minutes, you haven’t sunk a gate-fee cost.
Council Bluffs sits in Pottawattamie County in western Iowa—far from the state’s two population centers (Des Moines and the Cedar Rapids–Iowa City corridor). Weekend demand here is predictably lower than at patches closer to larger towns. If you’re visiting on a Saturday and want to avoid crowds, western Iowa is a defensible choice.
The farm grows pumpkins, gourds, and apples. That’s the extent of the published activities—no hayrides, corn maze, or festivals. This is a straightforward pick-your-own-style operation, though the research notes describe it as opening “its backyard to the community each fall,” suggesting a casual, small-scale affair rather than a ticketed attraction complex.
Cost math is simple: no gate fee, but you’ll spend whatever pumpkins cost per unit. That’s a known unknown until you call or visit.
The farm had not published specific 2026 opening dates or hours when we last checked. Yelp’s listing dates back to July 2026 but does not specify when the patch opens or whether it operates on weekdays or weekends only. Whether picking is self-service or whether you select from pre-harvested inventory is not documented.
Before driving out, call (712) 323-4723 to confirm:
Western Iowa weather in October is reliable most years—cool mornings (40s), mild afternoons (60s)—but can shift fast. An early frost or late warm spell both happen. Field parking at farm operations is almost always unpaved; bring closed-toe shoes and avoid visiting immediately after rain, when Corn Belt soil turns to mud.
This patch is small and community-focused, not a destination attraction. It’s best suited for locals or visitors already in the Council Bluffs area. If you’re passing through and want a low-key, free-admission pumpkin option with minimal fuss, it’s worth calling ahead.
October; weather turns fast in Iowa, and field parking is firmer mid-month than late September.
1–2 hours
Likely quieter than festival operations; western Iowa generally sees less weekend demand than Des Moines or Cedar Rapids areas.
Assume unpaved farm lot, typical for Iowa pumpkin patches; muddy after rain.
Not confirmed; call ahead before visiting with mobility needs.
You need reliable hours or specific opening dates—this patch had not published 2026 schedule details when we last checked.
No. The farm opens its backyard to the community each fall with free admission; you pay only for the pumpkins and gourds you take home.
Specific hours and dates for 2026 are not published yet. Call (712) 323-4723 to confirm before driving out.
The record lists 'pumpkins' as available along with gourds and apples. Call to confirm whether the operation is self-pick or pre-picked inventory.
2026 dates had not been published when we last checked. Check with the farm before driving out.
Admission is free. You pay for pumpkins and any paid activities.
17676 Sunnydale Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, in Pottawattamie County. It is one of 5 patches we track in Western Iowa.
We track 5 patches in Western Iowa, 1 of which are free to walk into. Entry here costs nothing, which puts it in the minority even in a region with several free options.
One caveat worth repeating: this farm had not published its 2026 dates when we last checked, while 0 of the 5 patches we track in Western Iowa had. Treat any date you see elsewhere as last year's until the farm confirms it.
There is 1 other patch we track in Pottawattamie County. All Western Iowa patches →
Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.
Checked August 2026.