Papa's Pumpkin Patch
Celebrate the season at Papa's Pumpkin Patch, just 1.5 miles north of Bismarck on River Road. Since 1983, thousands of people have made it tradition to come to Papa's and celebrate fall. Let the kids run on the pumpkin-lined paths while you ponder life and visit with neighbors over a slice of fresh pumpkin pie with whipped cream. There are dozens of photo opportunities, including life-sized, real-along stories, the famous Bale Maze, pony rides, Slide Mountain, pumpkin houses, Sebastian's train ride, hay rides and more! We look forward to greeting you at Papa's!
Things to Do
Whether you want to sit a spell and enjoy nature, or burn off some extra energy, you'll find opportunities all around you at Papa's Pumpkin Patch! Most activities are free; some are only available on weekends. Be sure to check below to catch the details.
FREE ACTIVITIES (all week, all hours 12-7 pm): Infamous Bale Mazes, Slide Mountain, Touchstone Nature Trail, Log Jam, Great Pumpkin's Chair, Corn Crib, Bean Pot, Billy Bob the Cornstalk Horse, Papa'sville, Obstacle Course, How Tall This Fall?, Mr. Antique, Wee Zips, Kid's Kingdom and Corn Maze.
FREE ACTIVITIES (Saturday and Sunday only, 12-5 pm): Special O Trebuchet, Pumpkin Cannon.
ALL ACTIVITIES AT PAPA'S
Infamous Bale Mazes: This is clearly the favorite at Papa's! We use 800+ straw bales - each weighing 600 pounds - to create larger-than-life mazes that all ages enjoy. (Mon-Sun, free)
Corn Crib: You'll love Papa's creative twist to the traditional sand box. The Corn Crib is just like a giant sandbox, except it is filled with corn kernels almost two feet deep! (Mon-Sun, free)
Slide Mountain: Imagine slides of varying sizes and shapes placed atop a small mountain of bales. We're not sure what's more fun - watching parents on different levels of bales helping children to the top of the next slide, OR the shouts of glee as kids ride to the bottom and yell, "again!" (Mon-Sun, free)
Log Jam: Papa's Pumpkin Patch is located amidst an old cottonwood forest. As the giant trees age and topple to the ground, Papa has gathered some of them in a log jam where you can test your balance, climb from here to there and stand tall for a look over the patch. (Mon-Sun, free)
Touchstone Nature Trail: This 15-minute hike through the Missouri River lowlands is filled with trees, shrubs and a wide variety of grasses native to the area. In addition, you'll find logs to climb and bridges to cross. (Mon-Sun, free)
Obstacle Course: If you've got a competitive streak, you'll love our obstacle course! Up, down, over, under. and We've set up an assortment of obstacles to you can challenge yourself. (Mon-Sun, free)
How Tall This Fall? This essential photo opportunity was the idea of one of Papa's guests, and we think it's great! (Mon-Sun, free)
Great Pumpkin's Chair: When was the last time you has to use a ladder to climb into your chair? The Great Pumpkin's Chair is nearly 15′ tall, and half the fun is the climb it takes to get in position for another unique photo opp at Papa's. (Mon-Sun, free)
Papa'sville: Plan to catch up with friends here; your children won't want to leave the wooden play structures that make up Papa'sville. They'll discover a 5-car train, truck and hay wagon, tractor, combine and silo slide. It's good, old-fashioned fun and reminiscent of small town America. (Mon-Sun, free)
Mr. Antique Collection: Nostalgic, that's what Mr. Antique is. Mr. Antique pulls a 3-bottom plow, fascinating young and old alike with memories (or stories) of days gone by. (Mon-Sun, free)
Wee Zips: Designed for the little ones, the Wee Zips are pint-sized zip lines where adults walk beside toddlers and small children while they glide along a cabled trolley. (Mon-Sun, free)
Kid's Kingdom: This mostly enclosed area gives little people plenty to explore - Papa'sville, Mr. Antique, Wee Zips, Corn Crib - as well as lots of room to run. (Mon-Sun, free)
Billy Bob the Cornstalk Horse: He's one-of-a-kind and you'll only find Billly Bob and his wagon at Papa's. This is a ‘must do' for family and group photos! (Mon-Sun, free)
Special O Trebuchet: Thanks to friends of Special Olympics, Papa has a medieval pumpkin launcher that slings pumpkins at targets across the field. Each Saturday and Sunday, the pumpkin cannon and trebuchet compete for distance and accuracy. (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, free)
Pumpkin Cannon: The local chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers built a cannon for Papa's that shoots pumpkins (and other produce) several hundred feet. Each Saturday and Sunday, the engineers dial in their target and test their skills. And yes, they love an audience! (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, free)
Grandpa Al's Horse-Drawn Hayrides: What better way to enjoy the country than a 15-minute ride across the prairie? Two gentle giants (draft horses) will take you along a leisurely route that winds through Papa's Pumpkin Patch. (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, $2/person)
Pony Rides: Little people just love Papa's ponies! Four to five of the chubbiest, gentlest ponies you've ever met are ready to take children for their first (and probably not last) pony ride. (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, $4/rider)
Zoomin' Zip Lines: If you're tall enough to grab the trolley, then you're big enough to zip and zoom at Papa's. Please Note: if you are not tall enough to reach the trolleys on the Zoomin' Zip Lines, Papa also offers Wee Zips in the Kid's Kingdom and they are free. (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, $1/zip)
Sebastian's Train Ride: This half-barrel train is a perfect way for children under age 5 to chug around Papa's. Riders take a 3-4 minute tour of the patch. (Sat-Sun, 12-5 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, $1/rider)
Marv's Monster Wagon Ride: These monster-sized, re-purposed wagons are the ideal way to tour Papa's and learn about the magic that makes Papa's so special. Passengers circle the entire pumpkin patch on the 12-15 minute narrated ride. (Sat-Sun, 12-6 pm, Thurs, 5-7 pm, $1/person)
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