BOARDMAN, Ore.-Fall is finally here, which means it’s pumpkin season, and opening day at the Taylor Pumpkin Patch in Boardman is October 5.
Offering over 100 varieties of pumpkins, from one to 150 pounds, in just about every color under the rainbow, as well as favorite fall activities, the Taylor Pumpkin Patch has something for everyone.
Taylor Family Farms is a third-generation family farm that grows just about everything from hay, corn, grass seed, and carrots, to cherries, apples, pears, peaches, and more, but this is the fifth year that Emily Taylor has run the pumpkin patch.
“My dad was given some seeds and planted them in the top corner of the farm years ago,” said Taylor. “At harvest time, he gave them away to FFA kids. If they’d help cut and load, they could sell them.”
From there, the operation grew, moving from the back corner to the front of the Taylor farm, and Emily moved home and took over the pumpkin business.
“I’m in charge, he just pays for everything,” Taylor says of working with her father, who helps out with the patch. The two also have a friendly wager over which variety of pumpkin will sell best this season.
Taylor Pumpkin Patch
Now in its fifth fall, the Taylor Pumpkin Patch should see about 10,000 pumpkins spread across its one-and-a-half acres, including plenty of traditional orange pumpkins, perfect for carving.
“I like a big, round, solid circle with good stems for gripping,” Taylor said, of choosing a good pumpkin. “Another good rule, especially for kids picking out a pumpkin, is to not get one bigger than your head.”
The Taylor Pumpkin Patch also offers green, blue, red, white, gray, pink, black, yellow, and tan pumpkins if the traditional orange hue is not your style.
“I just love seeing all the different varieties out here,” said Taylor. “We’ve got every color except purple, and that’s only because a purple pumpkin doesn’t exist yet.”
Taylor also grows some prizewinner varieties, including Atlantic Giants, that can grow to over 110 pounds.
Pumpkins at the Taylor Pumpkin Patch are $0.50 cents a pound, mini pumpkins are $1 each, and anything over 30 pounds is $20.
Fall Fun
Fall festivities at the Taylor Pumpkin Patch include a corn maze, haunted house, an apple slingshot and pumpkin cannon, a zipline and corn pits, as well as tractor rides and photo opportunities.
“Just look for wheel tracks now, and after the harvest, just follow the grain lines,” said Taylor, of the four-acre corn maze designed and built by her dad.
The pumpkin cannon was also built by her dad and has the capability of launching a pumpkin about 1,400 feet, although they’ve had to reign it back a bit in recent years due to space constraints, according to Taylor.
The haunted house is popular throughout October, and the zipline, corn pits and tractor rides are favorites with kids.
Fire pits are available to rent at Taylor Pumpkin Patch for $50 for three hours and event nights will be held throughout the fall, including Wine Night on October 18 and Bro’s, Brats, Brews on October 25.
On November 1, the patch will host a truckload pickup sale, where all the pumpkins you can fit in your car or truck are $20.
Opening day at Taylor Pumpkin Patch is October 5.
“We’re a small, local family farm, but with the variety of pumpkins and all the activities that we have, we try to make the experience special,” said Taylor.
Taylor Pumpkin Patch hours and prices
Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 3:30 until dark.
Admission is $5 and children under 3 are free.
The haunted maze and zipline are $5 per person and a bag of apples for the sling shot is also $5.
Taylor Pumpkin Patch is located at 79115 Root Lane in Boardman.
