It’s not hard for one to pinpoint me as a die-hard fan of fall. You can spot me sipping pumpkin spice lattes, snapping photos of the vibrant foliage, and savoring sweater weather. One of the most telling signs of my fall fandom is the way I behave at a pumpkin patch.
In short, I completely lose my mind and let my freaky fall flag flies. At Pumpkin Pete’s and Gwen’s Gourds, I let my fall fantasies loose and irritated David in the process.
Located in Perrysburg, OH, the pumpkin patch is owned and run by married couple Pete and Gwen Langenderfer. Eleven years ago they came home from their honeymoon early to start planting pumpkins and all they had back then was a tiny stand behind the garage. But, what David and I saw on our trip, was much more than just a tiny stand.
This was my first time at this beautiful pumpkin farm, and immediately I was smitten.
Walking up, there was a 24/7 roadside stand filled with a variety of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. One simply uses the honor system by placing money in an old coffee can after choosing what they wanted.
When we walked further up the pathway, there was an immediate photo op spot with crates and pumpkins and of course an adorable sign that said “Hay there Pumpkin.” We had Hershey with us and since he is pretty much my son, I made him get up there for a perfect photo. We actually made him do this a lot throughout the farm because, well, he’s just so damn cute and there were so many spots to take a good photo.
This was the farm’s season opening, so I was a little surprised there weren’t a lot of people there yet. It was mid-afternoon when we arrived and only a handful of patrons. I did not mind, though. I had this magical place mostly to myself.
It was a typical pumpkin farm with hayrides, a corn maze, plenty of games for the kids, barn animals that you could pet and feed, and of course pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins. What really drew me in however was how the farm was set up. It’s a wide open space, and yet somehow they made it look quaint and storybook like.
All the displays were well-thought-out and picturesque. There was a little nook of haystacks and blankets that was another good photo op spot.
Picnic tables were in another area with simple yet beautiful centerpieces. There was a small bridge connecting one side of the farm to the other. The water underneath the bridge tinkled like wind chimes.
Wild sunflowers bordered one edge, a tiny and adorable gift shop housed shirts, mugs, and a few home decor items. A fire pit was set up towards the back of the farm with large chairs made of wood surrounding it, and a giant willow tree stood tall and majestic over yet another photo op spot.
I would have loved to have been there at night and seen the fire burning fierce and all the Edison lights that were hung through the trees glowing like fireflies.
At this point, I’m literally twirling around this place and yelling how magical it is. I could have stayed there all day. David probably wanted to throw a pumpkin at me.
Each weekend they have a different food truck line up. When we were there, it was a pizza truck called Chef Rob’s Side Hustle. You could definitely smell the deliciousness wafting through the whole farm.
In addition to the food trucks, there’s also an espresso bar called French Press. I thought this was a little different, seeing as most pumpkin farms I’d been to have hot cider. However, I suppose you can just add it to the list of things that make this farm unique.
Photo Courtesy of Chef Rob's Food Truck Facebook Page.
The only downfall for me at this farm (and this is me being picky) was that I’d wished they sold the hot cider and donuts. This seems silly, but hot cider and donuts are part of the ultimate pumpkin farm experience, and I was just missing it a little.
Also, it is worth noting that this farm only accepts cash, a fact I was not aware of when we got there. So I wouldn’t have been able to get anything even if I wanted too since I only had a card on me.
Overall, I loved Pumpkin Pete’s and Gwen’s Gourds. I wouldn’t mind coming back by myself and spending an afternoon reading under the willow tree. My fall fantasies had been fulfilled, and it was a perfect spot to kick off this autumn season.
Pumpkin Pete’s & Gwen’s Gourds
- 10988 Neiderhouse Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551
- (419) 654-6304
- PumpkinPetesGwensGourds
- pumpkinpetesgwensgourds
- Cash Only!
