Kirtlan's SilverBend Pumpkin Patch

Elite '08

62

163

Paul C.

Sacramento, CA

Silver Bend could be great, but isn't thriving very well.  

The train and gunfights are really fun.  A couple banditos board the train when you start the lap around the corn-fields and then when nearing the backside of the main park area they start a battle on board and then jump off and end up with a blazing gun battle.  There is nothing like it in Sactown.

There are also hay-bale mazes for your kids (and kid-like adults) to run around in, as well as many 100 year old rusted out tractors everywhere to gawk at.

The food is okay - kettle corn, apple donuts, and things like that.  There are a couple little shops that aren't worth much.

The pumpkin field is huge - you will find that "perfect" pumpkin for everyone, and the pumpkin prices aren't bad.    

What this isn't - it's not Apple Hill or Disneyland - there is real dirt on the ground and no one with an MBA has ever been within ten miles of the place.  So, if you want pretty and nice like on the TV then this isn't for you.  If you like homespun then it's one of the better halloween choices in the area.

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Elite '08

171

96

Gretchen S.

Sacramento, CA

UPDATE HALLOWEEN 2007:

I have to admit this previously outstanding pumpkin farm isn't quite up to par from last year, but there is an underlying reason for it. The staff/owners are busy dealing with the Yolo County D.A.'s office, who is threatening to shut them down due to various permit issues.  http://www.news10.net/...

I sure hope things get ironed out and the family can focus on the farm. If you are at all curious or interested in this patch, now is the time to go. Unfortunately, this patch, which has been around for decades, may not be around next year. How terribly sad is that?!?!

This is a low key pumpkin farm perfectly suited for young children. I recommend going here on a weekday if you can.

My kids and I enjoyed the patch again this last Friday (10/19) and again for a private party with their Montessori school tonight (10/26). I still like the old-fashioned, rustic nature of this patch, especially by the light of a giant yellow moon. The drive to the patch itself along the river is enjoyable, and the train ride is a nice little treat.

There is nothing fancy or gimmicky about this patch and that suits me just fine.

Other pumpkin patch choices, if you find this patch suddenly closed, are:
- Dave's Pumpkin Patch (up the road from here towards West Sac) http://davespumpkinpat...
- Goblin Gardens in Natomas (reportedly very clean and suitable for very young kids, per my friend. Not a real "pick them from the patch" place, per se, but they do have tractor rides!) http://bastiaofarms.co...
- Fog Willow Farms in Wilton http://www.fogwillowfa...
- Kids Inc. in Apple Hill http://www.kidsincappl...
- Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland http://www.bishopspump...

Happy Halloween!!!!

END UPDATE -------------

*** Boooooooooop***  This is a Pumpkin Service Announcement. Bring your goblins here for some old-fashioned pumpkin patch fun!

- Pumpkins straight from the expansive patch (no poser parking lots!)
- Train rides around the perimeter (2.5 miles)
- Hay bale maze and pyramid (climber's paradise)
- Old-time blacksmith display with friendly chatty blacksmith
- Tee-Pee village
- Hay rides, rootbeer saloon, bakehouse, BBQ, and Wild West train hold-up's on weekends; special events on weekends with something new each week: bounce houses, face painting, wagon rides, pony rides, scarecrows, etc.
- Family owned and operated
- Beautiful drive along the Delta, just 15 minutes from downtown Sac
- Pumpkins with real character! Great selection and prices - range from mini-pumpkins to green/white pumpkins.

We went mid-day, mid-week, mid-October and had the place to ourselves. Fair prices; snack bar only charged 25 cents for a bag of chips. Busier on the weekends. Bring tissues, hand wipes, etc. FYI, no plumbed bathrooms, as of last October.

There is no reason to bring your little pumpkins to a grocery store or parking lot when this patch is so close.

*** Booooooooooop*** This concludes our Pumpkin Service Announcement. In the event you should experience a real pumpkin emergency, go to Kirtlan's Silver Bend.

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28

35

Magic M.

Sacramento, CA

I dunno about this place...
A bunch of us took my little niece for a fun pumpkin patch Autumn outing. We went on  Saturday the 20th of October, and it wasn't anything like I expected. I found it and it's employees a bit lackluster. There weren't even any Halloween or Autumn decorations around, like say... some pumpkins or ...SOMETHING.
7$ a person to get in. Yeah,  you get unlimited rides on the train and the hayride, but once was pretty much enough for everyone. The pumpkin patch was kinda neat, but all of the pumpkins were tiny and a lot of them were rotten. They did have bails of hay in huge piles that were fun to climb on and push each other into which made for some laughs. Another good thing was that there was a chick who could make one heck of a balloon animal, really cool ones that you don't see all the time, very creative. There were only 3 vendors. A BBQ stand, a root beer saloon (only sells bottled Coke and Root beer, the Root beer was  Weinhards so that's not all bad), and a candy store(10 penny candies for a dollar, and you had to buy 10, because they didn't have change).

I won't be going back unless they kick it up a notch or two.

Well I just got this message and now I know why it wasn't that great of an experience. How sad. This is the message...
"The reason everyone seemed lackluster and such is because the county is shutting kirtlan down.  They came in and have told him he has to close due to some building permits and electrical issues.  They have been giving him grief for a while and he is through.  He is really sad.  The past years have been soooo much better.  Everyone in Clarksburg is bummed to see him call it quits."

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