KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Faulkner's Pumpkin Farm and Ranch is ready for fall. The pumpkin supply is plentiful. The kids are happy. But the ranch isn't all about pumpkins. It's about having fun.
“We have all types of interactive activities out in the play area, a giant play area,” owner Bob Faulkner explains. “It's great to see kids having fun with their parents.”
The Faulkner family just relocated to a new 20 acre location in South Kansas City. For years, they ran the old Benjamin Ranch in Lee's Summit -- which is closing. They combined their pumpkin farm with the party facilities of the ranch.
Faulkner’s daughter, Christine Loneman, is proud to show off their new digs: “We have the brand new picnic pavilion for seating and eating. We also have the inside corporate part facility. And then we have permanent structures like our new western themed playground.”
During pumpkin season, the ranch offers added attractions for the kids. On weekdays, they're busy with school field trips. Weekends are filled with families. Besides games and activities, there is also a field maze and a petting zoo filled with all sorts of friends.
Of course no visit is complete without the selection of the great pumpkin. They have all shapes and sizes. There’s also a wash station where kids can shine up their prize pumpkin before the ride home.
For many metro families, a visit to Faulkner's is an annual event. “Each year they come back for the same pumpkin photo,” Loneman says. “It's kind of like Santa Claus, where they have that same photo every season.”
When pumpkin season ends on Oct. 30, they'll continue to play host to groups and businesses looking for that perfect party spot. They’re currently working on adding birthday party rooms, and plan to add a second party facility in the coming years.
“This is our dream,” Faulkner says. “I hope my kids carry on for years to come.”
For more information on Faulkner's Ranch and Pumpkin Farm, visit their
Web site.
