Gretchen Lee – Staff Writer

When Pumpkinland closed after 29 years in business, Dordt Professor Mark Volkers, his family, and the Altena family took action to open a new fall tradition: Fields of Fun.

Fields of Fun, located just

East of the hospital, opened for its first fall season on Tuesday, September 5 to families in the Sioux Center area and beyond. It offers a variety of fall activities, such as a petting zoo with alpacas and sheep, pumpkin picking, hay rides, apple cider, works for sale from local artists, bonfire pits for rent, and, of course, the classic corn maze.

So how did Professor Volkers become involved in running Fields of Fun?

“After Pumpkinland closed, we wanted to keep the fall tradition alive for families,” Volkers said.

Volker’s wife helped run Pumpkinland for several years before it closed its doors last fall. The couple considered buying Pumpkinland but decided to open a new business that would carry the same spirit. Shortly after, Fields of Fun was born, operating under the simple mission to provide the community with “wholesome family fun.”

Besides offering the families of the Sioux Center area a place to make fall memories, Fields of Fun also offer activities that would be of interest for the Dordt University students. Every Friday and Saturday, Fields Coffee carries a selection of smoothies and coffee, and on Saturday mornings, pumpkin donuts are available as an exclusive item to Fields of Fun. Fields Coffee was designed with Dordt students in mind and, during Defender Days, the coffee shop plans to release a special Defender Drink for that weekend.

Some Dordt students have already visited Fields of Fun and have enjoyed the number of activities available and the quality of the corn maze itself.

“The maze was appropriately difficult and challenging,” says sophomore, Hannah Adams. “The whole family can have fun without getting bored or frustrated.”

The maze, which is in the shape of the Fields of Fun logo, offers a prize to those who find all 6 of the checkpoints scattered throughout the paths.

Fields of Fun is open from 10am to 9pm Tuesday through Thursday and from 10am to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays.