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Located just past Nine Mile Corner on N. 81 highway, the Munchkin Pumpkin Patch and Fun Farm offers families more than the average pumpkin-picking experience. Owned and operated by Roger and Dorothy Lawrence, and their daughters Christy Wilkes and Linda Bless, the pumpkin patch is designed to be a one-stop destination for Halloween fun.
Eight different varieties of pumpkin are planted on five acres, including the Cinderella variety, which Dorothy Lawrence said has become very popular for use in baking.
Along with offering pumpkin picking, Munchkin also has a hay bail maze, a mini-golf course, mini-pumpkin slingshots, Halloween-themed ring toss, and tall slipper slides.
The original idea for the pumpkin patch came from the Lawrence’s daughter, Christy. She was unhappy with the lack of family-friendly activities close by, and started talking with her parents about the possibility of putting together the patch.
“I don’t think she really though about how much hard work everything would take,” said Dorothy Lawrence, jokingly.Now in it’s third year, Munchkin Pumpkin Patch has grown considerably in popularity. The patch had 800 visitors it’s first year in business; Roger Lawrence said they are expecting two thousand this year. “It just grows each year,” he said.
Munchkin is unique in that they are one of only a handful of pumpkin patches in the state that actually allows visitors to cut their pumpkin off the vine. According to Lawrence, most patches ship in their product, leaving customers to choose their pumpkin from a box.
Figuring they would need some coaching, the Lawrences approached the former owners of Pumpkin Junction, a pumpkin patch that had operated in Wichita for many years. The veteran pumpkin farmers walked the family through the somewhat daunting process. The Lawrences even bought some of Pumpkin Junction’s equipment, including a handicapped-accessible tractor wagon for customers with special needs.
“We had a big learning curve,” said Lawrence.
Munchkin likes to put their focus on the more family-oriented aspects of Halloween, other than the horror and gore angle that some pumpkin patches feature.
“There’s a place for that,” said Lawrence. “Just not here. ”Work for the Lawrence family starts several months before they officially open for business. The seeds for each pumpkin are planted at the end of May, and tended to all summer. Construction on the various attractions takes about a month and usually starts at the end of August.
Roger Lawrence said they like to add at least a couple of new attractions each year, with work on a wooden fort for the next season having already started.
Also new this year was the Moonlight Madness special. Aimed at couples, the event featured a fireside picnic and pumpkin picking under the stars.
“We are always working on things. We plan on being here for a while,” said Lawrence. Munchkin Pumpkin Patch and Fun Farm is open 10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., Wednesday through Saturday until they close for the season on October 29.
Located just past Nine Mile Corner on N. 81 highway, the Munchkin Pumpkin Patch and Fun Farm offers families more than the average pumpkin-picking experience. Owned and operated by Roger and Dorothy Lawrence, and their daughters Christy Wilkes and Linda Bless, the pumpkin patch is designed to be a one-stop destination for Halloween fun.
Eight different varieties of pumpkin are planted on five acres, including the Cinderella variety, which Dorothy Lawrence said has become very popular for use in baking.
Along with offering pumpkin picking, Munchkin also has a hay bail maze, a mini-golf course, mini-pumpkin slingshots, Halloween-themed ring toss, and tall slipper slides.
The original idea for the pumpkin patch came from the Lawrence’s daughter, Christy. She was unhappy with the lack of family-friendly activities close by, and started talking with her parents about the possibility of putting together the patch.
“I don’t think she really though about how much hard work everything would take,” said Dorothy Lawrence, jokingly.Now in it’s third year, Munchkin Pumpkin Patch has grown considerably in popularity. The patch had 800 visitors it’s first year in business; Roger Lawrence said they are expecting two thousand this year. “It just grows each year,” he said.
Munchkin is unique in that they are one of only a handful of pumpkin patches in the state that actually allows visitors to cut their pumpkin off the vine. According to Lawrence, most patches ship in their product, leaving customers to choose their pumpkin from a box.
Figuring they would need some coaching, the Lawrences approached the former owners of Pumpkin Junction, a pumpkin patch that had operated in Wichita for many years. The veteran pumpkin farmers walked the family through the somewhat daunting process. The Lawrences even bought some of Pumpkin Junction’s equipment, including a handicapped-accessible tractor wagon for customers with special needs.
“We had a big learning curve,” said Lawrence.
Munchkin likes to put their focus on the more family-oriented aspects of Halloween, other than the horror and gore angle that some pumpkin patches feature.
“There’s a place for that,” said Lawrence. “Just not here. ”Work for the Lawrence family starts several months before they officially open for business. The seeds for each pumpkin are planted at the end of May, and tended to all summer. Construction on the various attractions takes about a month and usually starts at the end of August.
Roger Lawrence said they like to add at least a couple of new attractions each year, with work on a wooden fort for the next season having already started.
Also new this year was the Moonlight Madness special. Aimed at couples, the event featured a fireside picnic and pumpkin picking under the stars.
“We are always working on things. We plan on being here for a while,” said Lawrence. Munchkin Pumpkin Patch and Fun Farm is open 10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., Wednesday through Saturday until they close for the season on October 29.
