Charlie Neff
Staff Writer
The annual Heritage Harvest Pumpkin Patch is in full swing once again in La Verne bringing family fun to the community.
“Many people don’t know about this pumpkin patch, but it is growing bigger and bigger each year,” said Robin Molina, president of the La Verne Heritage Foundation. “The pumpkin patch is a wonderful family experience and it’s nice for people to get to spend quality time together.”
With many cars filling the street just to visit the annual pumpkin patch, it is hard not to get excited upon entering the property.
Pumpkins surround the entrance, sitting on haystacks and ranging in sizes from gigantic pumpkins that need to be hauled off in the bed of a truck, to smaller pumpkins that can be carried with one hand.
Aside from the variety of pumpkins to purchase, it is hard not to notice the loud tractor towing a small wagon of children around the yard, weaving in and around the many orange groves that almost completely cover the property.
“Many kids beg their parents to let them go on the tractor ride,” said Mitchell Molina, who drives the tractor.
“It’s only $2 for the tractor ride, and you get a fun experience enjoying the ride around the property,” Molina said.
Various animals such as goats and chickens are displayed in pens for all to see and enjoy.
The most popular pen at the pumpkin patch that is always surrounded with children is the open cage of small fuzzy chicks.
“The children love to hold the adorable chicks,” Molina said. “It makes it a more unique and hands-on experience.”
Not only does this pumpkin patch attract people from all ages, but also people of different ethnicities and from different cities.
“We actually drove 150 miles from Ridgecrest to be here today,” said Amy Hillygus, parent of almost 2-year-old daughter, Avery.
“We came out to visit Grandma today and I asked her to find a legit pumpkin patch for all of us to go to, and this is the one she picked,” Hillygus said. “She did a great job because Avery is having a blast.”
Among the tractor rides, the farm animals and the many oranges pumpkins sits the peaceful and locked Weber House smiling down amongst the people visiting this year’s annual pumpkin patch.
Though it is a historic house, is almost plays as decoration covered in Halloween décor and similarly appearing that of a haunted house.
However, it must not be forgotten that the Weber House does nothing more but bring pure happiness and fun family entertainment to the city of La Verne.
The Heritage Foundation has made it their goal to preserve the Weber house and its 1.5 acre property located off Wheeler Avenue and Via De Mansion.
The Weber house has been a historic slice of La Verne life ever since 1914.
Now, it serves to the public being a hot spot for orange picking, summer concerts in the park, Christmas trees and their October attraction, the Heritage Harvest Pumpkin Patch.
The Heritage Pumpkin Patch is open every day through Oct. 30.
Weekend hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekday hours are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Charlie Neff can be reached at charlie.neff@laverne.edu.
