Prior to moving back to Yankton in 2015, Molly and Scott Nedved had become fond of pumpkin patches.
The couple became familiar with patches located in Iowa and Nebraska and noticed something special about them.
“They were doing business right, and at the time we were just customers of a pumpkin patch and never dreamed of bringing one to our family farm in South Dakota,” admitted Molly.
While family and farming brought the couple and their family back to Yankton, that didn’t put the Nedved’s visits to pumpkin patches to a halt.
In the fall of 2019, the Nedved family planned a last-minute excursion to a familiar patch in Nebraska, and a light bulb appeared over the couple’s heads.
“We couldn’t find something similar in southeast South Dakota, so we thought maybe we could bring that inspiration from the surrounding states right here to our own,” said Molly.
From that day forward, the journey of Mazing Acres Pumpkin Patch began. The Nedveds shared their first year in business was a leap of faith.
“In the spring of 2020 we had to decide whether we should move forward or not,” shared Scott. “By the end of the summer, folks were ready to do things that seemed COVID-safe, and with our open-air venue, it was a blessing in disguise.”
Publisher Alana Snyder and I made the drive to Mazing Acres to partake in an afternoon of fall fun.
The 25-acre farm is filled with over 30 various attractions for guests to participate in, ranging from Photo Ops, a 150-Foot Mega Slide, and of course, a You-Pick Pumpkin Patch.
“We have anything for toddlers up to adults,” said Molly.
Other attractions include a Corn Crib, Sport Tosses, an Obstacle Course, a Mega Bounce Pillow, a Potato Cannon, and the First Dakota Corn Maze.
“We partnered with First Dakota National Bank to present a five-acre corn maze,” shared Molly. “There are two separate mazes within the maze and they offer interactive and entertaining games.”
As Alana and I wandered through the farm, I tried to channel my inner athlete and shoot a couple of hoops at Bushel Ballin’.
I didn’t make a single shot.
SCARECROW COIN WAR
Along the entrance of the farm, scarecrows from local businesses in Yankton are lined up where guests can toss coins into their favorite. The scarecrow with the most coins will select a non-profit to donate all the scarecrow’s funds towards.
A new addition to the patch this year is Animal Town—a petting zoo featuring a Highland cow named Bubba, goats, sheep, pigs, and alpacas.
We caught a sneak preview of the newly introduced animals, and had the chance to pet the two new baby goats.
“The petting zoo will be a lot of fun for the kids,” said Molly. From now until October 29, Mazing Acres Pumpkin Patch’s
fun-filled Fall Festival is every Saturday and Sunday.
PLENTY OF PUMPKINS
Mazing Acres pumpkin patch grows 35 different varieties of pumpkins (plus gourds) throughout their six-acre patch.
Throughout the day, guests can stroll through the farm to enjoy the abundance of attractions, live music, specialty drinks, a beer and wine trailer, and pick out a pumpkin.
“The adults love to come and listen to the live music and sip on a cup of our Mazing Pumpkin Ale that we partner with Ben’s Brewing Company to produce,” said Molly.
Mazing Acres serves wine from Prairie Berry Winery, which you can order by the glass or try a flight.
“Our goal was to invite guests in our community and around t he area to experience a fun fall day wit h family and friends and bring t hem back to what a farm is like.” -MOLLY NEDVED
Throughout our visit, we experienced the attractions in full swing with kids having the time of their lives jumping, running, and laughing.
“We created this destination in hopes that people can come and spend two, four, or six hours here if they wish,” said Molly.
Scott continued, “It’s a way to connect with your family in another way.”
Mazing Acres invites its guests to venture beyond the ordinary in the fall with group outings. The family-owned business offers field trips, birthday parties, and corporate outings.
“The sky’s the limit in what the business can dream up,” explained Molly.
The Nedveds open the farm like they typically would on the weekend where business employees can experience the corn maze, hayride, and endless activities at their own pace. It’s the perfect opportunity to create warm fall memories with your peers.
For weekday field trips, classes can come out for an opportunity to see how pumpkins grow and learn about the variety of pumpkin shapes, colors, and sizes. At the end of their trip, each child will be able to pick their own pumpkin.
Mazing Acres is more than just a pumpkin patch, says the Nedveds; it’s a place where the community can unite.
Locals and visitors have been attending Mazing Acres to celebrate the fall season, create lasting memories, and introduce new traditions.
“It’s been fun to see the amount of grandparents that come out with their kids or grandkids,” shared Molly.
“It’s been great to see folks that you’ve seen in years past there and being able to chat with them,” said Scott. “It shows us that we’re providing a place where they have a desire to come back and that they value what you’re bringing to them.”
