For the first time in over 25 years, WillyTee’s Pumpkin Patch in Chehalis will be pumpkin-less for the Halloween season.
Farm owner Bill Teitzel announced in June that he would not be planting pumpkins this year in order to tend to family obligations and “take it easy this summer and fall for a change,” he said.
“After more than 25 years of growing pumpkins all summer long, I’m going to take it easy. It just gets more difficult each year I get older, and it’s time to heal both me and my overworked fields,” Teitzel said in a June 10 Facebook post.
Teitzel has not yet decided what future seasons will look like for WillyTee’s Pumpkin Patch, but said he’s “not going anywhere.”
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has brought their families out over the years. I’ve seen a lot of children grow up over the years. It’s been a blast!” Teitzel wrote.
For loyal WillyTee patrons in need of a new pumpkin patch to visit this season, The Chronicle has compiled a list of some options open this season in Southwest Washington.
To add other pumpkin patches to this list, email news@chronline.com.
The Pumpkin Patch
513 Goodrich Road, Centralia
Sept. 28 to Oct. 31
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Admission: Free to enter
For more info: 360-269-1783; linda.crockett@live.com; https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pumpkin-Patch-100064771054264/
Hunter Family Farm
7401 Yelm Hwy SE, Olympia
Sept. 28 to Oct. 27
Hours: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Admission: Friday general admission is $12 online and $15 at the gate; $9 online and $12 at the gate for military members and seniors. Weekend general admission is $15 online and $18 at the gate; $12 online and $15 at the gate for military members and seniors. Admission includes weekend wagon rides, the hay maze with the slide, the giant corn maze, the junior corn maze, the Jumbo Jumper, kiddie train, kiddie ATV adventure, farm animals and corn hole. Separate tickets are required for the Giant Pumpkin Slingshot, the European Super Slide and Apple Cannons.
For more info: HunterFamilyFarm@gmail.com; 360-456-0466; https://www.hunterfamilyfarm.com/home
The Huntting's Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Forest
600 Cinebar Road, Cinebar
Sept. 27 to Nov. 2
Hours: Pumpkin patch, corn maze and goblin egg slingshot are open every day from 10 a.m. to dusk; the haunted forest and flashlight corn maze are open Friday and Saturday from dark to 11 p.m.; hayrides run Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: Free to enter, tickets required for haunted forest, corn maze and hayrides.
For more info: 360-388-7920; https://www.facebook.com/hunttings
Rutledge Family Farm
302 93rd Ave. SE, Olympia
Sept. 21 to Oct. 31
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: Free to enter pumpkin patch, Spookley Story Trail and Ray’s Country Store. Admission required for all other activities.
For more info: https://rutledgecornmaze.com/; info@rutledgecornmaze.com; 360-357-3700.
