Agritourism & Farm Experiences near Boone, IA

Boone

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad has run excursion trains through the Des Moines River Valley since 1983, along 11 miles of track crossing a 156-foot bridge over Bass Point Creek. Its fall Pumpkin Express is a themed ride rather than a farm visit — no patch, no hayride, just a scenic trip timed to the season. The nonprofit also runs a museum, dedicated in 2012, and the operation draws more than 30,000 riders a year.

Boone

Timberlea Farm sits on SW Ringgold Street in Boone, a Boone County town along the Des Moines River known for its scenic railroad and river valley. It's a working farm running agritourism activities on the property.

Boone

Aaron and Jordan's Pumpkin Patch sits near the junction of Route 30 and T Avenue outside Boone. Beyond the name and location, hours and contact details aren't posted online.

Ames

DeMoss Pumpkin Farm grows pumpkins in Ames, in central Iowa's Story County, tied to the fall pumpkin-patch season common across the state's corn country.

Ames

La Mar Farms sells farm-fresh eggs year-round from its Ames location, then shifts into seasonal Christmas trees, pumpkins, and firewood as the calendar turns. It's a smaller operation built around whatever's in season rather than one big fall event, so egg customers can stop by outside of pumpkin and tree season too.

Madrid

The Cellar Winery makes wine from cold-climate grapes at its Madrid location, pouring in a tasting room open Friday 2 to 9pm, Saturday 2 to 7pm, and Sunday 1 to 7pm — closed Monday through Thursday. The winery hosts live music and weddings alongside regular tastings. Call 515-367-7777 for the current event calendar.

Granger

Iowa Orchard grows more than 20 apple varieties, including Honeycrisp and Jonathan, on its Granger u-pick grounds, with a separate farm market in Urbandale selling homemade pies, preserves, and raw honey. The farm runs apple picking from September into mid-October, summer u-pick berries by appointment, and a pumpkin patch through Halloween.

Ankeny

Van Dyke Sweet Corn sells sweet corn from its stand in Ankeny, one of the fastest-growing suburbs north of Des Moines. No independent listing confirms current hours or season dates — check locally before visiting.

Cambridge

Center Grove Orchard grows more than 34 apple varieties across 20 acres outside Cambridge, open for pick-your-own from May into June and again August through December. Beyond apples, the farm runs a store with a restaurant and online ordering, plus pumpkins, a corn maze, hayrides, and farm animals for kids. It's built for repeat visits across two separate seasons rather than one fall trip.

Ankeny

Bob's Aronia Field grows aronia berries, also known as chokeberries, in Ankeny in the Des Moines metro area. Aronia is a small, tart, deep-purple fruit increasingly grown in the Midwest for juices, jams, and fresh eating.

Yale

Pumpkin Palooza is a seasonal pumpkin operation on B Avenue outside Yale, in Guthrie County. Beyond the name and address, little is published online — no confirmed hours, so a call ahead is the safer bet before visiting.

Jefferson

RVP~1875 in Jefferson is a working furniture shop and museum run by master furniture maker Robby Pedersen, who builds pieces using only 1875-era hand tools and techniques. The museum side displays more than 650 hand planes along with an 1860s foot-powered lathe and an 1870s hand-crank ripsaw. Visitors can tour the shop, take a woodworking class, or commission custom furniture built the old way.

Maxwell

Maxwell

Colo

Little Stone House Farm sits on 200th Street outside Colo, a small Story County town in central Iowa. It's a small farm operation running agritourism activities on the property.