Fall Fun at Center Grove Orchard: Tips and Tricks Before You Go
Center Grove Orchard, 30 minutes north of the metro, is so much more than a place to pick apples and pumpkins; it truly feels like a fall farm-themed amusement park. It is a perfect place for families with little kids and teenagers alike to spend the day having fun together. (Also I definitely recommend leaving the kids at home and having a date night here!)
Check out these tips for your next trip!
Before You Go
Here are some of my best tips to take note of before you go to Center Grove Orchard:
- Ticket Prices vary each day of the week. Buy your tickets online to get the best deal!
- If you go on Thursday at 2 p.m., or later, the tickets are Buy One Get One Free at the gate.
- Every August they have a 48-hour sale for their Fall Season Passes for 50% off which is perfect if you want to go multiple times Watch for this on their social media!
- Go on a weekday if you can make it work! It’s cheaper and much less busy!
- Have your QR Code for your tickets ready before you arrive. Cell service can be spotty at times, so this will help you get through the line most efficiently.
- Pack a lunch! We love that Center Grove lets you bring in your own food and drink. There are lots of different food options at Center Grove if you forget to pack a lunch. Our favorite place to eat is near Storybook Land. You can bring a blanket and have the sweetest picnic in the shade trees there.
- Go early! We got there close to the opening and it was perfect. Lines were non-existent at that time and helped my kids get acclimated before it got busier.
- Plan at least two hours to be there. We spent four hours and easily could have stayed much longer.
Navigating Center Grove Orchard
Center Grove is split into two main areas. I would recommend first to hop on the Hayride and head to the far North area. This is perfect to get out of the way when your kids are full of energy and excitement.
Tip: This area only has portable restrooms.
In this area, my kids loved the corn maze and the Straw Bale Pyramid nearby. They also spend quite a bit of time making huge bubbles and riding the Honey Beeline (a set of four ziplines.)
If your kid loves the Blank Park Zoo train, they will love the train ride in this area. It feels longer than the zoo’s train ride and you get to see all the farm animals roaming about.
After your kids have played to their heart’s content, take the hayride back to the main area. In the main area where you find the Black Gold Slides (three huge slides with potato sacks) and the two jumping pillows (split by age.) Near these, you can also watch pig and duck races at the Red Rock Arena.
My kids also loved trying all of the pedal tractors and roping their own steer. One of the many things Center Grove does so well is creating little areas all over to engage you. Often I saw my kids go to these little areas to play when they needed a more quiet space.
The highlight of this area is the giant corn pool! My kids spent an hour playing in this. It is huge that kids really can spread out in it and can find their own spot. One of my kids also really loved the slide that goes into the pool.
Tip: Flushable restrooms are located right north of the corn pool at the Potty Barn.
If your kids love Little Hands on the Farm, make sure you take them upstairs at the Discovery Barn. On the bottom part of the Discovery Barn, I absolutely recommend investing $3 to feed a baby goat a bottle. It is the best.
If you have kids who love using their imagination like mine, plan to spend lots of time near the One Room Schoolhouse and Storybook Land. My kids loved this area. The replicas of the Three Little Pig houses were a hit!
We heard from multiple friends to grab apple cider donuts as we left. This was the perfect cherry on top for a great day at the Orchard.
Enjoy Center Grove Orchard
Remember Center Grove is big! There is likely no way your family will be able to do everything in one trip. It is helpful to accept this to really enjoy each moment and not feel rushed. I also reminded my kids that we wouldn’t be able to do everything but we would have so much fun for the time we could be there and that helped their own expectations.
If your kids find an area they love, find a spot to sit down and take time to take in their joy and excitement! Don’t rush them to the next area. Again remember it is okay if you don’t get to it all.
Center Grove Orchard Details
Location: Center Grove is 30 minutes north of the Des Moines metro at 32835 610th Ave in Cambridge, Iowa.
Hours: Center Grove’s Fall Season goes from the end of August to the beginning of November, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They’re closed on Tuesdays.
Cost: The cost varies from $9.95 on Wednesdays to $18.95 on the weekends.
