Long Neck Pumpkin Farm bringing families and friends together for fall

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- At Long Neck Pumpkin Farm, the owners strive to create a family-friendly experience for all ages to enjoy this fall.

The farm has animals, hay rides, games, and a 'Grain Bin Grill' or 'Farmers Market' to have a bite to eat.

"We have families that come in at 10 when we open and sometimes we see them leaving at 5 when we close," owner Candy Longnecker said. "They'll buy food at the grain bin grill and just spend the day here with their kids and take pictures."

Kevin and Candy Longnecker opened their pumpkin farm eight years ago. Each year they expand, and so do their customers.

"We were at retirement age and looked at our land and thought, how could we utilize this and incorporate some of the things we already knew," Candy said.

Candy taught Kindergarten for 16 years and wanted to incorporate an educational aspect to the patch.

"A lot of the things we do out here are sensory oriented," Candy said. "Like the corn bin, the kids get in there and a lot of kids who have autism get in there and love that feel, that tactile thing."

She holds a story time three times a day and incorporates a book she wrote called 'The Lopsided Pumpkin.'

"It talks about, is it okay for us to have different things about us that maybe somebody may make fun of? And we talk about how it's okay to be different," Candy said.

Kevin has a landscaping background and enjoys creating and building things to re-purpose them for other uses.

Part of the character of the farm's physical structure consists of old cow trailers, tractors, hay wagons, corn bins, and a combine. Which have all been re-purposed into playgrounds.

"It's like this activity where kids can see something that's part of the past generation and incorporate it into their lives today and make fun out of it," Kevin said.

Even the vintage trucks on display have become backgrounds for photo-ops.

"There's something about pumpkin patches that bring us back to somewhere in our past," Kevin said. "We have grandparents that come through here and show their grandkids hey I had one of these when I was a little boy. That character is here."

"Just to see the smiles on the faces of the kids and parents, I think it's been one of the most rewarding things we've done," Candy said.

Long Neck Pumpkin Farm is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Schools are welcome to email the farm to schedule a time to come visit the patch during the week.