What clients say about Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge (IA)
Omg this is by far the best orchard/pumpkin patch ever it's perfect for all ages, there are so many things for everyone to do and enjoy. Only down fall was the prices it was definitely worth the admission price but to eat was pretty pricey especially for a family of 4 or more. But I will not even waste my time going to any other places every fall this will be where me and the family return to every year! Oh ya and the apple, Carmel, whip cream, donut cup is oh so yummy and was a fair price! A must go to even when it was very busy it was not too crowded it's a huge place. Best for 3-50yrs ???
Such a great visit! Easier to get around than I thought it would be as I'm not in great shape. The corn pool was fun just to sit & watch! The corn maze seemed like we might have caught it a bit late in the season, but was still very fun to get lost in. The tractor pull, the animals to pet, the food, and the entire set up is great adult family fun.
Lots to do, suggest getting there with plenty of time to explore.
We arrived at 330pm, and didn't have enough time to see and do everything before they closed at 7.
Apple picking is a must-do activity, just be aware it's not included in the price of admission - you buy a bag at the train station and then head out to the orchard. We went the day before Halloween and had to really search the trees for apples; I think if we were there a few weeks ago, there would have been more to choose from.
Overall, a great experience!
Halloween is our favorite holiday and my youngest (adult) child and I decided to celebrate at Center Grove Orchard. Buying tickets online was easy. The lines weren’t long, but that was probably because it was a chilly day. Several of the activities were closed down. We were disappointed that several of the food stands were closed or out of items. We would have loved to try the nachos, funnel cake, lemonade, and cold brew coffee but they weren’t available. We did enjoy the apple cider slushie and apple cider donuts. We rode the hayride and train, and found 7out of 8 of the signs in the corn maze. Our favorite activity was definitely feeding the baby goats. We left with gourds and baked goods. We are looking forward to coming back.
Center Grove was a great experience at an affordable price! Seriously fun activities at no extra cost! If you’ve been to Vala’s this place is much better because it has many of the same features, better walkability, much less crowd, half the price and no additional costs once they get you in the gates. A truly family friendly place!
Really fun time for the family and especially for the kids.
Lots of fun things to do with the children.
Pick your own apples.
Pick out all sorts of types of pumpkins.
Pick out a pumpkin and a pumpkin patch.
Really neat restaurant and store to buy unique things made at the pumpkin patch.
Parking is not too bad.
Such a great place! Clean and so much to do! Very organized! Lots of people working! Food came out quick. Everyone was friendly. My Grandkids just loved it! Thank you!!
My family and I drive an hour and 40 minutes every year just to come to Center Grove Orchard. We love all of the activities that are offered & always have a great time! Definitely recommend it to others!
Revisited, this place in 2020 when we first moved to the area and we visited again in 2025 , they continue to expand and impress all visitors. On our most recent visit there were a plethora of young people enjoying the sites and creating instagram worthy memories and images. Plenty of places to eat and get treats and sweets as well as their market area which has all homemade baked goods and other fall options. I wish there were more locations on-site that offered a corndog. Currently, that's only in the out field hayride area and the last time we were there, they ran out before noon. ? They offer homemade fries fresh from the field, Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, ice cream drinks, coffee, chicken tenders, lots of soft drink options, & applesauce Just to name a few.
Train, hay ride, Pumpkin Patch, corn maze, orchard to pick your own apples, apples & pumpkins call be 'valeted' to the entrance so you aren't lugging them around the whole time. Games, shows, fairy tale park, animal feeding (very safe), slides, plenty of places to sit all over the campus and much much more!
The lines move very fast and it can be difficult to find parking but nothing a little walk can't fix.
Disability parking offered right up front. No pets allowed.
I do have one suggestion , and that is that they might wanna think about offering a glow in the dark nighttime zombie paintball , potentially in one of the maze fields or alternatives. Even if it was offered 1 or 3 nights Close to the end of your season or around halloween would be amazing.
What it would take to offer this is? Of course, it's likely after 7pm, a hay rack that has paintball stations mounted to it, People being able to purchase paintball filler or just a package deal set up for groups.
In the field, you might wanna have a few workers that dress up in certain costumes and have pads or protective gear, as well as a variety of cutouts of celebrities or politicians in a Halloween decorated sort of way.
This has been a very big attraction in other parts of Iowa , and i'm not sure why the des moines area haven't offered it yet.
We absolutely love Center Grove! Our kids are older and still look forward to it every year! There is so much to do, and they have added so many things this year! There are expensive things at the concession stands, but their staples like donuts and COFFEES are wonderful and very reasonably priced! We always look forward to our yearly trip!
A must-have Autumn Experience
Center Grove Orchard is more than just a place we visit; it’s been the go-to tradition for our family for over a decade now. We've watched all the thoughtful additions and expansions over the years, and it's crystal clear that the owners don't cut corners. This commitment to quality is apparent.
The variety here is incredible, starting with the classic and high-quality apple and pumpkin picking. We also love the engaging, expansive corn maze. What truly stands out is the attention to detail: the educational elements scattered throughout and the opportunities for gentle farm yard animal interactions show how much care is put into the experience.
A trip wouldn't be complete without a visit to the famous corn pool. It’s a wonderfully sensory activity that both the kids and adults genuinely love. Before heading out, you have to stop at the well-stocked store, the fudge selection is the clear standout. It is expertly made and rivals the quality you’d expect from an actual, dedicated chocolate shop.
Center Grove Orchard consistently delivers unforgettable family memories. If you appreciate quality, tradition, and fun, you need to visit.
We get the season passes every year because the kids love coming. I have a toddler and a preteen and I can bring them both and have a great time. They love the corn pool, hay bales to climb on, hay rack ride, animals, pumpkins, pedal tractors, jump pillows, racing animals and so much more. I love that it's one cost and not super intense so we can do whatever we like on our own schedule.
If your family goes twice, its a steal to get the passes!
I love how customer dedicated they are. You can tell they want everyone to enjoy their time there by how friendly the staff are and how cared for the property is. We had a private birthday event there, and their customer service and facilities went beyond our expectations. We will be making this an annual tradition now. Thanks, Center Grove, for all the memories!
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Five stars for Center Grove Orchard! The corn pool alone was worth the trip ?? The kids loved it, the adults turned into kids again, and we’re still finding kernels in our clothes. 10/10 would absolutely get lost in the maze again. ???
I brought my grandkids to the Center Grove Friday. It was a beautiful day weather wise and the kids had a blast. There’s so much more to see and do that we didn’t get to but we will be back!
Center Grove Orchard is a great place to visit. It is good for kids and adults. We enjoyed picking our own apples, although we don't know which apple is which since we picked a full peck. No biggie.
There's so much to do here, especially for kids. It can be a little speedy, but fun. From a slude, jumping bean, storybook Orchard, animals, flowers, train ride, hayride, and apples! Fun things in the store too.
There are SO many things to do! We were there 4 hours and didn't do everything! Our visit was in September and the pumpkin patch wasn't open yet. My nephew enjoyed the activities and I enjoyed the animals!
We went for opening day. The attractions are decent but my kids don’t find a majority of it entertaining, it just seems to lack in some way I can’t describe.
My biggest gripe is the food service. We waited 15 minutes in line with one family in front of ours, and then proceeded to wait 20 minutes after ordering for the last item we ordered (pulled pork sandwich).
By the time it came out our entire group had eaten and the sandwich had barely any meat on it for $16. I heard them commenting about a thermometer not working while I was waiting and couldn’t understand how difficult it was to put a scoop of meat on a bun.
Fast forward 12 hours and I had food poising that lasted all night. I am 100% sure it was that sandwich and that the staff aren’t trained properly to serve the 5 basic meals they have on the menu.
Very cute! Perfect for kids and families. They had an area to feed animals and a cool corn pit. I loved how they had a pink and purple tractor for photo ops and not just green; my daughter was very happy about that!!!
1 strawberry bucket was $20 and you fill it as full as you’d like! The hay ride on the way back smelled like fresh jam with everyone’s buckets ? Nothing bad to say 10/10
Cost 61.80 together in and another 45 for a gallon of strawberries. That's 2 kids 8 and 14,1 adult and I senior. We went late as they close everything at 2. But it is well worth the money for being able to spend time with family, doing something fun. They have toys for kids to play on and a big indoor shop and evan a place to eat.
I love Center Grove! I enjoy going to see all the animals including the kittens, and puppies. I can spend an entire day here without even realizing how much time has gone by. The owner is super sweet and friendly to all. I've never seen anyone having a bad time and it's super kid friendly. Getting to pick strawberries will be one of my all time favorite things to do there!!
Really fun place for everyone. It is centered more towards families with children, but can be a really fun date thing to go visit with someone special or with friends. Feeding the baby goats was fun and cute, and seeing and petting the animals was a joy. The flower patches are really pretty, and the apples we picked were so delicious.
For a fun filled date day or family day this place is perfect. When we were there, it was coming into the last days for the flower fields (sunflowers and zinnias). I still got a bunch of super pretty flowers. we picked our own pumpkins and picked a bag of apples. They even had activities for adults and children to keep you busy all day.
