A Tale of TWO "Dreams of Field"
View of home plate from the corn -- Sorry, it doesn't really "tickle."
The "Field of Dreams" is actually part of two cornfields owned by separate families and part
of a minor feud that continues to this day. Right field and home plate, as well as the house
featured in the movie are owned by one family. Left and center field are (were) owned by
a different family.
For the purpose of filming both agreed to "movie magic" with fences, power lines and other
signs of the division removed. After the movie wrapped, the owners of "Left and Center"
returned their portion to crops and the power lines restored.
"Home and Right" wanted to keep the field a "ball field."
A Tale of "TWO of Everything"
Obviously interest in the movie and in the location lead to restoring the field to a complete
ball field. Owners of the house had people showing up as depicted in the movie. The now "incomplete"
field was hard to explain. And, finally, it became clear this was a tourist attraction and
a profitable one at that.
Disagreements continue to this day between the owners.
This is why there are TWO entrances to the field.
TWO separate gift shops. TWO separate web sites. TWO views about what's right for the site.
"Left and Center" is run by a management company and they sponsor the "Ghost Players" team
that makes a few scheduled games at the field. They added a maze next to the ball
field in the corn field as an added attraction
"The Movie Site," covering the "Home, Right Field and the House," is still owned (and occupied) by the
original family. They added a fence and retaining wall around their home to reduce the number
of unexpected visitors coming at all hours and times of the year.
Atmosphere: Still Magical
"Grandstands" by the field, "Left and Center" souvenirs shop on the right
Being at the "Field of Dreams" still yields much of the feeling of the movie.
Moonlight Grahams isn't (usually) found here, but there is a steady number of
families who are. During my weekend visit
there was a constant, but short, line of batters stepping up to the plate to try hitting the
pitches of whoever wanted to pitch. An assortment of fielders take their positions to
try to catch the spirit they felt watching the movie.
And one can feel something of the spirit of the movie here. People DO come since
it was built. There are no real ghosts to find, but there's a clear feeling in
the people there of the sort of "lost America" described by (movie character) Terrance Mann.
Visitors all seem to be happy and lost in the dreams that maybe it could come true.
Field of Dreams Movie Site shop
At least all can agree that there should be no fee to visit the field.
Most of the sites of "interest" are on east side --which gives it its "name."
You can't go into the house (it's still occupied remember?) but you can walk around the front
of it, the entire field and into the corn if you want. There are no fences separating
the two properties and, if you ignore the driveways, power lines and the white post, it's
easy to see it as intended one place.
Be sure to visit both gift shops. Each has its own collection of souvenirs and slightly different
approach to what the place is. Don't expect to feed the family a complete meal. You can get ice cream and popcorn
in the left field shop. For the 10th Anniversary (1999) the "Movie Site" sold a very nice program with
lots of details about the movie and "collectible" cards. Many of the items can be purchased from
the gift shops on their websites.
The Webmaster watches one fly...
...along with his memories of his father...
...who played catch with him the night he died...
...one night long ago in another part of Iowa.
This page dedicated to memory of Stanley H. Tyler Jr. (1937-1977)
