Located 10 miles west of Carlisle, PA, you’ll find Meadowbrooke Gourds, the largest manufacturer of hand-crafted gourds in the world. However, there are plenty of other reasons to visit this spot including several annual festivals and one of the largest sunflower fields in Pennsylvania.
Meadowbrooke Gourds has been operating on their 200-acre farm near the Conodoguinet Creek in Cumberland County since 1996. Today, they have a year-round gift shop that showcases the incredible pieces of art created by their on-site artisans from the gooseneck gourds that they grow on the property.
Waking through the gift shop is truly a fabulous experience if you appreciate art as their work is truly remarkable and, in my opinion, quite affordable for what it is.
For those looking for something more active, they sell kits to build your own design. They also have a room full of dried but otherwise unfinished gourds for those really looking to make something unique from scratch.
Every Tuesday at 2pm, Meadowbrooke Gourds even offers free tours of their production facility. This isn’t something that I’ve had a chance to do yet, but I definitely want to return at some point to get a closer look at how these pieces of art are made.
My favorite part of visiting Meadowbrooke Gourds, however, is walking their property during the summer and fall. From early September through mid-October, the farm is home to a 50-acre sunflower field (planted at multiple times to ensure a long season), a pumpkin patch, and a few acres field of cosmos flowers (which are also there during the summertime).
The sunflower field here is definitely among the largest in Pennsylvania (though it is much smaller than Lesher’s Sunflower Field 40 minutes to the south). It also might be the latest blooming large field in the state, which means you can get one last dose of summertime flowers here into early October.
When this field is bloom, visitors can walk through it from dawn to dusk each day, and you’re even allowed to pick flowers for free!
The sunflower field is highlighted by their annual Sunflower Festival held on the 4th weekend in September. This event includes live music, activities, vendors, and much more. However, if you’re looking to enjoy the field in a peaceful setting or to get photos, visiting outside of this weekend is probably better.
Fortunately, there are enough sunflowers and cosmos that even after the event weekend, there are usually plenty to be seen and picked.
During the year, Meadowbrooke Gourds has a Sprint Festival and a Summer Celebration, which both include an Oops Sale that allows you to purchase some great pieces at a good discount.
Of course, you can also visit any time of the year to enjoy the shop, as well as the three charming gourd cottages that dot the field near the gift shop and make excellent backgrounds for photos.
Overall, Meadowbrooke Gourds is a really fun spot to visit. Whether you come to check out this fabulous pieces of art, to enjoy their beautiful flower fields, or to check out an event, this is definitely a unique spot to check out in the Cumberland Valley.
Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out the covered bridges of Cumberland County, the Cumberland County Historical Society Museum, and Hammonds Rocks.
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