Vala’s entertains all ages

Laura Hahn

 

With One tractor, one hayrack ride, and one cashier.  Tim Vala decided to fulfill a dream. That dream was to own his own land and become a pumpkin farmer.

 

Tim Vala would pull visitors to the pumpkin patch with his tractor and then quickly run to the cash register to become the cashier.

 

 As Jan Vala, wife of Tim Vala said,  “Amusement parks are built in a day.  We build slowly.”

 

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is located in Gretna.  It has come a long way since it first opened in 1984.  For $7.50 visitors can enjoy pig races, a pumpkin eating dragon, and even a haunted house. Vala’s strives to “provide a place for family entertainment, where families feel safe and don’t have to worry about scary things happening.  There’s something for all ages,” said Jan Vala.

 

In 2002,Vala’s Pumpkin Patch won “Outstanding Farm Market of the Year” from the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association and it was also named the Sarpy County Small Business of the year.

 

The best part of working at Vala’s “is a toss up between it’s just so much fun, the owners are really nice, and the people who come here, come for fun,” said Vala’s employee Kathy Cordes.  Cordes works as Vala’s Hillbilly photographer.

 

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch opens at 9 a.m. the last weekend of September and closes at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31.  Between 120-140 thousand people experience Vala’s each year.

“I love Halloween and I love Vala’s atmosphere,” said senior Brittany Dodendorf. “ I really like the caramel apples and kettle corn.”

 

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch started out small and has now become part of many people’s annual traditions.  “I’ve been going since I was a kid.  I go with friends so it’s a lot of fun,” said freshman Brenna Curran.

 

Vala’s has added many new attractions since it first opened.  A few of them are The Pumpkin Creek Train Ride, Pumpkinapolis 500, Haunted Trail and Graveyard, Storybook Barn, Giant Sling Shot, Pirate Maze, Spook Shed, Campfires, Lost Pumpkin Mine, Peddle Tractors, and Hackberry Hideout.