Half Moon Bay is known as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World.” In this beautiful little town along the San Mateo coast, there are so many pumpkin patches to choose from that it can be hard to pick a favorite. But for twenty years, my family has returned again and again to Arata’s Pumpkin Farm. I think that Arata’s is a perfect mix of a welcoming rural environment with a fun family atmosphere. Plus they have a fantastic variety of pumpkins and gourds.
An Interview with the farm owner’s son.
I visited on the last day of September before the October weekend crowds descended. As a result, I was lucky enough to get an with interview Manoli Gounalakis–the son of the farm’s owner, Chris Gounalakis. Manoli told me how the farm got started:
The Beginnings
The original owners were the Arata family, who established the farm in 1932. The Arata’s used to grow pumpkins as feed for their cows. One day their two teenaged sons were out in the field when a guy in a pick-up truck stopped and said he wanted to buy some pumpkins. So the boys sold him a couple of pumpkins for a quarter each. They told their Dad, who then said, ‘go out there and keep selling.’ So that’s how the pumpkin business started and its been growing ever since.
The Gounalakis family moved to Half Moon Bay in 1991, about the same time the Arata’s decided they were no longer interested in running the business. The two families started working together. “They taught us the ropes,” Manoli explained, “they taught us how they did everything.”
“We built a very good relationship with them,” Manoli said, “and they gave us a lot of free rein to build it how we wanted to.” Eventually they formed a partnership; and after John Arata passed away, his son Gary sold them the farm. This was sometime around 2007.
Manoli’s aunt said that they lease land all along the coast and plant different varieties of pumpkins. They harvest these and bring them to Arata’s Farm. Just that morning, they drove in two truckloads of pumpkins.
The Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze
Each year the family and staff build an elaborate two-acre maze made up entirely of bales of hay. Manoli said the maze was his dad’s idea. Originally they just sold pumpkins and offered pony rides and a petting zoo. But in 2001, Chris Gounalakis came up with the idea to start building a maze, “Because,” Manoli explained, “our family comes from Greece, from Crete actually, and there’s the whole mythology with the Minotaur and Theseus, and he said ‘why don’t we buy a bunch of hay and start building a little labyrinth out here and see how it goes?'”
They change the maze every year; it’s never the same twice. Manoli said they don’t use a blueprint, but they will draw out the big structures like the Colosseum or other large rooms. Then they start connecting it all and “as we build, we test it out–walk it–and come up with our plans as we’re building. So it’s all kind of impulsive, where ever we feel it’s going to work out best.”
When asked if anyone ever gets stuck in the maze, Manoli said “Yes! But,” he hastened to add, “we have emergency exits now. In the old days we didn’t, so people would be stuck in there forever, until they could find their way out. You’d see them get out of the front and they’d be all sweaty and their face would be red, but now people can get out.”
“But just the other day,” Manoli added, “a couple was here and they were in there for over two hours trying to get through. But the year before they came and they said they solved it in like twenty minutes. So you never know if it’s going to take a long time or not.” And they have monitors if you need help or want to leave through one of several emergency exits. “So if you have claustrophobia you’re not so worried or feel like you can never get out.”
There are rewards for doing the maze. Their website says that on the weekends their Minotaur patrols the maze and “hands out golden pumpkins to little ones (10 and under) who cross his path.”
Nine Months of Work
Arata’s Pumpkin Farm is a huge undertaking. Pumpkins and family fun is all they do. Their selling season is from about the first of July–for rides and activities–to the September/October season for pumpkins.
Set-up begins in April. Their goal is to get the maze up by the Fourth of July. “We have a lot of people come out in the summertime,” Manoli said, “and we’re still building, but they go through the maze and it’s really quiet. It’s a different experience and pretty nice.” Manoli said the majority of the people who come out in the summer are tourists, “maybe over half are from Europe that are just driving down the coast and they see our place and pull in.”
Sometime in September they finish getting the Halloween decorations and sculptures up. After Halloween they take everything down. Manoli said it only takes about three weeks, but there is also maintenance and repairs to take care of. “It takes a lot longer to set it up than take it down.”
Beginning in January, the family finally gets to take a break. Then they start all over again in April.
If You Go:
Location: Arata’s Pumpkin Farm is off HWY 1 (Cabrillo Highway) south of 92 and the town of Half Moon Bay. Going south, turn left onto Verde Road to head into the farm. The address is 185 Verde Road. The county does not allow billboards along HWY 1, so you won’t see a sign for the farm as you drive down the coast. It’s best to use an on-line map so you don’t blow by the turn-off to Verde Road.
Parking: on weekends in October there is a $20 charge to park, but the driver gets a $10 coupon toward your pumpkins. Weekday parking is free. Please note you can’t park along HWY 1 – you must park in the Arata’s parking lot, but there is lots of room.
Buying Pumpkins: They have wheelbarrows and wagons that visitors can use to gather pumpkins. Price lists and signage show the pricing structure (by size and rarity of pumpkin). They only accept cash and credit cards. Cash is encouraged on weekends as it speeds up the line. You can also avoid the 3% credit-card fee by using cash.
Food: You are allowed to bring your own food and picnic at the farm. They also sell some basic snacks.
Rides and Attractions:
Hay Maze
Haunted Barn
Hay Ride
Petting Zoo
Pony Ride
Train Ride
Play Land with Bounce Houses
For more information, please see their website.
I hope you enjoy Arata’s Pumpkin Farm as much as I do!
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