I've spoken of visiting the Field of Dreams Movie Site as long as I remember.  Recently while searching for a slightly off-beat 6th anniversary destination, an announcement that the farm (and field) was going up for sale finally spurred me to put my plan into action. 

Know Before You Go
This family-owned site is based on the popular 1989 drama starring Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.  Delightfully, the movie site is true to the spirit of the movie in that it remains a "tourist attraction" only in the loosest sense of the word.  There are no reservations, no admission charges, and no structured tours or events of any type.  In fact, visitors are specifically asked to refrain from organized games to ensure everyone gets a chance to play.  Don't worry, the bare essentials - parking, potties, and souvenirs - are available.

The movie site is located in the middle of corn country in Dyersville, Iowa, approximately 40 minutes west of Dubuque.  There are two access roads into the field - one gravel, one paved.  We recommend finding the paved one! 

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The field closes for the winter so call ahead if you're on the cusp (November or April). 

Our Experience
The site consists of the baseball field, the white farm house and outbuildings (not open to visitors), a small souvenir shack, and a couple of billboards containing information about the field's history.  The cornfield surrounding the field, of course, is as essential to the setting as any of the above.

We arrived at the park within a half hour of opening time on a muggy Saturday morning and found twenty or so other baseball/movie lovers already in attendance.  Folks were meandering around the field, running the bases, playing catch in the outfield.  Bring your bats, balls, and mitts, as none are available on site.

Mr_chelledun and I took our turn posing for photos in the corn and found a quiet spot on the outfield to play catch with the mitts we lugged 5 hours from Indiana.  A half hour was enough for us to soak up the atmosphere and break a sweat before we went to take a seat on the tiny bleachers and people watch.

One thing I noticed and appreciated during our time at the field cooperative everyone was.  No one cut in line to bat or encroached on other visitors' portion of the field.  Anyone who wanted to run the bases could easily do so.  Parents would toss their kids a ball or two and then instruct them to "let someone else have a turn."  The overall spirit at the place was a very positive, mellow one, perhaps as a result of people feeling inspired by their memories of the movie and everything the site stands for.

Overall . . .
You probably knew as soon as you saw the subject of this review whether or not the Field of Dreams Movie Site is something that sounds appealing.  This laid-back destination is well worth a trip into Iowa for even the most casual fan of the amazing movie.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families