The first thing that springs to mind when people think of corn mazes and pumpkin patches around Portland is "The Maize" out on Sauvie Island. It's the state's most elaborate and popular patch but also the one most likely to force you into spending two hours stuck in traffic. Myself, I prefer the setup at Lakeview Farms in North Plains, which offers a maze, a pumpkin patch, a train ride, a boat ride with two robotic monsters that pop out of the water and, last but not least, pony rides on the weekends. Pony rides! Of course, I didn't think to take pictures of the farm's more interesting attractions so here's a few shots of pumpkins and some old equipment lying around:

Lakeview Farms offers a substantial amount of what Linus from Peanuts might describe as "sincerity." If you're looking to kill an afternoon between now and the holiday, you might want to head out there.

Now for a bit of local history that's a 180-degree turn from pony rides. After spending an afternoon out there last week, the family and I headed over to the Rouge Pub in downtown North Plains where we learned of the legend surrounding "Pumpkin Ridge Pete." He was a local hermit who mysteriously vanished from the area in 1977. Controversy erupted after three men bragged about torturing and killing him during a drunken night in a downtown saloon where the Rogue now stands, leading to signs being posted around downtown North Plains calling for "Western justice" if they were ever found guilty. The case remains unresolved over three decades later.

And, of course, the spirit of ol' Pete supposedly still roams the hills surrounding the community. RIP, Pete.

Labels: Halloween