San Martin Country Park is an enjoyable adventure for families
this time of year. The Park
’s Pumpkin Patch at 13865 Monterey Road has added special
features this year that will entertain children under 12. This year
children will see a fun, but not scary sight – Windy the Good
Witch, a radio-controlled witch that flies over the pumpkin patch
on weekends. There’s also the new Gian
t Pumpkin Wheel of Fortune, where adults and children can spin
their luck and win free “Pumpkin Patch Dollars” and prizes.
San Martin Country Park is an enjoyable adventure for families this time of year. The Park’s Pumpkin Patch at 13865 Monterey Road has added special features this year that will entertain children under 12.
This year children will see a fun, but not scary sight – Windy the Good Witch, a radio-controlled witch that flies over the pumpkin patch on weekends. There’s also the new Giant Pumpkin Wheel of Fortune, where adults and children can spin their luck and win free “Pumpkin Patch Dollars” and prizes.
“We cater to little kids, families and that’s what we pride ourselves for – our family farm environment,” said Lynn Ludewig, who runs the Country Park with her husband, Ken.
“I love it here because it’s family-oriented. It’s a family farm, and there’s so much history here,” added Lynn.
Ken and Lynn met in December of 1998, after Lynn had moved to Morgan Hill for a new job. She went to the farm with her son, Alex, then 7, to select a a Christmas tree for the holidays. The couple eventually married. Now they are a team, constantly working to improve the Country Park, to make it a destination place for families.
San Martin Country Park has evolved through the years from a prune farm originally purchased by Emma Ludewig Radley in 1920. Emma was best known for the Prune Shack candy kitchen in which she sold prune treats and nuts. During the Great Depression, there was a sugar shortage and prunes were a good sweet treat for families. The farm even attracted celebrities such as Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and even Liberace.
The farm was eventually passed on to Emma’s son Leo Ludewig and his wife, Judi. Leo, now 84, was born and raised on the farm. The original 30-acre prune farm expanded to 12 acres filled with 24,000 Christmas trees in five varieties. While the tree farm is owned and operated by the entire Ludewig family, the Country Park business is operated by Ken and Lynn only.
Ken has turned five acres beside the Christmas tree farm into a park for families year-round. People can make a day of it at the park. In the fall, families can select their special pumpkins and gourds from thousands in the pumpkin patch. Children can enjoy train rides through “Geyser Country Forest” and the Harvest Tunnel.” A Barnyard Zoo features friendly chickens, ducks and geese to turn a city kid into a country munchkin. A Mysterious Ivy Maze can challenge the little children and a Giant Bubble Machine can amaze them.
The park comes to life on weekends with live music on the outdoor stage, pony rides and a petting zoo featuring all kinds of baby animals. A snack bar offers old-fashioned treats like cotton candy, snow cones and hot dogs daily and barbeque tri-tip sandwiches on weekends. There’s plenty of room for kids to run and play and spacious lawns for families to just picnic.
Ken said the country park theme evolved over the years. He said in 1970, the prune trees were taken out and used as firewood. He planted cucumbers on 25 acres and supplied a nearby pickle factory, then he planted flowers for seeds, then peppers and later, pumpkins.
From adding a kiddy train, which he built himself, along with a geyser that shoots water a hundred feet high, Ken developed the country park theme for families. Today, the pumpkins are supplied by Spina Farms, but through the years, the couple has had fun adding new features to draw families to the park.
“I like doing what I do because it’s creative. I like making people happy and hopefully, in the process, I make money too,” Ken laughed. “Most of all, I really enjoy what I do. I can’t wait to get here each day. I feel good about adding something new each year.”
The tree farm celebrates its 27th-year anniversary this year and will await families when the Christmas season begins. For now, families can enjoy Halloween and bring their children to select pumpkins of all shapes and sizes for Halloween.
The country park has a barn, which also is rented out for weddings and other functions. Quite involved in community schools, the Ludewigs give out pumpkins at a discount price to the schools. They also host group and field trips for schools, pre-school, and day cares during the week.
Through Oct. 31, the Pumpkin Patch will be open daily, from 9am to 8pm. For more information, call 779-5436 or check their Web site at www.sanmartincountrypark.com.
