Field of Dreams (Dubuque County, Iowa) facts for kids
.jpg)
2012 view of the film set field, house and barn, looking east
|
|
 Field of Dreams
Location in Iowa
Field of Dreams
Location in the United States
|
|
| Address | Field of Dreams Way |
|---|---|
| Location | Dyersville, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 42°29′52″N 91°03′18″W / 42.49778°N 91.05500°W |
| Owner | Go the Distance Baseball (since 2012) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1988 |
The Field of Dreams is a famous baseball field and a popular place for tourists. It was built for the 1989 movie of the same name. You can find it in Dyersville, Iowa, in Dubuque County. Many people visit this special spot because of the movie and its connection to baseball.
Contents
How It All Started
Universal Pictures built the baseball field in 1988. It was made on two farms near Dyersville, Iowa, for the movie Field of Dreams. After the movie was finished, the baseball field was left behind.
Most of the field, including the diamond and the house, was on land owned by the Lansing family. But parts of the left and center field were on a nearby farm owned by the Ameskamp family. The movie makers chose this spot so they could get clear shots of the sunset.
After filming, the Lansing family kept their part of the field. They added a small shop where visitors could buy souvenirs. The Ameskamp family first used their land for farming again. But then they rebuilt their part of the field and opened their own souvenir stand. For a while, the two families ran separate tourist spots. They didn't always agree on how to run the place.
In 1990, a local farmer named Keith Rahe started a baseball team. They were called the "Ghost Players." This team would entertain visitors at the field on Sunday afternoons once a month. Their games brought thousands more fans to the field.
In 1991 and 1992, a company called Upper Deck Company held celebrity baseball games there. Famous baseball players like Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson played against Hollywood stars. These games raised over $100,000 for local charities.
A book written in 2002 by Brett H. Mandel, called Is This Heaven? The Magic of the Field of Dreams, tells the story. It explains how this movie location became a real place. The book shows how this special field still touches people who visit it.
A Movie Night Under the Stars
On August 11, 2006, a special event took place. A movie theater from Austin, Texas, called Alamo Drafthouse brought its "Rolling Roadshow" to the field. This group shows movies in unique places that match the film's story. They showed Field of Dreams right at the movie site.
A huge outdoor screen was set up next to the field. There were seats, snacks, and parking for almost 1,000 people. Only the Ameskamp family's property was used for this event. Before the movie, Kevin Costner, the star of the film, performed with his band. He played for two hours, singing original songs and popular covers. He even sang a song about Iowa that he wrote while filming the movie years before.
One Owner and New Events
In August 2007, Rita Ameskamp sold her part of the field to Don and Becky Lansing. This meant the Lansing family now owned the entire movie site. On May 13, 2010, the Lansings announced they were selling the farm.
On October 30, 2011, a private group called Go the Distance Baseball agreed to buy the property. This group was started by Denise Stillman. They officially took over on December 28, 2012, and have worked to keep the movie site special.
Under Go the Distance Baseball, new events started happening. The "Ghost Players" returned in 2013. In 2014, over Father's Day weekend, the field celebrated its 25th anniversary. There was a special game with Kevin Costner and other actors from the movie. About 12,000 fans came to these events.
Go the Distance Baseball says that more people visit the field now. Visitor numbers went from 65,000 to 100,000 each year. Also, since March 2018, you can rent the house and ballfield for overnight stays. It costs $2,200 per night on weekdays and $2,500 on weekends.
Future Plans for the Field
After buying the movie site, Go the Distance Baseball announced plans for a big project. They wanted to build a youth baseball and softball complex with 24 fields. It was called All-Star Ballpark Heaven. The plan was to open it in 2014 for the movie's 25th anniversary.
However, the project faced problems. It was hard to find enough money, and neighbors sued because they didn't want the land changed for business. The cost also grew from $38 million to over $70 million. Even though Iowa offered tax help, the developers missed deadlines to get it.
On September 30, 2021, Go the Distance Baseball announced that Frank Thomas bought a major share in the company. In 2023, the field was updated with a new underground system to manage rainwater.
Major League Baseball Comes to Iowa
Major League Baseball (MLB) planned to play a regular-season game at the Field of Dreams. They built a temporary stadium about 500 feet away in the cornfields. This was the first MLB game ever played in Iowa.
The game was first set for August 13, 2020, between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was moved to August 12, 2021. The White Sox won the game 9–8 against the Yankees.
This game was very popular and had the highest TV ratings for a regular-season game in 16 years. Because of this, MLB said they would return the next year. The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs were scheduled to play. However, Frank Thomas later said no game would be played in 2023 due to construction. He mentioned that MLB might bring the series back in future seasons.
Field Size and Spectators
The original baseball field from the movie has specific measurements. It is 281 feet to left field, 314 feet to center field, and 262 feet to right field. The power alleys are 300 feet away.
With extra temporary seats, the field could hold almost 6,000 people. This happened for the 2013 Team of Dreams celebrity game.
Images for kids
-
Two signs, two entrances, shortly before the 2007 merging of the two properties
-
View from behind home plate, 2009
-
Home plate
-
View from the pitcher's mound, 2009
-
MLB ballpark to the left of the movie-set field, 2020
.jpg)
