Field of Dreams Movie Site — Attraction in Dyersville

I am torn on how to review this place.

On one hand, I agree with other one star reviewers who mention being guilted or pressured into a $20 "free will donation". I was also pressured into a donation, and disappointed to learn that a tour of the house was an additional $20. For your initial donation, you get to look at the ball field. They do have a souvenir shop, but I found it very disappointing. They sell primarily hats and t-shirts, and offer "no public restroom". I am not sure what more I expected, but it certainly wasn't there.

On the other hand, I re-watched the movie afterwards, and was struck by a speech given by Terrence Mann (played by James Earl Jones): Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. . . . The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. . . . This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

So the steep $20 price tag and vague description of what you might get in return (powered primarily by your own imagination) was set by the movie in 1989 and has not risen due to inflation, so by that measure is a bargain.

I agree with Terrance, I turned into the driveway and handed over my $20 for reasons I can't even fathom. I was there for nostalgia, memories, a sunny afternoon on the bleachers.

I think what this place gets wrong is that they haven't decided what they want to be. If it were a simple ball field in the middle of Iowa's corn where you can sit in the bleachers and remember, and not be hassled to pay $20, you would be fine with no restroom and no gift shop and no museum. I think a $5 donation would be right for that experience.

Instead, they are trying to be a destination or event. They have a guard shack at the entrance, and strict parking and carry-in rules, and a fairly steep price tag. For this experience, I think it would be fair to have expectations: Clean restrooms, a museum, a better gift shop (with shot glasses, movie memorabilia, baseballs, sorts jerseys, etc. They should also have a functioning hotdog stand.) In other words, they need to pick one: A simple corn field full of memories, or a commercialized carnival with appropriate admission prices and modern facilities.

There is a sign that the property does not make any money on movie royalties and in fact pays for licensing, and at first I thought "oh, that explains a lot of the disconnect I am feeling" but as anther reviewer pointed out, that is on you for being a bad negotiator, figure it out, we gave you a lot of money for a complete experience.

One last thing - They are building a stadium, so future visitors will not have the option to sit and look at the ball field with corn in the background and imagine the ghost players, they will have a stadium in the background, and the place will have completely transformed to the aforementioned carnival. All of the wonder and magic and simple nostalgia will be completely gone.

I give it 4 stars - was going to give only 1 but at least currently the site exists exactly how they advertise it, it is up to the visitor to bring the right attitude and imagination in order to get out of it whatever it...

During our recent visit to The Field of Dreams, we were enchanted by the beauty of the location and the diligent upkeep of the grounds. The serene atmosphere was marred, however, by a disheartening encounter at the snack bar, which left us with a sour impression.

Despite the warm reception from most of the staff, our interaction with the fry cook was deeply disappointing. As a person with mobility impairment, I parked my car in what appeared to be an unmarked area near the snack bar for convenience, only to be reprimanded abruptly by the fry cook.

Her manner was unnecessarily harsh and lacking in empathy, particularly considering there were no visible signs indicating restricted parking. Moreover, her impatient demeanor while taking our order was disconcerting. She seemed more preoccupied with rushing through the transaction than ensuring our comfort as customers.

Her sarcastic responses to our inquiries about the menu were unprofessional and unwarranted. As individuals who had traveled a considerable distance to visit this renowned location, we were disheartened by her lack of courtesy and respect.

While the rest of the staff demonstrated warmth and hospitality, it's crucial to address instances where a single encounter can tarnish the overall experience for visitors. We sincerely hope that steps will be taken to ensure that all guests are treated with dignity and kindness, regardless of any perceived inconvenience.

In sharing our experience, our intention is not to discourage others from visiting The Field of Dreams, but rather to highlight the importance of consistent and respectful customer service. We believe that every individual deserves a positive and welcoming experience, and we trust that measures will be implemented to prevent similar incidents...

For fans of the film you'll love this experience. Even for the casual baseball fans passing through Iowa, it is worth the time to stop and enjoy. I was there on Monday 9/9/24 in the afternoon, and there were only a handful of people visiting the site. I'd imagine other days can be busier.

There is no admission fee to the site, but they do suggest a donation. I paid my twenty dollars, and the friendly gentleman at the booth gave me a nice pin and information on the site. You can explore the field all you want. They have bats, balls, and gloves if you want to play, or even just run the bases. Bonus, if you go to the top row of the bleachers and look to the far right there is a heart carved in the wood that says "Ray loves Annie", which was carved by Kevin Costner himself during filming of the movie.

The house has a tour, which is twenty dollars, and there is a separate merchandise store available as well. There is also a small place for food and drink to purchase. No outside refreshments are allowed in. The house can also be rented for overnight stays, and the field can be rented for private use by the hour.

The only area off-limits currently is the MLB field, which is further back past the movie site field. They are doing construction and prepping it for next year in hopes of having a game in 2025. There is also a museum that is down the road a few miles before the movie site. It's only open on weekends and has an If You Build It exhibit in tribute to the film and...