I’m not a baseball fan. I don’t like playing it or watching it. During collegiate intramurals, I participated with my sorority in all sports…but softball. Admittedly my lack of interest in “America’s favorite pasttime,” stems from my fear of getting smacked in the face by the ball or a rogue bat. Ironically, one of my all-time favorite movies lines – “If you build it, they will come.” – is from a baseball movie. It’s been ages since I’ve watched the 1989 movie Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner. While on a road trip I realized my friend Adeina and I were just a few movies from the Field of Dreams Movie Site.

How to Visit:

Location: Dyersville, Iowa (a little over an hour from Cedar Rapids)

Field is open sunrise to sunset

Admission is free, but they do ask for a $20 donation per car

Baseballism Store is open 9am-6pm

My Visit:

It was an unseasonably warm and beautiful late October afternoon as we drove into Dyersville, Iowa and headed to the Field of Dreams Movie Site. It was suppose to be a quick 15-minute stop. Instead we were there for about an hour and could have stayed longer.

Our visit started on the baseball diamond. There was a T-ball set up so I stepped up to the plate, took a swing, and ran the bases cheering for myself as I rounded third heading for home.

Next we headed over to the edge of the cornfield and had a lot of fun re-creating movie scenes. Secretly I kept hoping a ghostly team of legends would come of the cornfield. They do for the “Greatest Show on Dirt” hour long shows in summer. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, you have a great time on the dirt and in the cornfield at Field of Dreams Movie Site when you’re on road trip in Iowa.

Author Jennifer Broome has road tripped extensively across the United States. Check out the Explore America section for more places to visit in America.