Field of Dreams (Dubuque County, Iowa)
The Field of Dreams is a baseball field and pop-culture tourist attraction built originally for the movie of the same name. It is in Dubuque County, Iowa, near Dyersville.
The studio built the baseball diamond on two farms, a few miles outside Dyersville. When production completed, the baseball diamond created for the movie was left behind. Most of the baseball field, including the diamond and the adjacent house, was on one farm owned by the Lansing family, but the left and center field were on an adjacent property owned by the Ameskamp family. The field was built on the two properties because the producers wanted the field in a location where sunset shots would be uninhibited.
After filming completed, the Lansing family kept their portion of the field intact, and added a small hut where visitors could buy souvenirs. The Ameskamp family returned their land to farming for a year, but then restored the remainder of the field and opened up their own souvenir stand. The two owners had operated separate tourist facilities, and had also been at odds regarding commercialization of the site.
Keith Rahe, a neighboring farmer, put together a baseball team dubbed the "Ghost Players" to entertain the visitors at the field. The team's presence at the field on Sunday afternoons once a month attracted thousands of additional fans to the field. In 1991 and 1992 the Upper Deck Company sponsored a celebrity game at the Field. Executive Producer Tony Loiacono, who later received the key to the city, brought Hall of Famers like Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson and Bob Feller to take on Hollywood Stars like Kelsey Grammer and Meatloaf in a charity game. The two games raised over $100,000 for local charities.
In August 2007, Rita Ameskamp sold the land containing her portion of the baseball field to Don and Becky Lansing - the owners of the remainder of the field. As a result the movie site is now entirely owned by the Lansing family.[1] In 2009, the Lansings canceled the 20 year Field of Dreams celebration because of the poor economy. They donated $5,000 to the local food pantry instead.[2]
On May 13, 2010, the Lansings announced they were putting the farm used for the movie up for sale.[3] On October 30, 2011, it was reported that a sale had been agreed upon.[4]
Dimensions and capacity
The stadium is 281 feet to left field, 314 to center and 262 to right field. It holds 84 people. The Upper Deck events drew 2,500 fans each year with temporary bleachers set up to accommodate the fans.[citation needed]
Rolling Roadshow
On August 11, 2006, Austin, Texas' Alamo Drafthouse "Rolling Roadshow" (which screens films in locations unique to each film) showed Field of Dreams at the Field of Dreams Site in Dyersville. A giant, outdoor screen was set up adjacent to the field with seating, concession, and parking along left and center field. Only the property owned by the Ameskamp family was allowed to be used for this event; the Lansing property was closed to the public. Before the screening of the film, Kevin Costner and his band (unnamed at the time, now known as Kevin Costner and Modern West) performed for two hours for the attending crowd of close to 1,000 people. Costner and his band played a selection of original songs and popular covers, including a song about Iowa that he wrote during the filming of Field of Dreams 17 years earlier. The event was sponsored by Netflix and hosted by Lisa Loeb.[citation needed]
Gallery
-
View from behind home plate -
View from the pitcher's mound -
Ray loves Annie -
Two signs, two entrances
References
- ^ Hogstrom, Erik (2007-08-18). "Left & Center Field of Dreams sold". Telegraph Herald. Woodward Communications, Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Olson, Gunnar (2009-02-11). "20 years after release of 'Field of Dreams,' they still come". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) [dead link] - ^ "For sale: 'Field of Dreams' farm". Associated Press. May 13, 2010.
- ^ Dodd, Mike (October 30, 2011). "Field of Dreams movie site in Iowa is sold". USA Today.
External links
- The website from the Lansing family, who owns the field
- Kevin Costner returns to Field of Dreams. Netflix will sponsor an outdoor showing of "Field of Dreams" at the namesake Iowa ballfield on August 11, 2006. Kevin Costner, star of the movie, will also appear in person.
- Field of Dreams Movie Site at Google Maps