Lane Farms celebrates 50 years of service in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Whether you’re a kid pumping up water, or a mom taking that perfect picture of her baby, or bracing for a hayride, for those coming to Lane Farms in Santa Barbara, it’s all about the memories they’re about to make.

"I grew up going to this pumpkin patch so it’s very nostalgic for me and I’m having so much fun with my friends," said visitor Colby Ponce de Leon of Lane Farms.

"I’ve been coming here probably since I was in kindergarten so at this point, maybe 15 years," said visitor Kiana Ruiz of Lane Farms.

The Lane family has been farming in the Santa Barbara area since 1868.

And their produce stand has been in operation since 1939.

But their farming business alone wasn’t easy to sustain.

“Farming has gotten a lot harder to do here in the Goleta Valley… it’s just development and everything and the cost of everything is just crazy," said operator John Lane of Lane Farms.

So for the last 50 years, the lane family got creative by expanding their farming into a pumpkin patch loaded with attractions including a corn maze, animals, and even a pig.

"Well, it’s started up kind a little and now over the years it’s really developed into something that the community can really enjoy," said Lane.

While the Lane family is excited to celebrate their 50th anniversary, they hope to continue their business for years to come.

Whatever attraction interests you, if you’re coming to this family farm, there's a good chance, it will turn into your memory lane.

UCSB Library Special Research Collections is in the process of digitizing the KEYT News Video Archive.  A librarian sent over video from a news report on Lane Farms from 1987. Digital copies of materials are available by request. For more information on the collection, contact the Film & Television Curator.

The Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch is open the last weekend of September through October 31st.