Image Credit: Everett Collection
Since Kevin Costner found himself taking orders from the corn in 1989′s Field of Dreams, the baseball field his character built in Iowa has become one of the state’s biggest attractions. Hundreds of thousands of people who were moved by the magical field’s nostalgic vapors mapped their cross-country trips through Dyersville, Iowa, in the hopes of connecting with Joe Jackson, their own fathers, or the simple restorative powers of the crack of the bat.
On Sunday, the family that’s owned the field and the nearby white farmhouse sold their entire 193-acre farm to a Chicago couple who intends to transform the site into a baseball academy with additional fields and indoor facilities, according to the New York Times. The new owners intend to preserve the historic field as it was, with Ray Kinsella’s first-base side bleachers, and hope to replicate actual Major League parks with other new fields.
I’m glad the field will continue to be open, but I will mourn the loss of its modest simplicity. Couples were married on the field, ashes were scattered, and kids frolicked on the basepaths. Mike and Denise Stillman, the new owners, clearly revere the film — they named their company after a famous line from it, “Go the Distance, LLC” — but their proposed All-Star Baseball Heaven training facility for slugging prodigies will inevitably infringe of some of the field’s charm. (The new owners have mentioned the possibility of an indoor domed facility.)
Have you heeded the words for James Earl Jones and visited the field of dreams in Dyersville? What was your experience like?
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Being from Iowa originally and having relatives in Dyersville, I’ve been to the Field of Dreams movie site many times. My cousin was actually the chief of police when the movie filmed and he was the one directing all the traffic out to the farm in the film’s final scene. I haven’t been to the site in years but will never forget running out onto that field for the first time as a youth and playing ball. Great memories. It is kind of strange to hear about the plans the new owners have for the site, but I’m sure they’ll do what they can to preserve its tradition.
I had to have been 12 or 13 when I got to see the field with my family one time in the early ’90s (we were living in eastern Iowa at the time, anyway, so it wasn’t *too* far a trip). I still have — and occasionally wear — the T-shirt that I got there…
We were among those that mapped our way to Dyersville during a trip from Texas to Minnesota and back. Part of the charm for us was taking the same route as the folks in the last scene of the movie…we enjoyed the concession stand and noted that it didn’t intrude on the ambience of THE Field of Dreams. I just watched a piece on WGN…the couple who are buying the property seem to have ample romantic memories which I think will insure the farm and surrounds will not be turned into an audacious theme park.
I’ve been to the baseball field a few times, such a cool place to visit.
Every time I get to Iowa whether winter or summer I feel compelled to stop at Field of dreams. It is like a magnet for me. I’ve worn out a dozen Fof D T-Shirts. Brings me back to my youth baseball days in the 1950′s. I love the game and I love the movie.
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We planned our visit on our way out west and it was well worth the detour. Running onto the field and into the corn was awesome. I loved the movie all about new beginnings and second chances and now the field will have a new beginning and a second chance! Aweswome and full circle! The bleachers where Kevin carved Annies name and the paths into the corn field are special. I still use my coffee mug and wear the tshirt! Loved it.