Harvest Fun Awaits at Lotspeich Family Farm’s Fall Pumpkin Patch with a Fresh Agritourism Experience in Eastern Nevada
Lotspeich Family Farm was the winner of Travel Nevada’s inaugural Pitch Day challenge
Reno, NV (September 26, 2024) – As the vibrant colors of autumn sweep through eastern Nevada, the Lotspeich Family Farm invites visitors to experience the magic of fall with their newly opened pumpkin patch. Offering a blend of festive fun, fresh farm experiences, and a deep connection to local agritourism, this charming family-run farm has transformed into a seasonal destination welcoming visitors through October 28. A proud winner of Travel Nevada’s inaugural pitch day challenge, the farm has blossomed into a must-visit fall hotspot.
With agritourism on the rise, the Lotspeich family is tapping into a growing tourism trend of travelers seeking unique ways to connect with nature and local culture. According to Future Partners’ September State of the American Traveler report, 17.1% of American travelers say they are highly interested or passionate about agritourism as a hobby.
Lotspeich Family Farm has spent the past five months thoughtfully developing their farm into an attraction visitors can enjoy during the fall season. Nestled among wide-open spaces and idyllic farm scenery, the pumpkin patch offers guests farm-fresh treats and playful games like pumpkin bowling, a ninja course, and a hay maze. The family-friendly atmosphere and warm, rural setting make this destination a perfect fall outing for visitors of all ages.
The exciting transformation of Lotspeich Family Farm into a whimsical pumpkin patch was funded in part by Travel Nevada through its inaugural Pitch Day challenge. To expand and grow tourism opportunities in the state, Travel Nevada introduced this challenge as part of its annual Rural Roundup conference, an event that brings together Nevada’s tourism industry for hands-on workshops, networking, and educational sessions.
“The Pitch Day challenge was designed to spark creative tourism ideas in rural communities, and Lotspeich Family Farm is a shining example of that,” said Rafael Villanueva, chief executive officer at Travel Nevada. “We’re thrilled to see the success of the Lotspeich family after their well-deserved Pitch Day win. Their pumpkin patch showcases how a local business can create a special experience that celebrates Nevada’s agricultural heritage and inspires visitors to explore the beauty of our state.”
The competition provided businesses the opportunity to pitch ideas that could enhance tourism in rural Nevada. Following eight weeks of training for prospective business owners covering topics such as business finance, marketing, and tourism and hospitality principles, those who completed the program were eligible to pitch their business opportunity to potentially receive funding from Travel Nevada.
At Rural Roundup in April 2024, Lotspeich Family Farm pitched their vision of a vibrant, community-oriented pumpkin patch and following a series of questions and deliberations, were selected as the winner of the inaugural Pitch Day, receiving $20,000 to jumpstart and bring their project to life.
“We’ve had so much fun developing these new experiences for visitors to our farm,” said Leslie Lotspeich. “We wanted to create a space where guests can come together, spend time outdoors, and savor the magic of autumn. The Pitch Day challenge was instrumental in our efforts and gave us the opportunity to dream big about how our farm could be transformed as the season’s change.”
The opening of the pumpkin patch showcases how Nevada’s rural businesses can thrive through tourism innovation. In partnership with Nevada’s Small Business Development Center and Nevada’s Outdoor Business Development Center, Travel Nevada plans to launch its second round of this initiative in January 2025, giving more rural entrepreneurs the chance to bring creative tourism experiences to the state.
For more information on Lotspeich Family Farm, visit LotspeichFamilyFarm.com, or learn more about Travel Nevada’s Pitch Day at TravelNevada.biz.
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The Nevada Division of Tourism is a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. More commonly known as Travel Nevada, the Nevada Division of Tourism is responsible for promoting and marketing Nevada as a travel destination to domestic and international travelers. Operating within a performance-based budget structure, Travel Nevada is funded solely by a percentage of lodging tax paid by overnight guests throughout the state. For more, visit TravelNevada.biz.
