Bass Family Farms

“We were driving back to Cedar Rapids from trying BBQ places and had a hankering for ice cream and just got lucky that we were passing Bass Family Farm. We didn't even know they had ice cream but looked them up online as we drove by because there seemed to be a flurry of activity and we wanted to know what it was all about. As my wife was telling me their reviews said they had ice cream, I was poo-pooing her discovery, assuming that yet again, like so many "ice cream" places in Iowa, it was actual soft serve (an unappetizing low fat alternative to real scoop ice cream). Nope, sure enough, in one of the photos we could see the Chocolate Shoppe logo so knew this was the real deal and so we immediately flipped a u-turn and stopped in for a visit...and some amazing ice cream. (Chocolate Shoppe is out of Madison, WI and makes some of the best ice cream in the world, in large part because they have some of the best milk in the world up in Wisconsin.) Even the youngsters behind the counter admitted that although they usually prefer soft serve (kids...what do you expect from them?!? 😂), they love this scoop ice cream.”

“Stopped in and did not regret it! Great little store with several kinds of wines, canned items and frozen meat. I was happy to find some Mead wine as it is one of my favorite drinks. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. We visited on a sunday and it was a quiet calm visit, it was not busy at all. The only issue we had was there were some products we tried to purchase that were not in their purchasing system but were on the shelf. Unfortunately the cashier could not sell them to us being she didn't have a price. This location is a very beautiful place with a lot of options!”

“First time visitor and was very surprised with all the activities available for the kids to do while visiting the farm (must purchase wrist band to access activities). Tetter Totter, mini golf, magic show, hayrack ride and a huge jumping pillow are just a few things available at the farm. Lots of people everywhere but activities were spaced out and it didn't feel crowded for the most part. Inside the store, the ice cream cones were very popular with my grandkids and to them it was worth standing in line for. I loved all the sauces and food items available for purchase and my husband loved the dip samples. Nice big and small pumpkins are available for purchase and bought that day. I even saw a food truck that was previously an old firetruck (pretty cool). The fire food truck had various items to purchase and snack on while at the farm and was fairly busy. Great family idea for a beautiful fall day.”

“It was a beautiful day to go to the farm! There were a variety of incredibly well organized pumpkins to choose from (including lots of other goodies) outside. We bought apple salsa, sloppy joe sauce, chow chow, and so much more. The food truck outside was also delicious! Great place to check out! ETA: We went back a year later, in October 2025. The outside was still amazing with an incredible array of pumpkins, photograph opportunities, and other goods to purchase. The inside was filled with jars of yummy food (we bought some of the same as last year and some new to us). They have samples you can try some of the items before you buy. I was a bit disappointed that they were having samples for things you couldn't actually buy though. Wish they switched it out when they sold out.”

“Took the hubby and 4 kids to meet my parents here for the afternoon. It was a bit cold and a lot windy. However the kids had a blast and so did all the adults. They actually have an area up by the shop and the maze that's closed in and very warm. It was nice to get warm, eat and let the kids play in that smaller area. We will return as we love the little shop and the kid friendly atmosphere.”

“Beautiful day, grounds very nice, lots of pumpkins, mums, other food items to buy! Next weekend, Sept 10 & 11, childrens' activities area will officially open, looks great! We took our autistic grandson today and he did well without so many people around!”

“Land is beautiful. Produce is beautiful. $10 entrance fee is a little steep considering it’s all basic activities that really aren’t a whole lot of fun unless you have a toddler. Hayride was great but $8 for a lemonade is 🤢 🥴 insane with no refills. Disappointing prices but overall was a pretty ok time.”

“Bass Family Farm left us disappointed. Once inside, there wasn’t much to do unless kids entertained themselves. The place felt neglected, as if it was running on autopilot. Mini putt putt had no golf balls, the tennis ball launchers weren’t aimed at anything, and the bowling setup didn’t work because the pins sat on uneven ground. The tractor ride was underwhelming, taking us to a back field littered with trash. The slide was fun, but constant liability signs plastered everywhere ruined the atmosphere and made it feel more corporate than hometown. The store was the one bright spot, but the prices were unreasonably high. Overall, it felt like the Bass family has become disconnected from the experience and now treat it more as a cash grab than a genuine farm outing. Compare this to Allen’s Orchard, where staff were present, welcoming, and thankful for our visit - and entry was free. Bass Family Farm has potential, but right now it’s poorly executed and not worth the money. We won’t be back and can’t recommend it.”