Law enforcement shut down a popular Kansas attraction on Labor Day.
Never before has Grinter’s Sunflower Farm been closed by the sheriff, but it happened Monday when too many people tried to get to the fields.
“Unbelievable,” said worker Curt Somers. “Just inundated with people.”
Traffic was backed up for miles, nearly to I-70. Two accidents at both main intersections to access the farm also contributed to the closure.
Somers said the farm has never had this kind of attention. He credits social media.
That’s why Susan Stensrud came out.
“I saw it on Facebook, the Internet,” she said. “When I heard of this phenomenon, I thought, 'Wow, wouldn't it be cool to come out and see this.’”
Even though the farm announced it was closed Monday afternoon, people still found a way in.
“We thought we would give it a try,” said visitor Thea Parks.
Most people visit to get photos of the fields.
The field currently in bloom is about 40 acres. People can freely walk through the rows, and there is no admission charge. The farm asks for a $1 dollar donation, per flower.
“We probably had a third of this many people last year,” Somers said. “It’s really neat to watch the people. There’s infants and there’s elderly. It’s really neat.”
The owner is expecting two more crops of sunflowers to bloom, so there is still time to make a visit.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
