After 15 years in business, the owners of The Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch in Clanton have decided to lease or sell the property.

In September 2014, Bobby and Frances Payton, who own the property, decided not to open for 2014 due to sickness and death in their family but remained optimistic about re-opening in 2015.

A sign indicating the property is for sale/lease was placed on the front of The Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch sign about a week ago.

“It is really hard for us,” Frances Payton said. “It is something we have really struggled with because of everyone who supported us. People have raised their kids at the Patch and look forward to coming every year so it has been a difficult decision to make. We have had a hard year, and we still have a lot of health issues to look after.”

The Patch, located off Alabama Highway 145 near Interstate 65 Exit 212, has more than 35 acres of pumpkins, gourds and other fall plants.

Typically, the Patch opened Oct. 1-31, and visitors to the Patch could select pumpkins from the vine, enjoy hayrides to the large pumpkin patch every so often, and homemade food, barbecue and pies in the concession area.

The Patch also provided fall décor and crafts sold on the property as well as a petting zoo, inflatable park, and a hay pyramid and maze.

Ideally, Payton said the family would like to have the 63 acres of property stay a pumpkin patch and would be open to leasing options.

“People visit us from all over the state,” Payton said. “We would hate to see it go.”

Payton said the pumpkins are typically planted around the Fourth of July to prepare for the Patch opening in October.

Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant Brittani Ellison said the Patch is a popular attraction for visitors near and far.

“I know a lot of school groups visited the Patch every year,” Ellison said. “When the Patch didn’t open in 2014, we had several calls from different groups asking if the Patch would be open again or if it was closing for good. It was definitely a tourist attraction for the area. I think a lot of people enjoyed coming to it because it was centrally located and it was a good field trip for the schools.”