Field of Dreams, the Iowa and Canada Connection

Comments 7 by Rebecca Bollwitt

When you think of baseball you think hotdogs, warm summer afternoons, caps, cheers, and more often than not, America. However one of the most cherished baseball films of all time was actually based on a book written by a Canadian, who spent time bouncing between the Lower Mainland, and Iowa.

I began writing this post while snuggled up on my in-laws’ couch in Iowa and I figured now was as good a time as any to publish it.

The snow has started to cascade lightly to the ice-covered ground as we spend our last few days in the state known for its “Fields of Opportunities”.

One of our first days here was spent traveling to a neighbouring town because John’s mom heard they had a new Mexican grocery store. Along the way, we saw a sign for Dyersville, which I knew immediately as being home to the actual Field of Dreams (from what John had told me years ago).

For baseball lovers and movie-goers alike, Field of Dreams is a classic American tale, even though it was based on a book written by a Canadian.

W.P. (William Patrick) Kinsella was born in Edmonton, Alberta and attended the University of Victoria before making his way to Iowa for their legendary (and world-famous) Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He was based in White Rock, then Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and now the Fraser Canyon.

In 1982 he wrote Shoeless Joe — you can read a post John wrote a few years ago about the real Shoeless Joe for more info on this very real player.

Kinsella’s works go far beyond the field, with dozens of books published along with hundreds of short stories, he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1994 as well as the Order of British Columbia.

However, it was his tale of Shoeless Joe that touched most, across many borders. The book was adapted for screen and became Field of Dreams as we know it, coining classic movie lines such as, “Is this heaven?…. No, it’s Iowa.” While also being known to make “95% of men who watch it, cry.” It’s also a Fourth of July classic for John’s family.

The actual setting of the film is a real farm, with a real baseball field over in Dyersville, Iowa. It’s open to the public from April to November, and is free to visit and play.

Great efforts are taken not to over-commercialize the Movie Site and to make it accessible to tourists. As a result, we cannot reserve, or rent out the Field for any organized activities, individuals, or events. We feel the property is best served in its original and pristine condition. Our aim in having these policies is to present the property as it was so well-depicted in the movie. We hope you can “go the distance” and enjoy the Field of Dreams. [Field of Dreams Movie Site]

The next time we head back to John’s home turf, which will hopefully be during the warmer months, I’m looking forward to stopping by and playing some catch because even though I was raised on frozen pond shinny, there’s nothing like a round of catch in the lazy summer sun among the sweet corn.

January 3, 2010: I made it to Dyersville, Iowa today and saw the Field of Dreams.

Field of Dreams, Iowa
Field of Dreams, Iowa

Hopefully I’ll be able to come back in the summertime and be able to play baseball without the need of boots, mittens, and seven layers of clothing to protect from the cold.

Update 2020: I have been back many, many times in the summer since this post was originally published. It’s such a lovely place! I also got to meet WP Kinsella in 2011.

Met W.P. Kinsella tonight Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa
Current Contests on Miss604
*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

7 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Marc McPhersonTuesday, January 27th, 2009 — 10:41am PST

    Kinsella also did a sort of fantasty/baseball book based in Iowa called “The Iowa Baseball Confederacy”.

    Another whimsical baseball themed read.

  2. Mom-in-lawTuesday, January 27th, 2009 — 10:53am PST

    Thank you, Rebecca. This post brings back so many good memories. My Mom and Dad loved going to Dyersville to the Field of Dreams. Grandma still tells the story of how she and my Dad sat on the porch to have their picture taken only to find she was out of film. Sometime, you will have to have her tell you about it.

  3. RobTuesday, January 27th, 2009 — 11:39am PST

    A few years ago, I overheard a conversation between two male colleagues which I of course then joined in on, about the Field of Dreams film. The heart of the conversation, oddly, was whether it was OK to cry at the end of the movie. My response was, and remains to be, that if you don’t cry at the end of that film, you’re dead inside.

    It was amusing to me that one of the guys showed visible signs of relief that his response to start weeping on cue at the ‘Dad? … Do you want to have a catch?’ line was not out of the ordinary. It’s a great movie for many reasons, but its ability to turn the brawniest of guys into blubbing saps (this coming from a certified non-brawny blubbing sap…) makes it that much better.

    Cheers for the post!

  4. Tyler IngramTuesday, January 27th, 2009 — 12:10pm PST

    It is one of my favorite movies and I own. Ray was pretty silly converting a corn field into a ball diamond.. but then again the experience to play ball with ‘ghosts’ would be cool too 😉

    I love the history of the Sox back in the day including the ‘Black Sox’ and Shoeless Joe etc.

    Perhaps I need to watch it again since it’s been a while. Don’t think I cried, so am I dead on the inside? *sniff*

    Though I think I might borrow the phrase and use it for blogging: ‘If you build it..they will come!’

  5. JordanTuesday, January 27th, 2009 — 3:09pm PST

    I’m crying right now 😉

    I loved that book, and I loved the movie too. And I would luuuuuv to be able to go there and play catch! WP Kinsella rules. That is all.

  6. fotoeinsWednesday, January 28th, 2009 — 3:09pm PST

    Love this movie, because (a) I’s a sap, and (b) I’s love’s the baseball. Living in different countries has only deepened my requirements to visit a baseball park during the (northern) summer : the crowds, the sounds, the smells, the atmosphere.

    So now … I’m wondering … the next time I’m in Minneapolis for a summer visit, I wonder how long a road-trip to the field in Dyersville, IA would take …

  7. Vancouver History: Rudyard Kipling » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittThursday, March 5th, 2009 — 11:31pm PST

    […] I since I’ve been looking forward to reading it for quite some time now, and especially since my post about its author. Following Kinsella in alphabetical order on the shelf there was a Rudyard Kipling book and I was […]

Also on Miss604.com
«
»