Sleep Tight "Field of Dreams"

  

All good things must come to an end. This past week, the baseball field created for the 1980's hit, "Field of Dreams" was sold. It was built in the middle of a cornfield in a small, southern town and became the main scene in popular movie starring Kevin Costner. But, after years of glory and tourism, the owners of the land have decided to sell to a youth baseball and softball organization known as Go The Distance Baseball L.L.C. Although the owners of Go The Distance plan to leave field as is, they also plan to build more outdoor fields as well as an indoor center for baseball and softball. Before the land was sold off, owners Don and Becky Lansing opened up their land to 65,000 tourists per year. Their home, which was featured in the movie, is located fair enough away from the field on their property so they were able to obtain privacy. They offered free tours to all who visited and welcomed everyone to play baseball on the field. Frequently, visitors would bring a cherished baseball item and bury it in center field. Aside from free tours, they also sold t-shirts and coffee mugs. However, the Lansings were not looking to make a profit from their land, they wanted everyone to be able to enjoy and stand where the ghosts of the 1919 White Sox team once played in the movie.

The Lansings describe their parting with the field to be "bittersweet" as they will miss they entertainment factory but are looking forward to a smaller property to maintain. Author, Ken Belson appears to be a baseball fan as he knew proper baseball terms and was very familiar with former players. He also proved to be knowledgeable about "Field of Dreams". I think that Belson was disappointed with the Lansings decision to sell the land. I agree with him because I think that such a special piece of property should not be sold to be turned into an indoor sports center. I do think that youth sports are important but I disagree with the new owners decision to built an indoor sports center. The field was a unique tourist attraction because it was located nearby a small town of only 4,000 people and the Lansings did not to anything to promote it. Although there is a website and a few brochures, there are no tourist alerts or signs on the highway to attract visitors. There was no admission fee and souvenirs were cheap. Hopefully the outdoor fields built in the place of the former field in the Lansings yard will be cherished almost as much as the original.

New Dreams for Field
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/sports/baseball/field-of-dreams-setting-tourist-magnet-in-iowa-is-to-be-sold.html?pagewanted=2&hpw