CHAMBERSBURG – A sea of gold is unfurling across Franklin County as the sunflower fields at Lesher Poultry Farm burst into bloom, drawing visitors eager to wander one of Pennsylvania’s most dazzling late-summer landscapes.
Tucked near the intersection of Route 316 and Route 914, the family-owned farm is opening its fields from dawn to dusk, inviting guests to explore winding rows of towering blooms that seem to stretch endlessly toward the horizon. The first burst of peak color greets visitors this weekend, with the remaining acres expected to hit their stride Sept. 6 and 7.
The tradition began in 2011, when the Lesher family planted just 10 acres of sunflowers as an experiment. What started as a trial has now spread into more than 200 acres of blooms — a living mosaic of yellows, golds and even rare red-tinted varieties. Today, the fields draw thousands of visitors each year, transforming the farm into one of the region’s favorite late-summer destinations.
Guests are welcome to stroll the trails, capture family portraits and gather bouquets of their own, with a suggested $1 donation per stem. Professional photographers hosting sessions are asked to contribute $5 per client, and all shoots must remain family-friendly.
Pets on leashes may enjoy the fields alongside their owners, while new safety signs remind drivers to keep speeds at 10 mph along the lane. To ease congestion, visitors should enter using Springview Drive and exit onto Route 316.
Despite the sweeping size of the attraction, the experience remains refreshingly simple: there’s no admission fee, no set schedule – just the pleasure of meandering through blooms that sway with the breeze and cast golden shadows as the sun sets.
As the season progresses, the Lesher family hopes the fields provide more than just photographs. For many, the visit is a chance to pause, breathe and take home a piece of beauty – one stem at a time.
“People come here and just slow down,” said a family spokesperson. “That’s what these fields are really about – creating space for joy, for peace and for memories that last long after the flowers fade.”
