Sunflower farm’s popularity proves overwhelming

The sunflower display at the Grinter farm in Leavenworth County was pretty popular Monday — too popular.

So many people lined up to see the sunflower farm that the county sheriff closed off access in mid-afternoon. Too many cars, too many people.

“Sorry all!” the farm’s owners posted on Facebook. “Just to be clear, we support this decision in the interest of everyone’s safety.”

Some reports said cars backed up nearly five miles along U.S. 40/24 between Lawrence and Tonganoxie. Passengers had joined the queue to catch a glimpse of the farm’s 40 acres planted with sunflowers, the state’s botanical symbol.

The Leavenworth County sheriff’s department did not immediately return a phone call. There were some indications visitors were once again able to visit the display Monday evening before sunset.

The field reaches its peak in late August and early September, prompting the huge weekend crowds. Nice weather helped.

No one answered the phone at the farm at mid-evening Monday, but the Facebook page invited visitors to return this week. “For those of you who drove a long way and got turned back, I feel truly bad,” the post said.

This story was originally published September 5, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Sunflower farm’s popularity proves overwhelming."