Gorges Acres: A Free Sunflower Field Near New London, and Ice Cream at Creekside Creamery

For the last several years, one of my favorite late-summer traditions was the Sunflower Festival at Bergsbaken Farms up near Cecil. Last year, 2025, was the tenth one, and it was also the last. The brothers who ran it always said the goal was to make it to ten years. They made it, and then they closed the book on it. I understand the decision, but it left a sunflower-shaped hole in my August.

So this summer I went looking for a new field, and I found a good one a lot closer to home, just outside New London.

A free sunflower field on Gorges Road near New London

It sits right along Gorges Road, which is how I ended up thinking of it as Gorges Acres. It’s an easy pull-off on the side of the road, and you really can’t miss the sign out front.

That’s the whole pitch, spelled out in hand-cut letters: WE R FREE. PICK US. The field belongs to a New London man named Tim Borree, who has been opening it up to the public at no charge for about three years now. It’s been in the news around here this summer (WBAY ran a nice story on it), and the part that stuck with me was why he does it. He just wanted to give people something free to do. This year that means a little more than usual, with the Fox Valley still digging out from the July 27 tornado and the flooding we had this spring.

I’m not really one to stand in a field taking pictures of myself against a big wall of blooms, but I couldn’t help walking around for a while. The plants were tall and thick, and a lot of the field was still in bud when I was there, so it looked like there would be plenty more opening up over the following couple of weeks.

I clipped a small bouquet, some of the classic bright yellow and a few of the darker, multicolored kind, one for me and one for my mom. I put them in water when I got home, and they’ve been brightening up the kitchen ever since.

That was the whole thing. I picked a couple of flowers, waved at the owners, and headed on my way. A free, low-key little adventure on a nice afternoon. If you want to bring some home too, throw a pair of scissors or clippers in the car.

A short drive to Creekside Creamery in Hortonville

After the sunflower field, I made the short drive over to Creekside Creamery in Hortonville. It’s only about 9 miles, roughly a 13-minute drive, so the two make an easy pair if you’re already out that way.

I got a cup with strawberry and sweet corn. Yes, sweet corn ice cream, and it was really good. Creekside makes their ice cream with natural ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors, and they rotate through a couple dozen flavors. They also roast their own organic coffee if that’s more your speed.

What I really appreciated is that they take dietary needs seriously. They had gluten-free and dairy-free options, gluten-free waffle cones, and even a gluten-free cake in the case that caught my eye (I didn’t try it this time). If you or someone you’re with usually has to skip the ice cream stop, this is a good one to know about. It’s well worth a stop if you’re in the region.

If you want to go

Gorges Acres free sunflower field
E8939 Gorges Road, Fremont, WI (just outside New London)
Free to visit and free to pick. Look for the WE R FREE PICK US sign along the road. I couldn’t find a website or Facebook page for it, so just drive out and enjoy it.

Creekside Creamery Natural Ice Cream & Coffee
209 S. Nash Street, Hortonville, WI 54944
(920) 779-3010
creeksidecreamerywi.com · Creekside Creamery on Facebook
They’re not open every day, so check their hours before you head over.

Two stops, one easy afternoon, and the only thing I paid for was the ice cream. That’s a good day in my book.