Will Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch Survive in San Francisco?

Sure, you can drive to other pumpkin patches around the Bay Area, but in San Francisco proper, there’s only one: Clancy’s. It’s a beloved treasure, and it might not be around forever.

Pumkin Patch At Risk

Pumpkin season reaches a zenith on Halloween, and if you’re still searching for some gourds to carve in San Francisco, you can visit the one and only Clancy’s. Technically, there are two Clancy’s locations. One is by the SF Zoo and the other is on 7th. The 7th Ave location is on property owned by the school district. SFUSD, which is under immense pressure to meet a budget shortfall, may have to sell some properties to developers according to some proposals from politicians. 

History behind Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch

San Francisco is (mostly) built up. There just ain’t a lot of room for a grown-from-seed pumpkin patch around here. But in 1979, a successful family Christmas tree venture decided to expand into Halloween territory, bringing in pumpkins and selling them. 

Gladys and Clarence “Clancy” Steinhoff met when he served in the Navy at the Presidio in 1948, according to her 2010 obituary. The next year, they started selling Christmas trees. Now, Clancy’s has two locations and both apply for 60 day permits every autumn to sell pumpkins. One goes to the SF Zoo and the other to SFUSD.

Delights at Clancy’s

Their website proclaims, “Come see the ghosts in our trees, the scarecrows in our patch, visit with our live turkeys and run through the fun corn maze. You can even take a hay ride in the middle of San Francisco!”

There is a stack of hay bales that creates an interior labyrinth that kindergarteners adore, and a hay ride that costs a wallop of a bill; there are also a ton of gourd-geous (get it?) pumpkins for sale. But the special part about visiting Clancy’s is the memories.

Who Owns Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch?

The history of the 7th and Lawton patch is fascinating. It’s owned by SFUSD and was part of a purchase that included Bessie Carmichael Elementary in SoMa. The deal, struck in 1996, included a 30 year prohibition on redevelopment for both Bessie Carmichael and the site of the pumpkin patch. 

As SFGate wrote back in 2009, “So the land has remained empty save a seasonal pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot, which brings in $38,200 annually to city schools…. Without the development restrictions, the district could possibly sell it to a developer for $7 million or so.” 

Check your watches. 30 years is almost up. Isn’t that fascinating?

Two Locations, Two Property Owners

The zoo location, meanwhile, is under different circumstances. A few whistleblowers have said the zoo is mismanaged and even dangerous to the animals. Public comments have questioned our city’s use of the foggy, inhospitable location that once held a big heated saltwater pool and may one day hold pandas. They’ve suggested the parcel may one day become a park or some much needed affordable housing.

But that would hit The City’s image hard. Imagine the impact of closing one of the few child-friendly programs we’ve got. A place where raising kids is already difficult, unaffordable, and inhospitable. Where most mayoral campaigners (except Peskin) agreed with the threat to close schools until a Hail-Mary changed their tune a few weeks before an election. A place where schools close, zoos are on shaky ground, and pumpkin patches disappear like Cinderella’s carriage after midnight. Kinda scary, and right in time for Spooky Season!

The Future

For now, the lots remains a zoo-adjacent sliver of land and a lot huddled under Mount Sutro that, for a few weeks, become magical pumpkin patches. And in a few more weeks, look out for the Christmas trees. Clancy’s did not respond to requests for comments. Find out more about how to visit on their website.

Conspiracies aside, Clancy’s is slept on. It’s a fun local tradition and you should enjoy it while you can.