New Brunswick is home to no shortage of landmarks that hold unique titles. In Hartland there is the world’s longest covered bridge, in Shediac there’s the giant lobster, and Nackawic has the world’s largest axe. A U-pick apple farm in Scotch Settlement, N.B., just outside Fredericton is hoping to add their latest endeavor to the list with the world’s longest gourd tunnel. “We have reached out to Guinness and we sent them an application we have not heard anything back from them,” says Laughing Apple Farm owner Joas van Oord. “I am going to replant it again next year, and I’m going to send them another application that says, no seriously, we built the world’s longest gourd tunnel. You guys really need to come out and check it out.” The tunnel is 240 feet long and has gourds growing from the ceiling, walls, and the ground. The tunnel hosts hundreds of different gourds from around 20 different species, all ranging in different shapes and sizes. Some gourds even have googly eyes on them for a bit of extra fun. This is the second year van Oord, along with his wife Lisa, grew the gourd gazebo. Last year’s produce passage was only 60 feet long, but van Oord decided to “go big, or gourd home” this year. “I didn’t even know I liked gourds before last year,” van Oord jokes. “It was a lot to build it, to grow was definitely a little bit of a challenge, but you learn more every year. I was so impressed with how well the gourds grew and the size of them, so we’re really happy with the way it turned out.” “Yes it’s a lot of work, but this is a farm. Everything’s a lot of work.” van Oord admits calls the tunnel a “fun project” and says the reactions from people don’t get old after a stroll through it. While the farm has different offerings that must be paid for, there is no charge to walk down the gourd trail. The self-proclaimed longest gourd tunnel title has brought no shortage of people to the farm to see the site for themselves. That includes Jenelle Maillet, who came to check out the walk with friends Saturday after seeing the gourds online. “I thought, I have to be there,” she says after seeing the post. “Expectations exceeded. Did you know how many different types of gourd shapes there can be? It’s just so fun, like, I’m just delighted.” “When I first went in, I thought, okay yeah, it’s just a little tunnel, but it went on and on and on,” Bernice Bell tells CTV Atlantic. “I liked the eyes on some of them, that was kind of neat.” Josh Shanks says he was amazed after walking the tunnel and believes he might have what it takes to claim the world record himself. “I have just the right amount of ADHD to want to challenge this,” Shanks says with a laugh. “I think this is probably the next step in Josh’s future. I’m going to do 241 [feet] by 2030, that’s my goal.” van Oord says he wasn’t planning on extending his tunnel again next year, but he’s not about to give up the claim of having the world’s longest gourd tunnel. “If anyone challenges me, oh yeah, we’re making it a heck of a lot longer.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
