It's an odd phenomenon, people still making a trek to a baseball diamond built for the filming of Field of Dreams 20 years ago.

Unlike Iowa's covered bridges, which drew visitors long before The Bridges of Madison County made them famous worldwide, this cornfield isn't historically significant in its own right.

But an estimated 65,000 people a year visit the Dyersville baseball diamond (www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com) that was built just for the movie back in 1988. The farmer who owns the land had planned to put it back in corn production the next year, until people started coming.

I'm one of them. On a day in late May some years ago, I sat in the same bleachers where Kevin Costner sat, stood on the pitcher's mound, walked the bases.

At the time, the field was owned by adjoining farmers, with two entrances and two souvenir stands. Last year, the Lansing family -- which owns the infield, bleachers and the farmhouse -- bought left and center field from the neighbors.

There's no admission fee -- which is why the attendance figures are only an estimate -- no charge for visitors who come and play catch or pitch and hit.

But coming here isn't just about baseball, said Julie Kronlage of the Dyersville Chamber of Commerce.

''There are still people who come out to reunite with somebody they haven't seen in year, men who propose to their girlfriends,'' Kronlage said. ``There are people who have their ashes spread there.

``It's more than just magical. It has more to do with people achieving their dreams.''

This is one in a series of postcards by Marjie Lambert, assistant Travel editor, who has been to all 50 states.

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