Saturday, September 22, 2018

10 Apple Orchards in Indiana


Happy Fall everyone! Now that it is officially fall, let’s start thinking apple orchards! Apple season is in full swing, but picking becomes most popular in the next month or so. Indiana is ripe (cringy pun intended) with great apple orchards that are worth a visit.
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1.  Hainlen Orchard (Converse)
Hainlen Orchard is one of the few area orchards that can boast that they’ve been around for over 100 years. They’re most known for their award-winning apple cider. People aren’t allowed to actually go out and pick apples here, but they have a massive selection of apples inside of their store. That store contains apples, cider, baked goods, and a host of other jams and jellies. One interesting product they sell is cherry cider. Once Halloween gets closer, Hainlen Orchard also gets a stock of pumpkins and gourds. They’re open from 9am-5pm from Mon-Sat and from noon-5pm on Sunday.  
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2. Phil’s U-Pick Orchard
Phil’s is an orchard started back in the 70’s by a teacher who was tired of being inside all of the time. Home to over 10,000 apple trees, Phil’s grows all kinds of apples, including some interesting hybrids that are pretty new to market, such as Evercrisp and Sun Crisp. Apart from apples, you can also buy apple cider made in Denver, IN, maple syrup from Huntington, concord grapes and plums from northern Indiana, corn stalks, decorative corn, pumpkins, gourds, and other miscellaneous items. There is no indoor area to Phil’s, as all items sold are under a large tent on the property. Phil’s is open 7 days a week right now from 11am-6pm. 
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3. Apple of His Eye Orchard (Anderson)
This orchard is part of the ministry of the couple who owns it. They opened their orchard in the early 2000’s and have been producing their own apple butter, apple sauce, and apple pie filling. Their apple cinnamon doughnuts are also a treat because they are made with apple butter and were made with in conjunction with Pillsbury. As far as apples go, they have over 800 trees that produce 27 types of apples. Throughout the year, they also get other products like peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and tomatoes. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10-6. 
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4. Tuttle Orchard (Greenfield)
While the first few on this list have been smaller, orchard-focused locations, Tuttle Orchards has a whole operation that brings people in. They have a corn maze (4 acres), pumpkin patch (20 acres), tractor rides, kiddie play area, and the orchard (8,000 trees). Across the street, you will find a grill area where they make food on Saturdays, a cafĂ© and sweet shop open all week, a farm store that is open year-round, and a bee hive observation. The farm store sells over 200 Indiana products and all kinds of fruits, veggies, baked goods, and products for your home. Tuttle Orchards is open from 9am-7pm Mon-Sat and the grill is open Saturdays until Oct. 28th from 10:30am-5:30pm. 
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5. McClure’s Orchard (Peru)
This 20-year-old orchard/winery currently is selling pears, pumpkins, squash, and 15 different types of apples. Some of the apples there are in-store only, while others are allowed to be picked by guests. They offer an extensive list of wines and hard ciders to taste, with flights, howlers, and growlers available. The first two samples are free! McClure’s also does horse rides, trolley rides, and live music (Saturdays only). The orchard, gift shops, and restaurants are open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm. 
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6. Jacobs’ Family Orchard (New Castle)
The farm at Jacobs’ Family Orchard has been around for 80 years, but the orchard itself wasn’t added until 2002. The farm not only contains the 35-acre orchard, but also contains a 20-acre pumpkin patch, an 8-acre sweet corn field, and 4 acres where other produce is grown. Apart from a kiddie play area, the farm contains a corn maze and a sunflower maze. There are around 30 different types of apples grown here. There is a store on the premises to sell all sorts of goodies, but the two most popular items are the apple cinnamon donuts and the apple cider slushies. They are open 8am-6pm Mon-Sat and 1pm-6pm on Sundays.
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7. Stuckey Farms (Sheridan)
Stuckey Farms offers 27 varieties of apples and 4,000 trees available for picking. The farm sits on 40 acres, 25 of which are devoted to just apple trees. The store on-site also offers peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes, baked goods (including doughnuts), cider, and more! The farm prides itself on being a place that families can come to and enjoy, so on weekends from Sept. 15-Oct. 21 they offer a Harvest Festival that involves hay rides, a corn maze, a play area, pig races, and apple cannons. Admission for the festival is $12.50. Stuckey Farms is open Mon-Thu from 9am-6pm, Fri+Sat from 9am-8pm, and Sundays from 1pm-5pm.
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8. Appleworks (Trafalgar)
Appleworks does a great job of sustainability, making a conscious effort to not be wasteful in watering (with several retention ponds), with soil, and with the trees themselves. They pride themselves in having over 50 varieties of apples, which is almost double what many other orchards have. However, this is not a u-pick for apples (it is for pumpkins, though). Apart from apples, they have plenty of other fruits and veggies that they grow on the premises. Their store contains many of the usual items that orchard stores have: jams/jellies, baked goods, salsas, baking mixes, etc. Apart from orchards, Appleworks also has a kid play area, farm animal exhibit, bamboo maze, picnic area w/waterfall, live music, and greenhouses. The hours are 7 days a week from 9am-7pm. 
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9. Huber’s Orchard (Starlight)
This is another orchard that also contains a winery. It is over 150 years old and is a total of 600 acres. Like Appleworks, Huber’s makes an effort to practice sustainable agriculture for everything grown on the property, which is quite a lot. They offer about a dozen varieties of apples on site, which are available to pick in the orchard. Their store offers all kinds of fruits and vegetables of their own, and they even have a bakery and a cheese shop. There is also a large play area for kids and a hall for weddings/receptions/meetings. Huber’s is open Sun-Fri from 9am-6pm and 9am-8pm on Saturday.
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10. County Line Orchard (Hobart)
This orchard boasts an impressive red barn-type building that stores its many wonderful products. They do u-pick for apples( over 30 varieties), pumpkins, and sunflowers. Other activities on the property is the kid’s area, bee area, outdoor music area, and corn maze. A lot of activities here do have a small cost, even the u-pick, so be aware of that. Come hungry and take advantage of the bakery, sweet shop, and restaurant. They are well known for the apple cinnamon and pumpkin donuts The hours are 8am-6pm daily, though many of the attractions don’t open until 9am. The grill (weekends) and restaurant (daily) hours are 11am-5pm.