As crisp fall air rolls in, lawns and roads are adorned with a blanket of warm-toned foliage and people are compelled to join in on the fall festivities. The apple orchard calls. The urge is strong but each year, the most disappointing feeling is when the mill doesn’t quite live up to the expectations that are predetermined. Therefore, to protect your sanity, here’s my take on which local apple orchards are worth the trip and which are, in my opinion, a little lackluster.
Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery-
The community fan favorite is booming with business this time of year. Due to the mill’s ideal location — a seven-minute drive from the high school — it’s no wonder the orchard has achieved a pristine reputation. That being said, there are some downsides to this location as well.
The first negative factor would be the long wait times. No matter what time or day of the week, this small business has lines wrapping all around its property. In order to get into the store to buy cider or donuts you can reach a wait time of over an hour. While these long lines are a testament to their booming business and popularity, they can be quite a burden for those itching to taste the delectable fall flavors of apple cider and cinnamon donuts.
The other downside is their lack of variety for edible treats. While some orchards draw people in with their flashy and uniquely flavored donuts, Robinette’s has fewer options than an ordinary donut shop. This, however, can potentially be a plus for folks like me who are indecisive or just enjoy a classic donut.
Robinette’s is an eventful place for the whole family with activities like the inflatable bouncing pad, hayrides, corn mazes and even a petting zoo. They also have shopping, apple picking and wine tasting for the adults to enjoy.
Junior Mylie Krull has been a seasonal employee at Robinette’s for two years now. The most influential part of being employed there is meeting unique people while working.
“My favorite part is all the customers,” Krull said. “We see a lot of different people and it’s fun to talk to them.”
Robinette’s is a classic for a reason, this family-owned farm has been in their family for over 100 years and was opened to the public in 1973. Their homey décor and autumn atmosphere make the orchard a great place for people of all ages to enjoy, as long as you bring a buddy to wait in the lines with you.
Located in Sparta, Klein Cider Mill and Market is a hidden gem. This pumpkin patch and apple orchard is just a mere 17 minutes away from the high school, reached through a scenic drive encompassed by the fall trees. While this attraction is less popular than Robinette’s, it still has a variety of things to offer its visitors, mainly in the form of edible treats.
The main attraction is the U-pick pumpkin patch where you can go to their backfield and pick out your favorite pumpkin. Whether that means large or small, tall or short, skinny or wide there’s something for everyone in their fields. However, other than that, there is a lack of classic orchard attractions for the customers.
What the patch is missing in recreation they make up for in their cuisine. Their cider was flavorful, refreshing and bursting with the classic cider taste. They did have a few donuts, however, there was no variety to them. The market also sold fresh fruits and vegetables, which were generously priced and regularly have extravagant sales. An example of their seasonal sales would be the 30 cents per pound pumpkins and five-dollar gallons of cider.
However, with all of these positive aspects, it’s hard to fathom why they are slacking in one specific area: their parking. When I visited, there were not many visitors but hypothetically, if there were a rush of customers, they would run out of spaces to park pretty quickly. There was no designated parking lot and not much room on the street for overflow parking. While this wasn’t an issue for me, it is something to think about while planning your visit.
This family-owned and operated market has a classic feel, giving it good character and a loving touch. I especially appreciate the excellent customer service and budget-friendly prices, however, I wouldn’t recommend this location for those looking to participate in any traditional autumn activities.
Also located in Sparta, Schwallier’s Country Basket is another autumn classic due to its vintage feel and family-friendly activities. This estate can be reached by only a 15-minute drive from the high school, and neighbors the Klein Cider Mill and Market.
This establishment is a family favorite for a reason. They have a variety of activities such as a cluster of petting zoos located all around the farm with different types of farm animals, also accompanying these pens are tractor rides, playgrounds, apple cannons, a rock labyrinth and even a straw mountain. It seems as if this property expands every year, making it unique and always giving kids something new to do.
“This is the best farm-orchard-pumpkin patch hands down,” Customer Em Boogaard said in a Google review featured on Schwallier’s website. “We go here often. All the activities are free and there’s so many to choose from! The doughnuts and cider are delicious. My son and his bestie love the barn cats.”
One downside to this orchard is its lack of adult-friendly activities, unlike Robinette’s which offers wine tasting and different shops, therefore it might not be as fun for those without younger friends or family members.
Another strong suit of this orchard is its food selection. Besides the normal cider and donuts, they also have a plethora of baked goods and other fall favorites, like honey and different kinds of butter. Even with all these options, their donut diversity was lacking Arguably, they have perfected their classic donuts, arguably making up for the lack of choices. Despite the delicious donuts, the cider was not producing the same traditional flavor. In an effort to make it more unique, they added a mix of spices to the drink but I prefer the classic apple taste.
Overall, this location merits its good reputation and is a great place to go with your family or the other loved ones in your life.
