Apple Picking Near Me in Arrington
Drumheller's Orchard
1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, Lovingston, VA
History
Drumheller's Orchard was established in 1937, when Everette (E.O.) and Eva Drumheller purchased the property from the Horsley Family; once an unattended farm with abandoned fruit trees.
The land was then cultivated and new orchards were started which included peach and apple trees. The original packing shed was built in the early 40's and would undergo expansions three times. Darrell Drumheller started working the farm with his parents in 1957, playing major role in the orchard's history with the design of a 110 gallon apple butter kettle with an electric stirrer. Darrell's three sons worked on the farm after they finished school. His daughter helped out at different times. Kevin remained on the farm and began to manage the farm with his mother Doris, after Darrell's death in 2005. Kevin's daughter Morgan joined the family operation in 2008, and has contributed by developing the website and other marketing tools. She also helps with sales, festival, and school groups in the fall.
The fall festival began in the 70's with apple butter making and selection of apples. Todays festivals include hayrides to the pumpkin patch and corn maze, 2 apple sling shots, crafter, food vendors, live music, fresh cider, apple pies, cakes, and a good family atmosphere.
By continuously planting more varieties of peaches and apples each year it has allowed us to expand our harvest and distribution seasons. A new sales area and kitchen has been added where pies, cakes, jams, jellies, ice cream, cobblers, and more will be made.
Saunders Brothers Inc
2717 Tye Brook Highway, Piney River, VA
History
The date was 1915. Five brothers from a family of eleven children decided to form a partnership and share the money that had been made trapping rabbits, and Saunders Brothers was born. With the coming of the Great Depression, money became tight. Although most were forced to take jobs elsewhere, three brothers maintained the family farm through farm helpers and sharecroppers, pitching in themselves during harvest time. They shipped apples in three-bushel barrels overseas, and when a neighbor received an unheard-of price of $1.00 for a bushel of peaches, they planted around 70 acres of peaches, almost overnight!
After World War II, prices of peaches fell, and expenses soared. As demand for more green Elberta peaches declined, the brothers began planting newer red varieties. They also expanded the cattle herd. The original Saunders Brothers declined to only two brothers, Sam (my father), and Dick (my uncle) - they were full partners until my father's death in 1967.
I propagated my first boxwood in the spring of 1947. A multi-talented science teacher and my mother showed me how to make cuttings for propagation. Intrigued, I chose the north side of the red clay, piney-thicket hillside as my propagation site. An 11-year old friend helped me with the project. We stuck 77 slips into the red earth, which was cooled by its northern exposure, and the pines kept off the hot sun. we watered them every few days from the little spring branch that was at the bottom of the hill. From this almost impossibly primitive beginning, 25 of the plants rooted. I was truly excited, and at the age of 13, bought out my partner.
Encouraging my interest, my father fenced off a corner of the barn lot near an old woodpile for my nursery. The manure that had accumulated for years in the milk cow lot, plus organic matter from the woodpile, provided a nearly ideal environment for my venture. This boxwood money helped pay for my wife's engagement ring and my first Ford car. I became very busy running a surveying business to make money to feed a house full of boys. Needing room to expand, I chose to plant the boxwood on the fertile river bottom land. Then I made the observation that people were beginning to grow plants in containers. My wife, Tatum, helped out driving around in a pickup truck full of children to county schools and the local pie factory, picking up discarded gallon tins.
On August 30, 1969, Hurricane Camille dumped more than twenty inches of rain on our countryside in one horrible night of destruction and loss of life. Almost all of our ten acres of plants on the river bottom were destroyed, along with the container nursery on the riverbank. Only a few plants near an old orchard reservoir in a grove of pines survived. With this as a nucleus, the container nursery was re-established. Eventually our customers wanted our boxwoods in plastic containers and we changed to suit their needs.
As time passed, my seven sons went away to college. Then, one by one, several of them returned. Tom and his wife, Lyn, both horticulturists, came home to work in the nursery. Bennett took over field production as well as the peach orchards, most of which he converted into more productive apple orchards. Robert returned to help us with our construction program of new plastic houses, then later became our salesman. Next, Jim, who began as a county extension agent, returned to help with our cattle, and has taken over our personnel duties. Two other biological sons, Massie and Sam worked in the business at one time. Each chose to leave and now have their own businesses and both live in Nelson County. Sam is a landscaper and Massie is a Land Surveyor and Engineer. Along the way, Frank, a French-Canadian by birth and a master mechanic, became another member of our family team. These four sons, my wife, Tatum, Frank, and Lyn are the team today. Along with many valuable workers, customers, and friends, we have created memories for the past 90 years, and continue to do so today.
Seamans Orchard
415 Dark Hollow Road, Roseland, VA
History
In 1933, the Lea brothers began farming in Nelson County, Virginia. Their hard work created a family agricultural business, Seamans' Orchard. The farm was managed by them until the second generation assumed responsibilities. By 1945, Alton R. and Joyce Lea Seaman ran the farm operations. Together, along with their children the Seaman family managed Seamans' Orchard until 1980 when it passed to the next generation.
Today, Seamans' Orchard LLC is still a family-owned and operated business. Grandson of the original founder, Richard Seaman oversees farm operations. Carter Parr (top photo), one of the great grandchildren, and Brian Kidd, Son-In-Law of Richard Seaman are involved as fourth generation farmers. Anne Seaman Kidd, another great-grandchild is part of the operation as well.
In addition to apples and beef cattle, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are also grown at Seamans’ Orchard.
Little has changed over 81 years and the Seaman family remains steadfast in its commitment to provide the finest products Mother Nature will allow.
Dickie Brothers Orchard
2685 Dickie Road, Roseland, VA
About:
Dickie Brothers is one of the oldest SAME family OWNED and operated farms in the u.s.a.
Dickie Brothers Orchard has been in our family since England's King George II sold three tracts of land to our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather James Dickie in 1752, 1758 and 1760. Grandpa James was required to begin working the land within 3 years. Our family has been farming this land ever since... 265 years and 8 generations. Now, that's sustainability!
Brothers, Tommy and John Bruguiere are members of the seventh generation to manage Dickie Bros. Orchard and the eighth generation help out on the farm, too.
We owe our ability to continue farming to our parents, Tom and Emilie Dickie Bruguiere. Thankfully, Tom and Emilie decided this farm was where they wanted to raise their children. Emilie inherited about 100 acres when her parents passed away and the farm was divided between Emilie and her three sisters. Emilie and Tom bought their house from Uncle Herbert Dickie and then began the long process of purchasing hundreds of acres from various family members. After forty years, they had purchased over 500 acres of the original lands and we are forever grateful for their dedication to our family.
We have never received or asked for a subsidy from taxpayers to help us run our farm. We grow a quality product and sell at the lowest price we can in order to help our customers have quality food at a fair price.
When mother nature decides to allow us to grow a full crop, we harvest 70,000 bushels of apples per year! But, we don't just grow a few varieties of apples... we grow 20 different varieties of apples as well as peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and much more.
We also raise beef cattle, have Saddlebred horses and various colors of Labrador Retrievers running around the orchard.
Alongside Little De Priest Mountain on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains (near Crabtree Falls), the cool mountain air gives our apples great color and excellent flavor. The view from our orchard is the envy of almost anywhere in the United States, especially when the Fall foliage is in full color and the apples are fresh on the trees.
We invite our customers to "Pick Your Own Apples" all season and experience nature's beauty here with our family at Dickie Brothers Orchard.
Silver Creek and Seamans Orchards
5529 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro, VA
In 1959 Silver Creek Packing Shed was started as a packing facility for Silver Creek Orchards and Lea & Seaman Orchard. The founding families were John T. Morton, Silver Creek Orchards; and Alton R. Seaman & Joyce Seaman, Lea & Seaman Orchard. The packing facility became Flippin-Seaman, Inc. in 1974. At that time, the families involved in the packing process were the George Flippin and Alton Seaman families. Eddie Seaman was in charge of the packing shed, while Bill Flippin (Silver Creek Orchards) and Richard Seaman (Seamans' Orchard) were involved with the day to day operations of their orchards.
In 2012 Flippin-Seaman, Inc. changed its name to Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards, Inc. The owners wanted to incorporate both Orchard names in the business name. Today, John & Ruth Saunders, Richard Seaman, and Anne Kidd run the operations at Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards, Inc. (SCSO). Richard is in charge of the packing shed, as well as his own orchards. Ruth Saunders, and her husband, John Saunders, run Silver Creek Orchards. Richard has his nephew, Carter Parr, his son-in-law, Brian Kidd, and his daughter, Anne Kidd helping with Seamans' Orchard. Over the years the family members operating SCSO, Inc have changed, but the great pride in providing our customers with the finest apples remains the same.
Fitzgerald's Orchard
301-715 Harpers Creek Ln, Tyro, VA
Crump's Little Orchard
2150 Indian Creek Road, Amherst, VA
Davidson's
8977 Irish Road (Route 6), Faber, VA
Morris Orchard
226 Tobacco Row Lane, Monroe, VA
About Us
Morris Orchard is a family owned and operated farm. We are located at the foot of High Peak Mountain in Monroe Virginia. Our goal is to provide the freshest and highest quality produce possible as well as good times for all who visit. When you visit Morris Orchard you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the small farm atmosphere. We grow Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Blackberries, and press Apple Cider.
Rock Hill Orchard
Route 130, Monroe, VA
Apple Orchard open September - November and the Lynchburg Community Market at Saturdays April through November
Critzer Family Farm
9388 Critzer Shop Road, Afton, VA
Goals
- Provide for you the freshest, best tasting and healthiest produce that you can find.
- Provide a friendly down home atmosphere for you and your family to enjoy.
- Stand behind a five generation commitment to leave the land and community better than when we found it! (Using methods that are environmentally friendly).
- Although we don't have kids, we love kids and want them to grow up understanding the value of hard work and integrity. We also want them to experience a bit of farm life so they can know and see where their food actually comes from, and to see some of the work behind what it takes it to get there.
- Finally on a personal note...To be able to pay our bills when all is said and done.
Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market
1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA
Wayland Orchard
6474 Apple Green Lane, Crozet, VA
Henley's Orchard
2192 Holly Hill Farm, Crozet, VA
History:
Henley's Orchard is located in beautiful Crozet, VA, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just west of Charlottesville. The orchard was established in 1932 by Joseph T. Henley, Sr. He earned a degree in agriculture from VPI&SU and was Virginia’s first fruit inspector. Joe originally purchased the land, 5 acres, for use as an apple orchard and, over the next 28 years, he was able to purchase and lease more acreage to expand the apple orchard, establish a peach orchard, start a herd of cattle, and grow many acres of hay. The farm and orchard was passed on to Joe’s son, Joseph T. Henley, Jr., who further expanded the operation, and then it passed on to his grandson, Tim Henley.
Today, Tim and his wife, Sarah, run the orchard with their children, Jacquelyn, Brook, and Steele. Tim and Sarah expanded the wholesale market to Richmond and Harrisonburg and have upgraded their retail sales location, which is known as “The Shed.” They have continued all aspects of the family farm operation, and proudly serve Crozet and the surrounding counties.
Peaches, nectarines, and apples are picked fresh, from the middle of June until the end of October. Late-season apples are kept in cold storage and are available throughout the winter until April. Henley’s Orchard uses low-spray practices, and Henley fruit is carried by local markets all over Central Virginia. Caterers and restaurants with the highest standards of quality prefer Henley's Orchard fruit, the finest in Virginia.
Carter Mountain Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville, VA
Just minutes from downtown Charlottesville and Monticello, visitors overlook lush groves and breathtaking views of the valley below. Against this stunning backdrop, families and friends pick sun-ripened peaches and crisp apples while breathing in the fresh mountain air. From season to season, there’s always something fun!
Virginia Gold Orchard
100 Asian Pear Way, Natural Bridge, VA
Virginia Gold Orchard was started in 1990 by Paul and Youngsuk Estabrook. Paul passed away in 2017. The orchard is now owned and operated by a team of young farmers that are passionate about continuing on the Virginia Gold legacy. Youngsuk still lives on the farm.
The orchard currently consists of about 5,000 Asian pear trees. Every fall we harvest up to 16 different varieties of Asian pears, each one ripening at a different time.
The Estabrooks originally planted a two acre section for testing and for sharing information cooperatively with the Department of Agriculture Research Station. This "testing" area also contains over 25 different named varieties and several original hybrids bred by Mrs. Estabrook herself.
Kennedy's Orchards
1272 Kennedy Ridge Road, Bedford, VA
Gross Orchards
6817 Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA
About Us
Gross' Orchard is a family owned and operated orchard which has been in business since before the turn of the century. Our specialities are mountain grown peaches and apples. We are located at the foot of the beautiful Peaks of Otter. In the Summer, June 20th - September 15th, we have peaches for you to select from or a U-Pick program if you choose to enjoy. In the fall season we have a great selection of apples for you to choose from at our retail outlet at the edge of the orchard. Fall apples -- beginning September 1st. You also have the privilege to participate in our pick your own program. Our peach and apple trees are well maintained for your picking.
Johnson's Orchards
1218 Elmos Road, Bedford, VA
About Us
The Peaks of Otter has been an existing community of people for more than 80 centuries.
Cherokee Indians, European pioneers, their descendants, travelers, and tourists have used the area to hunt, camp, and to live on and farm the land. Near the end of the nineteenth century, at the site of the present Peaks of Otter Lodge, was the thriving community of Mons. There were at least 20 families in the community, a church, an elementary school, two mills, an Odd Fellows lodge, and the Hotel Mons. The history of the Johnson family is intertwined with the history of the Mons community and the Peaks of Otter. They were tied to the development of the hotel and to the area's tourism industry.
David Hunter Strother. Virginia Illustrated: Containing a Visit to the Virginian Canaan, and the Adventures of Porte Crayon and His Cousins. NewYork: Harper and Brothers, 1857. Barrett Library. Shown: "South Peak of Otter, from the Hotel."
The Peaks area was established as a farming community when Thomas Wood first settled here in 1766. The cabin in which he took up residence is now referred to as The Johnson Farm. In 1852, John Therone and Mary Elizabeth Johnson bought the four-room cabin and the land on Harkening Hill. Two generations of Johnsons had lived on the mountain prior to this purchase. They were Castleton Johnson, John T.'s father and John Johnson, his grandfather. John T and Mary had 13 children that helped with the cash crops of cabbage, tomatoes, and potatoes. The family garden included vegetables used by the family. They raised sheep and operated a distillery in a nearby hollow making apple brandy from the trees on the farm. This was sold to an early hotel, The Hotel Mons. This part of the farm would remain in the family for three generations.
The Hotel Mons, Latin name for mountain, was applied to the hotel at an undetermined time. The Otter Peaks Hotel, the name preceding Mons, opened its' doors in 1857. At this time there was only one building proper with outbuildings including a barn and a springhouse. The hotel burned in 1870 but was promptly rebuilt. The Otter Peaks Hotel provided food and lodging for almost 50 years and then a larger hotel was built just west of the one rebuilt after the fire. The hotel had accommodations for 40 guests and was a summer landmark for people coming from as far away as Maine, California, and England. The Mons closed its' doors in 1936. Civilian Conservation Corps workers and other families lived in the hotel proper until the National Park Service dismantled all of the buildings of the Mons complex sometime in the early 1940's.
Jason Johnson, the favored son of John T. and Mary Elizabeth, bought the farm from his parents in 1884 for $410 and 220 acres of his grandfather's, Castleton Johnson, from heirs. Jason brought the house to its' present appearance with the addition of the dining room, kitchen and various porches and storage rooms. Jason was born with a clubfoot but wasn't bothered by this handicap and with his wife Mary Jane (Jennie) Cottrell produced nine children, two of whom died before aged 10, and kept up the tradition of being self-sufficient farmers. Trips to town were rare and only to sell their goods and buy coffee, flour, and sugar. Jason, because of his disability, often planted from horseback and according to a grandchild could hoe across a garden as quickly on his knees as most people could standing. The large apple and peach orchards flourished during this time on the terraced slopes of Flat Top Mountain. The best quality apples were shipped to England. Others found their way into gallons of apple butter made by the community.
Jason and Jenny and their family were tied economically to the Hotel Mons as were many in the community. Many family members were employees of the hotel. The hotel purchased goods from the families as well. Jason and Jennie often took in overflow boarders; the children ran errands and served as guides for hotel guests. Some of the children would take hotel guests on trips to Balance Rock or the Big Spring and receive 50-75 cents per trip.
After Jennie's death, daughter Callie Missouri Johnson and her husband Mack Bryant became the third generation to farm the same land. They continued to run a farm that provided for most of their needs, helped out at the hotel, and had some small entrepreneurial ventures. Mack acted as the local "vet". Callie is best remembered for supplying the Hotel Mons dining room with flowers from her garden as well as the ones she picked from the surrounding mountains. Mack suffered a paralyzing stroke and in 1929 the Depression began a decline for the Johnson Farm. Soon the farm and most of the Mons community made way for the coming of the Blue Ridge Parkway. After the Blue Ridge Parkway acquired the Peaks of Otter, the last family members sold the farm to the Peaks of Otter Company and then it was transferred to the National Park Service in 1941. Sometime in the 1950's steps were taken to stabilize the house, barn, smokehouse, and springhouse. Other buildings were destroyed. In 1968 the house was stripped back to its original log structure and reworked to approximate its' appearance when it was a log cabin. In 1974 the restoration of the house to its' 1920's/30's condition was completed and the interpretation of the farm was begun.
The second child and first son born to Jason and Jennie was Robert Lee Johnson. He was about 10 years of age when they moved into the Johnson Farm. As a young man he moved down the mountain to the Sheep Creek area where he continued to farm and planted an orchard. He also had a small grocery store in Ewing's gristmill. He planted tomatoes and built a canning factory on Sheep Creek. He married Rowena Gross and they had seven children.
The second child and first boy was James Elmo Johnson. He went to Reba School and New Prospect church, which was within walking distance. He once said you could hear the singing from the church in the summer time. His grandparents, Jason and Jennie Johnson were still living and also attended New Prospect church. His mother died, in childbirth, when Elmo was 12 years old. Much responsibility for the economic welfare of the family fell onto young Elmo's shoulders. He worked in the fields, orchards and in the mill where he ground grains for flour and sold the stock of merchandise to customers. His father, Robert, got Aunt Millie Johnson, who never married, to come and stay with the children; the youngest, Hampton, was only two years old. Robert would allow Elmo and his sister, Irene, who was two years older, to walk to spend the weekend with their grandparents, Jason and Jennie, on the mountain.
In 1972, Irene related this story. "One time Elmo and I was walking up the mountain. Elmo saw a squirrel; pick up a rock to throw at the squirrel on the tree. And what did we see, over on the side of the mountain. A big bear. He laid his rock down easy. And we were so excited, when we got to our granddaddy's house, we could hardly talk. Bears was often seen in the mountains."
Elmo continued to work with his father from childhood until he was a young adult. In 1917 he married Sarah Freddie Welch and they had four children. In 1918 he along with his father bought the farm, just a little further down Sheep Creek, now known as Johnson's Orchards and Peaks of Otter Winery. The first apple tree was planted in 1919. Elmo bought his father's interest in the farm shortly after the original purchase. Some of the plantings for the trees were brought from those originally at the Johnson Farm. Among the varieties that had existed there were: Yellow Transparent, Cannon, Bullskin, and Rustycoat. They can still be found among the nearly 200 varieties planted at Johnson's Orchards. In 1998, Danny Johnson, son of Elmo and Freddie, grafted some of these varieties and donated 11 heirloom apple trees to be planted at the Johnson Farm. Danny married Nancy Nestor Johnson in 1960 and they have two sons.
In 1971, Danny and Nancy purchased the family farm where they had lived and worked since 1960 and continue to operate it along with their son, Shannon and his wife Donna, who live on the farm and their grandsons, Josh and Jordan; and the encouragement of their son, Dan (Chip) and wife Kristin, who live in Seattle.
Kipps Grapes
6943 South Blue Ridge Turnpike, Rochelle, VA
History
In the mid 1950s, Ward Kipps set out four grape vines and a fruit tree or so for family use. Well, the soil was great, his thumb was green, and things just took off! More vines and trees were propagated and acquired over the years. At one time, when he was participating in a grape development program run by Virginia Tech, he had more than 150 different varieties of vines!
While Ward hadn't planned to sell fruit (he repaired and sold radios and TVs), things evolved that way when the hobby outgrew the needs of the family. He started the PYO business to handle the excess. Today, Ward's wife, Beth, and their sons, daughter, and grandchildren continue the business, turning it into a three-generation affair! Like Ward, we established other careers before getting into fruit. Maybe you'd like to take guesses as to who works with livestock, computers, plants, learning, or cell cultures.
Ward had a great memory, and knew nearly every vine and tree by heart. We have done a lot of guesswork, but some plantings remain unidentified. We welcome you to taste a grape or two from several vines before choosing which you wish to pick. Enjoy the scenery while you make your selection.
Most vines are Concords and similar-tasting varieties. Fredonias ripen about two weeks before the Concords. Another early grape is the Moored - developed here in Virginia by the folks at Virginia Tech. It is a red slip skin and very sweet. We have a small section containing French hybrids.