Apple Orchard

Twisted Apple is an organic farm and retail outlet. They generally do not offer u-pick, but it is one of very few places to purchase local organic apples. They do offer baked goods and a variety of apples to purchase.
Check their Facebook page for updates.

2023 Opening date: August 19, 2023; no u-pick for 2023

Dogs allowed but not in the bakery.

Offers:
Organically and conventionally grown apples
Baked goods
Apple beverages
Retail farm products.

Blueberry Thrill Farm offers U-Pick blackberries, blueberries, and tomatoes. They also sell peaches and other produce with occasional u-pick. Visit them select Saturdays in the fall for apples, pumpkins, and muscadines. Dates TBD.

The best way to see what Blueberry Thrill Farm is currently offering is to check the Blueberry Thrill Farm Facebook page.

Millstone Creek Orchards is open daily for u-pick with lots of themed weekends throughout the fall with activities.

• bakery
• hayrides
• pumpkin patch in the fall
• u-pick pecans in November
• live music
• animal visits

No pets allowed.

2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Best Family-Friendly Farms

Located in a picturesque part of Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Justus Orchard is the perfect place to go apple picking. Their apple cider donuts are also a treat not to be missed. This apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC was one of the first in the state to invite customers to not only buy apples already picked but allow visitors to go into the orchard and pick their own apples.

Open for 2023 season
Check the Justus Orchard Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up. 

Gala Apple Upick opening day: August 11th, 2023

Well-behaved dogs on leash allowed and owners must pick up after them.

OFFERS:
Blackberries – July thru August
Apples – Mid August thru Early November
Bakery
Apple cannon ($)
Jumping pillow ($)
Cow Train ($)
Playground

Don’t miss our Kidding Around Review of Justus Orchard for all the details!

Located in beautiful Hendersonville with views of the mountains, Pilot Mountain Pears is the only dedicated Asian pear orchard in the area. They have more than 5,000 Asian pear trees and will open in 2023 for their third u-pick season.

Opens for 2023 season August 25, 2023
Check the Pilot Mountain Pears Facebook page for current u-pick status, before heading up. 

Asian Pears Upick opening day: August 25th, 2023

No pets allowed.

Offers:
Asian pears – Late August – Early October
Bakery
Picnic area

Open 50 years, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard are experts on organizing their orchard for u-pick. They begin their family fun and farm activities in mid-August and invite you to bring a lunch and spend the day at the orchard.

Open August 18, 2023. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date info on what’s available for picking.

Offers:
U-pick Apples
Grapes
Sunflowers
Farm Store
Picnic Space
Corn Maze ($)
Jump Pads (on weekends) ($)
Apple Cannon (on weekends) ($)

The owners of the Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill got their start 20 years ago when they wanted to create the perfect apple cider (they apparently succeeded). Their main apple variety is the Stayman Winesapp and u-pick opens up in late August. The orchard asks that everyone 2 years of age and older have their own pre-purchased bag before heading into the orchard. They also have weekend events that include live music.

 2023 season-opening date: August 17, 2023

Offers:
U-pick Apples
Farm Store with baked apple goods
Hard Cider Tastings
Cider donuts
Apple cider slushies

Knob Creek Orchards offers homemade ice cream and lots of local produce, including apples.

• No U-pick
• Produce grown on the farm
• Homemade ice cream

Primarily known for their incredible peaches, Fishers Orchard also grows apples that are available for picking in the fall (call for exact dates).

No U-Pick in 2023.

Offers:
U-pick peaches in summer
U-pick apples in October
Produce, vegetables, and pumpkins throughout the year

Jeter Mountain Farm is the result of more than 150 years of farming history in the Hunsader family. Located on 411 acres near Hendersonville and Brevard, this farm offers Choose N’ Cut Christmas Trees, plus u-pick includes berries, peaches, pumpkins, grapes, and over 20 varieties of apples. Be sure to check the Jeter Mountain Farm Harvest Calendar to see what’s ready for picking. Important to note for the tractor enthusiasts in your family, orchards are accessed via tractor ride!

2023 season: Get updates for availability on their Facebook page.

• Open weekends 10-5 as of July 2023 for u-pick berries.
• Apple U-pick Begins August 12, 2023.
• Pumpkins will be available in early October, 2023.

Pets are not allowed at the u-pick orchards, inside the market, inside the tap room, coffee shop, and wagons. 

Offers:

U-pick Apples & other fruits according to season
Market with pre-picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other goods
Hard Cider Tap Room
1813 Smokehouse
Covered play area

Don’t miss our Kidding Around Review of Jeter Mountain Farm!

Just a few miles from the Chattooga River, Bryson’s Apple Orchard is also close to gorgeous waterfalls and many of the hiking places that KAG has recommended (so maybe hiking and apple donuts one day this fall?). The Long Creek area, according to their website, is one of the “largest apple producing areas east of the Mississippi River.”

 2023 season-opening date: July 28, 2023 for apples at the stand; no u-pick apples this year but they will have prepicked apples available.

Offers:
Prepicked apples
Asian pears (Asian pear crop ruined by a late frost in 2021) 
fresh peaches 

Carrigan Farms is a 5th generation farm that specializes in produce, educational tours, special events, and swim parties. Advanced registration is required for U pick seasons.

Fall pumpkin picking begins October 1st, 2022 – October 31st, 2022and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a u-pick pumpkin from the patch. The cost is $14 per person.
They also offer a Haunted Trail in October.

Apple picking begins September 6, 2022, through September 25th, 2022, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a half peck bag for picking apples. The cost is $14 per person.

Strawberry picking begins in late April.

Sunflowers bloom in September.

Carrigan farms offers swimming throughout the summer in the quarry. Reservations must be made ahead of time. You can read our Kidding Around review on the quarry.

With over 20 different varieties of apples, you are bound to find a favorite at Grandad’s Apples N’ Such. They also have a bakery on-site that sells pies, donuts, caramel apples, and cider. Activities for kids include a corn maze, cow train, and a huge pumpkin patch where kids are bound to find their ideal pumpkin.

 2023 season-opening date: August 11, 2023

Due to the late frost, the apple crop is limited at Grandad’s. They let us know u-pick is TBD but apples will be available in the farm store.

All pets must be leashed and picked up after while visiting.

Offers:

Offering U-Pick Apples as available**—check Grandad’s Facebook page for updates,  there may or may not be U-Pick in 2023**
Pumpkin Patch (late September – October)
Farm Store and bakery
Corn Maze ($)
Cow Train ($)
Apple Cannons ($)

Check out our fun fall day at Grandad’s in our Kidding Around Review!

At the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies this gorgeous farm and orchard, which is not only a working farm but also a popular wedding venue.
Besides a pick-your-own experience, Chattooga Belle Farm also offers cabin rentals, a bistro for lunch and dinner, disc golf, and an amazing variety of exotic fruits like Asian pears, figs, pawpaws, and persimmons.

2023 season-opening date: Farm store is open year-round – Check the Chattooga Belle Farm Website  for daily updates on available options.

Dogs are allowed, but not in the fruit areas or inside dining. They are allowed for outside dining and the disc golf trail.

Offers:
Restaurant serving lunch and dinner
Cabin rental
Event Venue
Disc Golf
Distillery
Pre-picked apples, table grapes, wine grapes, peaches, and more.
Farm Store

Apple picking is a delight at Coston Farm with the mountains as a backdrop to the orchard. Like other orchards, they also offer delicious baked goods and apples already picked for sale.

 2023 season-opening date: August 18, 2023

No pets allowed.

Offers:
U-pick apple orchard from August – October
(See their apple ripening calendar for different varieties)
Farm Store with pre-picked apples, pumpkins, and fall decor

Apple Hill Orchard opened for u-pick apples and flowers August 12th, 2023

They are open 9 am-6 pm Monday-Saturday

• bakery
• farm market
• To pick, purchase a Picking Pass, and you will also need to pay for the apples you pick by container size ($3 per person picking pass- Ages 2 and under are free)

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Outdoor Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Farms

A KAG reader favorite, Sky Top Orchard offers mountain views, ponds with ducks and geese, farm animals, play structures, and apple and fruit trees. Don’t miss the amazing apple cider donuts. Last year there were some concerns about Sky Top getting too crowded so maybe try to go during the week if you prefer smaller crowds.

2023 season-opening date: Sky Top WILL HAVE U-Pick in 2023.

• Open weekends as of end of July for donuts, wagon rides, and farm store apples, follow their Facebook page for updates. 
• Apple Upick Begins August 3rd, 2023

Dogs on leash allowed but not in the fruit stand.

Offers:
U-pick apples
Farm Store with Cider donuts
Farm animals
Wagon Rides
Playground
Gold Rush Gem Mine 

Don’t miss our Kidding Around Review of Sky Top Orchard