Fenton, MI — September 29, 2020
The temperatures are turning crisp, the leaves are beginning to change, footballs are in the air, and everyone is thinking apple cider and donuts. Whether you like your cider cold in a frosty mug or hot in a cup with a cinnamon stick. You prefer your donuts plain or sprinkled with sugar. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the favorite fall treat, loved by children and adults.
We are fortunate to have three local orchards that afford an assortment of merchandise and experiences to celebrate the autumn season. Let’s take an apple tour.
Mueller’s Orchard
If you are looking for a laid back atmosphere to sit down at a picnic table, open a gallon of cider, eat some donuts, and watch the kids run around the playground, Mueller’s Orchard is the place. Take a short drive west of town on Owen Road until it ends at South Linden Road, then south to Lobdell and you will arrive at the site.
Enter a barn-style store that offers sweet treats, apples, and of course, fresh-squeezed apple cider and donuts. Choose from an assortment of different sized plastic bags that can be stuffed to overflowing with your favorite apples from bins sitting on the floor.
Outside, pumpkins line the storefront, the picnic tables and playground are around to the side, while the orchard extends out the back of the property.
Mueller’s is a family-owned orchard that produces a large number of apple varieties during the fall season. Hours are 9 am to 6 pm, 7 days a week during September and October. Starting November 4th, 10 am to 5 pm. They offer UPS Shipping of their apples, November 4th thru the 27th.
Parshallville Cider Mill
If history is your thing, then a visit to the Parshallville Cider Mill should be on your fall agenda. According to their website:
“Located in Livingston County, the small hamlet of Parshallville sits on the banks of the North Ore Creek. Isaac Parshall scouted for a good mill site all along the Ore Creek and decided this was where they would begin their life and build Success Flour,” the year, 1869.
This, 150-year-old mill, is one of just a few water-powered mills still standing in Michigan. It was operated as a flour mill (Success Flour) and then a grist mill (Tom Walker’s Grist Mill) which ground grain and sold it to area farmers for animal feed. Tom Walker’s Grist Mill was deemed a historic site, by the State of Michigan in 1975. It serves as the store for the Cider Mill.
Inside you can see some of the building’s historic markings and purchase Apple Cider, warm spiced donuts, awesome caramel apples, and other sweet treats. Be sure to take home one of their locally famous, freshly baked, apple pies. You can even view their inventory online and place an order for pickup.
The Parshallville Cider Mill is currently open Monday–Sunday 9 am to 6 pm, November Hours are 10 am to 5 pm through the middle of the month. Weather permitting. The Cider Mill is located off US 23 between the Center Road and Clyde Road exits. Use Old 23 adjacent to the southbound lanes on the west side of the highway. Follow the signs to Parshallville Road which leads directly into the village and the Mill.
Spicer Orchards Farm Market, Winery & Cider Mill, Fudge, Bakery
That title should give you the idea that there is a lot going on at Spicer Orchards. It could include U-Pick, Children’s Playground, Wagon Rides, Pumpkin Patch, and Corn Maze. A visit will engage all your senses and you could easily spend a day at what could be described as an Autumn amusement park.
Let’s go down the list. You can buy orchard apples online, at the store, or U-Pick choosing from Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Fuji, McIntosh, and Golden Delicious varieties. Get your pumpkins from the patch out in the back or venture into the pumpkin growing field and select one still on the vine. Give the corn maze a try or let the kids loose on the playground. Check out Spicer’s Winery and their offering of traditional wines, fruit wines, or hard cider.
Donuts and Cider? You bet. In the store or online with curbside pickup. Weekends are special as vendors take over the storefront parking lot and offer Corn Roaster & Hot Potato’s, Pork BBQ, Funnel Cakes, Bubble Tea, and Kettle Corn. Just be aware, weekends are extremely popular and often draw many guests to the orchard. There is so much going on at Spicers, check out their website before you go and pre-plan your trip.
Spicers Orchards are located east of US 23 on Clyde Road. Farm Market Hours are 9 am to 7 pm daily and the last U-Pick wagon runs at 5:30 PM. Winery Hours are from 10 am to 7 pm daily.
COVID Safe
All three local orchards practice the State of Michigan and CDC pandemic safety protocols. Wear masks and maintain social distancing to help them keep their facilities virus free. Some activities may be curtailed or canceled due to weather and circumstances beyond the orchard’s control. Check before you go. Have fun and enjoy Michigan’s fabulous fall festivities.
