Tours run from Tues-Fridays 9am-3pm (last start is 2pm)
Space is limited, so call early to reserve a time for your class or group! Tour minimum number is 15 attendees, maximum is 50 this year.
Walking Educational Tour
View our 43 year old orchard. Learn about apple trees, how apples grow and how they are cared for, and pick your own small bag of apples.
Apple Cider Making Demonstrations
See how we make fresh, pasteurized cider with our rack and cloth cider press operation. Apple cider will never be the same! (The cider press runs an avg. of 1 day a week this year)
Visit our Bee Observation Hive
Observe a working hive of orchard bees up close.
Packing Shed and Cooler
See how we wash, sort, bag, and store our apples.
In addition to the bag of apples each attendee picks, the children will receive a cup of fresh apple cider, and half of an apple cider doughnut. Teachers and adults will each receive a whole apple crisp donut and an 8 oz. cup of apple cider slush or cider in addition to their bag of picked apples.
We also offer:
A large playground area and a separate preschool play area, 2 covered picnic areas, and 3 outdoor restrooms. Adult supervision is required on the playground.
**Price: $7.00 per person (this includes all adults/siblings in attendance ages 2 & up)
If you walk on the tour you are required to pay the tour fee.
**See below for Littles, Prek & Student/Adult tour options.
Two Teachers per class and Bus Drivers are free.
Please call 217-460-0283 to book your tours.
We will begin taking reservations for tours on August 8.
Reminders:
Please be on time; we try very hard to be on time so we expect the same from our groups. We book our tours very close together to get everyone scheduled. If you are late, we will have to shorten your tour. Group leaders: check with your drivers to be sure they have accurate directions and the correct location.
Please bring a black marker for writing the children’s names on their bag of apples and sippers, a box for safely transporting your apples back to your school, and baby wipes or hand sanitizer for the children’s hands.
Plan to bring some apples home to your family and friends. We also sell our fresh made cider, apple doughnuts, jellies, apple dumplings, cider slush, gourmet items, new apple themed crafts, and more.
**We do our best to keep the playground and picnic area clean, but we need your help. Please do your best to clean up after your group. Thanks so much!
*** Due to the transition period of replanting trees to replace old trees, U-Pick availability will be limited. We are prioritizing tours and we will try to at least pick one apple off of a tree, the remainder will be out of an apple bin placed in the orchard or off of the packing line.
***Max size for a school age group is approx 50, not including teachers and adult chaperones.
***Recommended size for a mixed age group including pre k - school age and adults is approximately 40. Max size is 50.
***If a Gluten Free & Dairy Free Apple Cider Donut is needed for a few students, please let us know that in advance. We plan to keep a limited amount in the freezer to accommodate food allergies. They do include eggs and are made in a facility where flours & gluten are used often.
The “Littles” Tour (3 yr olds): $6.50/child/adult/siblings over 2 yr
Prek Tour: $7/child/ adult/siblings over age 2
Educational Tour: $7 per child/adult/siblings over age 2
Add ons:
From I-70, Take Route 32 N. once you reach Sullivan, continue towards Lovington, approximately four miles. After going through the "S" curve, watch for the blue Tourist Activity sign titled Okaw Valley Orchard, it will direct you to turn left on County Road 1750 N. This road makes two 90 degree turns, be sure to stay on the paved road and continue until you see our sign.
From Decatur, take 121 East through Dalton City. One Quarter mile before Bethany look for Blue Tourist Activity sign titled Okaw Valley Orchard, it will direct you to turn left on County Road 1750 N. East 4 miles until you see our sign.
From I-57, take the Arcola exit 203. Turn west on IL. RT. 133, stay on RT. 133 all the way to Lovington, approx. 18 miles. In Lovington RT.133 "T"s with RT. 32. Take RT. 32 south approx 4 miles, watch for blue tourist activity sign titled Okaw Valley Orchard, it will direct you to turn right on county rd. 1750 N. This road makes two 90 degree turns, be sure to stay on the paved road until you see our sign.