20 Michigan cider mills and orchards to visit this fall

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 1:16 pm

Fall is Michigan’s supreme season. It’s the least the state can offer us before it blasts us with the cold, fluffy, white stuff for nearly half a year. Autumn is when Michigan’s true colors come alive as the leaves change and when everyone breaks out their buffalo plaid shirts and Carhartt jackets and hit the orchards.

Unfortunately, for many orchards and cider mills, the 2021 season was cut short because Jack Frost reared his ugly head early this past spring, but there are still a few open to get your doughnut and cider fix.

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Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill

17985 Armada Center Rd., Armada; 586-784-5343; blakefarms.com

Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill is a good time all year round, but it particularly shines in the fall. Blake’s is home to an 800-acre working farm and more than 40 different apple varieties. The farm and orchard also has a cider mill, kid’s Funland, tasting room, and a hard cider facility.

Photo via Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Detroit Farm & Cider

1600 Lawrence St., Detroit; 313-915-0057; detroitfarmandcider.com

Detroit native Leandra King opened the city’s first cider mill in 2020. While its regular programming is closed for the season, guests can still come by from 4-10 p.m. most Saturdays for three-course farm-to-table dinners held in the farm’s heated greenhouse. Tickets are $100 and include activities like apple-picking, horseback riding, musical entertainment, and a bonfire with vegan s’mores. Saturday, Nov. 6’s event features food from Pink Flamingo.

Photo via Detroit Farm & Cider/Instagram

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Apple Charlies South Huron Orchards and Cider Mill

38035 S. Huron Rd., New Boston; 734-753-9380;facebook.com/apple-charlies-south-huron-orchards

Family-owned and operated Apple Charlie’s offers a cozy atmosphere with fall foods and U-pick apples. The most standout thing about Apple Charlie’s? Its petting zoo. Sure other mills and orchards might have farm animals on site, but how many have an ostrich named Oz?

Photo via Apple Charlie’s/Facebook

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Alber Orchard & Cider Mill

13011 Bethel Church, Manchester; 734-428-9310; alberorchard.com

There’s an award-winning orchard and mill just 30 minutes from Ann Arbor and an hour away from Detroit that has more than 100 varieties of apples, including heirloom varieties. The quaint Alber Orchard & Cider Mill sells unpasteurized cider and invites guests to pick their own apples and pumpkins.

Photo via Alber Orchard/Facebook

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Bennett's Orchard

5647 Consear Rd., Ottawa Lake; 734-854-2523; bennettsorchard.com

For more than 60 years Bennett’s Orchard has been active in growing fresh fruit and vegetables. They offer fresh-pressed cider and doughnuts, along with their farm-fresh eggs, hard cider, and baked goods.

facebook.com/Bennett’s Orchard/Facebook

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Dexter Cider Mill

3685 Central St., Dexter; 734-426-8531; dextercidermill.com

The oldest operating cider mill in Michigan, the Dexter Cider Mill runs along the Huron River. Visitors can enjoy cider, caramel apples, doughnuts, and other classic fresh fall treats like bourbon barrel hard cider to-go.

Photo via Dexter Cider Mill/Facebook

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Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill

1479 Ranch, Holly; 248-634-8981; diehlsorchard.com

For more than 60 years Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill has grown fresh produce. The orchard also offers different activities such as a corn maze, hay ride, and pony rides.

Photo via Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill

61475 Silver Lake Rd., South Lyon; 248-437-0150;erwinorchards.com

This family-friendly farm offers a pick-your-own raspberry patch, apple orchard, and corn maze. The 200-acre farm grows apples, sweet cherries, raspberries, pumpkins, and asparagus.

Photo via Erwin Orchards / Facebook

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Franklin Cider Mill

7450 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Twp.; 248-626-2968;franklincidermill.com

The Franklin Cider Mill offers freshly pressed cider that’s not filtered and not pasteurized. The mill also offers honey, select cheeses, butters, and doughnuts.

Photo via Alex Washington

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Goodison Cider Mill

4295 Orion Rd., Rochester; 248-652-8450;goodisoncidermill.com

The Goodison Cider Mill offers old-fashioned apple pressing, making fresh cider for the entire season. The mill also offers breads, doughnuts, jams, and caramel apples.

Photo via Goodison/Facebook

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Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill

2588 Pinckney Rd., Howell; 517-242-3902; facebook.com/graingers-orchard-cider-mill

The Grainger's Orchard & Cider Mill offers that fuzzy fall feeling with their fresh cider and warm atmosphere. This mill offers family fun for everyone to enjoy.

Photo via Grainger’s Orchard/Facebook

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Lesser Farms Orchard and Cider Mill

12651 Island Lake Rd., Dexter; 734-426-8009; facebook.com/lesser-farms-and-orchard

Family-owned and operated, Lesser Farms Orchard and Cider Mill is nothing less than a perfect place to get your autumn on, and that includes grabbing some cider, doughnuts, and pumpkins.

Photo via Lesser Farms/Facebook

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Long’s Family Cider Mill

1540 E. Commerce Rd., Commerce Charter Twp.; 248-360-3774; longsorchard.com

Long’s Family Cider Mill has a variety of home-grown vegetables such as asparagus, peas, sweet corn, and garden vegetables. The farm also offers fun fall activities like apple picking and a pumpkin patch.

Photo via Long’s Family Cider Mill / Facebook

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Obstbaum Orchards & Cider Mill

9252 Currie Rd., Salem; 248-468-9180; obstbaum.com

The apples are popping at family-operated Obstbaum Orchards and Cider Mill in Salem, which has been serving the community for 40 years. They’ve got hayrides, treats, and pumpkins, too.

Photo via Obstbaum Orchards & Cider Mill/Facebook

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Parmenter’s Cider Mill

714 Baseline Rd., Northville; 248-349-3181; northvillecider.com

This Northville cider mill serves cider mill classics like caramel apples, sugared doughnuts, and of course apple cider. It also dishes out specialty doughnut flavors with flavors that switch up often.

Photo via Alex Washington

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Rochester Cider Mill

5125 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester; 248-651-4224; rochestercidermill.com

Rochester’s has been doing their thing for generations, and specializes in comfort — be it unpasteurized cider, doughnuts, or an inviting atmosphere. The cider flavors don’t stop at apple either, Rochester offers other varieties including grape and pear.

Photo via Rochester Cider Mill/ Facebook

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Spicer Orchards

10411 Clyde, Fenton; 810-632-7692; spicerorchards.com

The Spicer Orchard offers train rides, a winery, and a corn maze. They also have an assortment of edibles such as funnel cake, bubble tea, and pork barbecue.

Photo via Spicer Orchards/Facebook

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Verellen Orchards

63260 Van Dyke, Romeo; 586-752-2989; verellenorchards.com

For more than 100 years the Verellen Orchards have provided farm-to-table produce. The farm’s offerings include tomatoes, bell peppers, fresh pies, and homemade zucchini bread.

Photo via Verellen Orchards / Facebook

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Wiard's Orchards & Country Fair

5565 Merritt, Ypsilanti; 734-482-7744; wiards.com

Established in 1837, Wiard’s Orchards & Country fair has a lot going on. Sure, there’s doughnuts, U-pick apples, a pumpkin patch, and fresh cider, but they also have a corn maze, hay ride, and entertainment park with a variety of activities.

Photo via Wiard’s Orchards & Country Fair/Facebook

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Yates Cider Mill

1990 E. Avon Rd., Rochester; 248-651-8300 | 2375 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion 248-481-9203;yatescidermill.com

This 155-year-old mill offers fall treats and fall experiences — all we need is fall weather. Yates has two locations, and both offer similar attractions. The Yates Ice Cream Shoppe invites those with a sweet tooth to make any number of homemade apple-centric baked goods à la mode. They also offer historic mill tours, pony rides, river walks, and cider making.

Photo via Yates Cider Mill / Facecbook

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