Unearth The Voyage
There is a farm tucked into the rolling hills near Baraboo, Wisconsin, where people willingly drive an hour or more just to grab a slice of cherry pie topped with lavender ice cream. That combination alone is enough to put it on most people’s radar, but the farm turns out to be far more than a pit stop for dessert.
Spread across 40 acres, it grows 26 varieties of lavender, hosts wagon tours, keeps farm animals, runs a well-stocked shop, and offers a genuinely unhurried afternoon in a part of Wisconsin that does not get nearly enough credit. The cherry pie and lavender ice cream may be the headline, but the story behind this place is worth reading all the way to the end.
The Farm That Started With a Vision
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm did not happen overnight. The property reflects years of deliberate planning, planting, and expansion by a family that clearly takes the craft of lavender farming seriously.
The farm spans 40 acres and has been developed with both agriculture and visitor experience in mind.
One of the most notable facts about the farm is that it grows 26 distinct varieties of lavender, each selected for different purposes. Some varieties are used in culinary products, others in body care, and still others are prized for their appearance in the fields.
The owner personally leads wagon tours and shares this knowledge with guests in a way that feels educational without being dry.
The original plan also included a cherry orchard, and while that planting did not survive, the cherry lavender pie remains a signature item on the farm. The story of those cherries, and how the farm adapted, says a lot about the resilience and creativity behind this operation.
The Wagon Tour Experience
The farm wagon tour is one of the most talked-about parts of a visit to New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm. Priced at around $15 per person and bookable online in advance, the tour starts with a short introduction from the owner and a 12-minute video that provides context about the farm and its lavender varieties.
From there, guests board a wagon pulled by a tractor, typically driven by the owner himself, for an 18-minute ride through the property. The tour covers the lavender fields, the wildflower areas, and various other features across the 40-acre grounds.
Along the route, farm animals make an appearance, and guests can feed them during the tour, which tends to be a highlight for families with children.
Tours run every 30 minutes, but spots fill up quickly, especially on weekends in peak season. Booking in advance online is strongly recommended to avoid missing out on what many consider the centerpiece of the visit.
Cherry Pie with Lavender Ice Cream
The cherry lavender pie is the reason many people first hear about this farm, and it consistently delivers on the promise. Made and baked on site, the pie uses a cherry lavender filling that balances fruit and herb in a way that feels both unexpected and completely natural.
Paired with lavender ice cream, the combination becomes the kind of thing people describe to friends long after the visit. The pie is available by the slice or as a whole pie, making it easy to take a little of that experience home.
Even though the farm no longer maintains its own cherry orchard, the recipe and the quality of the finished product have remained a constant.
For anyone making the drive specifically for this dessert, the farm kitchen does not disappoint. The cherry lavender pie has become a genuine signature of the farm, and the lavender ice cream alongside it is frequently called out as a must-try on its own merits.
26 Varieties of Lavender Across the Fields
Most people think of lavender as a single plant, but New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm grows 26 different varieties across its fields. Each variety has its own characteristics, whether that relates to height, bloom color, fragrance profile, or intended use.
The owner explains the differences during the wagon tour, and the breadth of knowledge on display is one of the more genuinely educational aspects of the visit.
White lavender is among the varieties that surprises many first-time visitors who did not know it existed. Seeing rows of different lavender types side by side gives a new appreciation for how much range exists within a single plant family.
The peak bloom period runs roughly from late June through July, and that window is when the fields are at their most photogenic. That said, the farm makes a point of offering a worthwhile visit outside of bloom season as well, with the shop, kitchen, and tour available year-round or on a seasonal schedule.
The Farm Shop and Its Lavender Products
The farm shop at New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm is one of those places where the product range genuinely catches people off guard. The guiding principle seems to be that if something can be made with lavender, it probably should be, and the shop follows through on that idea comprehensively.
Products include lavender-infused lotions, soaps, teas, syrups, culinary blends, salsa, brownie mix, pancake mix, essential oils, fresh lavender bundles, wreaths, and lavender plants ready for home gardens. The cherry lavender salsa in particular draws repeat purchases from people who discover it on their first visit.
Pricing is on the higher end, but the quality of the handcrafted products justifies the cost for most shoppers. Essential oil samples are available in the shop for reference.
Picking lavender from the fields is not permitted, but running fingers gently over the blooms is perfectly acceptable, and loose lavender can be purchased inside.
Lavender Drinks and Treats from the Kitchen
Beyond the cherry pie, the farm kitchen produces a range of lavender-based drinks and treats that make the visit feel like a full culinary experience rather than just a farm tour. Lavender lattes, lavender iced coffee, and lavender ice cream are among the items that get the most attention, and each one is made with lavender grown on the property.
Earl Grey lavender tea and peach ginger lavender tea are both available and have built their own following among regular visitors. The lemon lavender ice cream drink is another option that tends to become a household favorite after a single try.
Each item is priced at around five dollars, keeping the experience accessible without feeling like a budget compromise.
The kitchen also offers lavender macaroons and occasionally other baked goods depending on the season. For anyone who has never tried lavender in food or drink before, this is a genuinely low-pressure way to explore what the herb can do in a culinary context.
Native Wildflower Garden and Grounds to Explore
The lavender fields get most of the attention, but the grounds at New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm offer more to explore than just one crop. A native wildflower garden stretches across part of the property, providing a different kind of visual experience that complements the lavender fields rather than competing with them.
The wildflowers tend to reach full bloom a little later in summer than the lavender, so timing a visit for late July or August can mean catching both at their best. A labyrinth was recently added to the grounds and, while still young and not yet fully filled in with plantings, it adds an interesting structural element to the landscape.
Walking paths wind through the property, and guests are free to explore after the wagon tour ends. There is no time limit on how long people can stay and wander, which makes the farm a genuinely relaxed afternoon option rather than a quick attraction with a hard exit.
Farm Animals Along the Tour Route
One of the elements that sets the wagon tour apart from a simple drive through fields is the presence of farm animals along the route. Guests have the opportunity to feed the animals during the tour, which consistently ranks as a highlight for families traveling with young children.
The animals add a layer of engagement to what might otherwise be a purely informational tour, and the owner integrates them naturally into the flow of the ride rather than treating them as a separate attraction. For kids who may be less focused on the nuances of lavender cultivation, the animals provide a memorable anchor point for the whole experience.
The farm also keeps beehives in several locations across the property. The bees are active in the lavender during bloom season, but they are focused on the flowers and do not bother guests.
Seeing working hives up close is an unexpectedly interesting detail that many adults find just as engaging as the children do.
Water Features, Benches, and Garden Details
The grounds at New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm are designed with lingering in mind. Benches and water features are placed throughout the property, giving visitors natural places to pause and take in the surroundings without feeling like they need to keep moving.
A koi pond with a small waterfall sits on the property, and a separate pond nearby has attracted wildlife including tadpoles and bullfrogs. The overall layout feels intentional, as if the farm wants guests to slow down and actually absorb the setting rather than rush from one point to the next.
A porch swing pergola provides a shaded resting spot, and a small play structure is available for younger visitors. Yard games including cornhole are set up outside, adding a casual social element to the afternoon.
The combination of structured tour and open-ended exploration time is one of the things that makes a visit here feel genuinely complete rather than abbreviated.
Photography Opportunities Across the Property
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm is one of those places that creates photography opportunities at almost every turn. The rows of lavender in bloom provide natural leading lines and color contrast that work well in both wide shots and close-up detail photography.
The wildflower garden, water features, and rustic farm structures add variety beyond the fields themselves.
The farm has a dedicated selfie setup on the property, designed with portrait photography in mind. On overcast days, the diffused light tends to produce more even results than direct midday sun, which can cast strong shadows.
The farm grounds are large enough that it rarely feels crowded even when the parking area is full, giving photographers room to find their own angles.
Peak bloom in late June and July produces the most visually dramatic conditions, with the lavender at full color and the fields stretching across the rolling landscape. Visitors routinely spend two to three hours on the property, which allows enough time to photograph multiple areas thoroughly.
Picnic Dates and Group Visits
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm has developed a picnic date experience that draws couples looking for something more original than a standard restaurant outing. The picnic setup is priced accessibly and includes food from the farm kitchen along with the backdrop of the lavender fields and gardens.
The experience works well for small groups and families too, not just couples. With yard games available outside, a play structure for children, swing pergolas, and open grounds to walk after eating, a picnic visit fills a full afternoon without requiring any additional planning or activities nearby.
The farm’s layout encourages guests to transition naturally from the structured wagon tour into a more open-ended afternoon of exploring, eating, and relaxing. That flow from activity to leisure is part of what makes it a strong choice for groups that include people with different interests and energy levels.
The farm genuinely accommodates a range of paces and preferences without feeling like it is trying too hard to do so.
Best Time to Visit and What to Expect by Season
The most visually striking time to visit New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm is during the lavender bloom, which typically runs from late June through July. During this window, the fields are at full color and the farm is at its most photographed and most visited.
Weekend tours sell out regularly during peak season, so booking online in advance is not optional so much as essential.
That said, the farm makes a case for off-season visits as well. The shop, kitchen, and tour operate outside of bloom season, and the grounds are still worth exploring in early fall when the lavender has been harvested and the wildflowers may still be active.
The farm has noted that sunflowers are planned as an addition to the fields, which will eventually extend the visual appeal of a visit into a different season.
Early morning visits on weekdays tend to offer a quieter experience, and overcast days are actually ideal for photography, making a non-peak visit a practical choice for people who want the farm without the weekend crowds.
Practical Tips Before You Go
A few practical details can make the difference between a smooth visit and a frustrating one at New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm. Tickets for the wagon tour are purchased online in advance, and the $15 per person price point includes the introduction, the video presentation, and the full ride.
Arriving without a reservation during peak weekends means a real risk of missing the tour entirely.
The farm has one accessible restroom, which has been noted as a limitation during busy periods. There is no indoor public seating area to retreat to if the weather turns, so dressing for the conditions and planning for an outdoor afternoon is the right mindset going in.
Parking fills up during peak Saturday hours, but the farm grounds themselves rarely feel overcrowded even when the lot is full. A map of the property is provided at entry, which is genuinely useful given the 40-acre scale.
Comfortable walking shoes are a practical choice for anyone planning to explore beyond the wagon tour.
Why People Keep Coming Back
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm has built a loyal following of repeat visitors, and the reasons are not hard to identify. The combination of a genuinely educational tour, a well-stocked artisan shop, a kitchen that produces food and drinks people actually talk about, and 40 acres of grounds to explore creates an experience that covers more ground than most single-destination day trips.
The cherry lavender pie and lavender ice cream remain the most cited reasons for a first visit, but they are rarely the only reason people return. The shop draws people back for specific products they discovered on a previous trip, and the changing seasons mean the farm looks and feels different depending on when you arrive.
The family-run nature of the operation gives the whole place a quality that larger attractions tend to lose at scale. The owner driving the wagon, the staff who know the products personally, and the unhurried pace of the afternoon all add up to something that earns its reputation one visit at a time.
Where to Find This Lavender Destination
New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm sits at E10766 County Rd W, Baraboo, WI 53913, nestled in the scenic Baraboo Hills region of south-central Wisconsin. Getting there requires a short drive along winding country roads, which sets the tone for the kind of unhurried visit the farm encourages.
Baraboo itself is already a destination town, known for its circus history and proximity to Devil’s Lake State Park. The farm adds a completely different dimension to a trip through the area, one that feels agricultural, artisanal, and genuinely personal rather than commercialized.
First-time visitors should note that the entrance can be a little confusing. You enter through the front of the building and make your way to the back to purchase tickets before accessing the actual farm grounds.
A map of the property layout is provided, which makes navigating the 40 acres much easier once you head outside.
