Wiard’s Orchard has been part of Michigan history since 1837, the same year Michigan became a state. Nearly two centuries later, the Ypsilanti destination still draws families for apple picking, fresh cider, cinnamon sugar donuts, and a long list of fall activities.
The property has grown far beyond its beginnings as an apple farm. Today, visitors can explore more than 100 acres, pick from thousands of apple trees, visit the Country Store and Bakery, and spend the day at a fall fair with a corn maze, wagon rides, play areas, and other family attractions.
After dark, the experience changes again with Night Terrors, the orchard’s elaborate haunted attraction.
That combination of nearly 190 years of family history and an increasingly ambitious lineup of fall activities makes Wiard’s much more than a quick cider-and-donut stop.
A Farm Rooted in 1837: The Oldest Family Story in Michigan
Not many businesses can trace their roots back to the same year Michigan became a state, but Wiard’s Orchard Country Store at 5565 Merritt Road in Ypsilanti, Michigan can. Founded in 1837 by George Wiard, this sprawling property in Washtenaw County holds the remarkable distinction of being Michigan’s oldest continuously family-owned business.
That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. The Wiard family, now with its seventh generation running daily operations and the eighth and ninth generations already getting involved, has kept the spirit of the original farm alive while carefully growing it into something much larger.
A major test came in the 1940s, when the construction of the Willow Run bomber plant forced the entire operation to relocate from its original site on Wiard Road. The family moved the orchard, cider mill, and all, to its current home spanning over 100 acres, and never looked back.
That resilience has defined every chapter since.
How a Simple Apple Farm Transformed Into a Fall Destination
The evolution of this orchard reads like a textbook on smart, patient growth. What began as a combination of apple orchards, a cider mill, a vinegar mill, and vineyards gradually expanded through the decades into something far more elaborate.
The 1950s brought a farm market, which was remodeled in the 1960s into the Country Store and Bakery that visitors know today. That same decade saw the current cider mill constructed and pumpkin fields added to the property.
The 1980s marked a turning point with the introduction of the Country Fair agri-entertainment complex, which introduced hayrides, a corn maze, a petting farm, a giant slide, and a bouncy area for younger children.
Between 2000 and 2012, the orchard added over 5,000 new apple trees and two large picnic pavilions. A partial land sale to Washtenaw County Parks in 2006 led to a complete rebuild of the Country Fair in 2007, launching a new era of family entertainment that continues to grow today.
Apple Picking Across More Than 100 Acres of Michigan Orchard
Michigan ranks third in the nation for apple production, and a walk through the U-pick orchards here makes that statistic feel very real. With more than 5,000 apple trees spread across over 100 acres, the variety on offer is genuinely impressive, covering nearly every taste preference imaginable.
Visitors can reach for a crisp Honeycrisp, a sweet Fuji, a mild Gala, or a tart Jonathan depending on the season and their plans for the fruit. Cortland apples are a popular choice for bakers, while Ambrosia and Ginger Gold appeal to those who prefer something lighter and floral.
The orchard also grows McIntosh, Blondie, and early-season varieties that keep the picking season active from late summer into fall.
Roughly 36 apples go into a single gallon of fresh cider, which gives you some appreciation for the scale of what happens here every autumn. Michigan even honors the apple blossom as its state flower, so picking fruit in this orchard feels like a deeply local, rooted experience.
The Cider Mill and Donut Shop That Started It All in 1964
Since 1964, Wiard’s has been making donuts, and the numbers tell quite a story. Over the decades, the cider mill and donut shop have produced an astonishing two million donuts, each one warm, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and, based on visitor feedback, nearly impossible to stop eating before you reach the car.
The Country Store and Bakery is open without a separate admission ticket, which means anyone can walk in off Merritt Road and leave with a half-dozen donuts, a jug of fresh-pressed apple cider, and a jar of locally made jam without paying fair entry fees. Apple fritters and hand-dipped caramel apples share shelf space with fresh-baked pies, honey, apple salsa, cherry butter, and garlic mustard.
All of it comes from fruit grown right on the property. The cider mill has pressed more than four million gallons of cider over its history, a figure that reflects just how central this sweet, tart drink has always been to the Wiard’s experience.
Every sip tastes unmistakably like Michigan in October.
The Country Fair: Where Fall Fun Goes Way Beyond Apple Picking
The Country Fair at Wiard’s is a full day on its own, and that’s not an overstatement. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM during the fall season, it packs an enormous range of activities into its sprawling grounds, covering everything from miniature golf to an apple cannon.
Families can wander through a corn maze, take Old West wagon rides, visit the petting farm, and let younger kids burn energy in the Firehouse Fun Zone, Captain Wiard’s Playground, or the Corn Queen Combine play area. The Learning Barn adds an educational angle, while Barnyard Racers and Chipmunk Corner keep the littlest visitors entertained.
Weekends bring extra attractions, including the Triple Giant Slide, fire engine rides, a Bungee Run, tractor races, and Splattertown paintball shooting. Valley View Mountain slides, Quacker Rapids, and Pappy Apple Playground round out the lineup.
Season passes are available for families who quickly realize one visit is never quite enough to see everything this place has to offer.
Night Terrors: The Haunted Attraction That Made National Headlines
When October settles in and the sun goes down early, Wiard’s Orchard reveals a completely different personality. Night Terrors, the orchard’s haunted thrill park, has earned a reputation that extends well beyond Michigan’s borders, and the accolades back that up.
In 2016, Hauntworld magazine recognized it as Michigan’s Premier Haunted Thrill Park and placed it among the Top 10 Scream Parks in the United States. Travel and Leisure magazine followed in 2018, naming it one of the top haunted attractions in the country.
Six distinct haunted experiences make up the lineup: The Ultimate Haunted Barn, The Asylum, The Mindshaft, the Hayride of the Lost, Alien Caged Clowns, and The Labyrinth.
The orchard also holds a unique historical distinction, being the very first orchard in the United States to incorporate a haunted attraction into its entertainment offerings, a pioneering decision that helped shape the entire agri-tourism haunted experience industry. The attraction is clearly labeled as not suitable for young children, so plan accordingly if your group includes little ones.
Community Events That Make This Orchard More Than a Seasonal Stop
A visit to Wiard’s during a special event weekend feels like stumbling into a small-town celebration that just happens to take place inside a historic orchard. Throughout the fall season, the property hosts a rotating calendar of community-focused gatherings that bring in locals and out-of-towners alike.
Teachers Appreciation Weekend offers free admission to educators and their families, a gesture that has resonated deeply with the local school community. The Fall Car and Jeep Show draws automotive enthusiasts with a gleaming display of classic vehicles, while the Craft Show Store Front showcases handmade goods from local artisans.
Community Awareness Weekend and 1st Responders and Military Weekend reflect the orchard’s genuine investment in the people around it.
The Kids Markets, where young entrepreneurs set up their own stalls with homemade products and big ideas, are a particular highlight that captures the orchard’s spirit of nurturing the next generation. The Run Scream Run event combines a physical challenge with seasonal fun, proving that Wiard’s has something scheduled for nearly every kind of visitor who makes the trip to Merritt Road.
Hidden History: Civil War Connections and Record-Breaking Numbers
Inside the Country Store, tucked between shelves of jams and cider jugs, the Wiard’s Museum offers a window into a history that stretches far beyond autumn apple picking. Few visitors expect to find a Civil War connection at a Michigan orchard, but the Wiard family’s story includes supplying apples and cider vinegar to Union troops during that conflict.
Relatives of the Wiard family in New York were also involved in manufacturing cannons for the Union Army, weaving the family into the broader national story in ways that feel genuinely surprising. The orchard was founded in 1837, the same year Michigan officially joined the United States, a coincidence that makes the farm feel like a living piece of state history.
The production numbers accumulated over nearly two centuries are staggering. The orchard has grown an estimated 24.5 million bushels of apples since its founding, a quantity that could theoretically circle the globe nearly seven and a half times if laid side by side.
These figures give real weight to the phrase “generational tradition.”
Planning Your Visit: Practical Tips for a Smooth Fall Outing
Getting the most out of a trip to Wiard’s Orchard takes a little planning, especially on weekends when crowds can build quickly on a beautiful fall afternoon. The fall season typically runs from mid-to-late September through early November, timed perfectly with peak apple and pumpkin harvests across Michigan.
Country Fair admission runs around $18 on weekdays and approximately $27 on weekends, though prices can change, so checking the official website at wiards.com before visiting is always a smart move. U-pick apples and pumpkins carry an additional cost beyond fair admission.
The Country Store and Bakery, on the other hand, requires no ticket at all, making it a free-entry option for those who just want donuts and cider.
Some of the most popular weekend attractions, including the Triple Giant Slide and fire engine rides, are only available on Saturdays and Sundays. Visiting during the week offers a noticeably quieter experience.
The orchard is reachable by phone at 734-482-7744 for up-to-date information on hours and U-pick availability before you head out.
Why Families Keep Coming Back Year After Year
There is something almost unexplainable about why certain places earn a permanent spot in a family’s annual calendar, and Wiard’s Orchard has managed to hold that position for generations of Michigan families. The combination of genuine history, hands-on activities, comfort food, and community warmth creates an experience that feels both familiar and fresh each autumn.
The orchard employs more than 300 people from the local area each season, and the staff culture reflects that community investment. Visitors frequently describe the atmosphere as warm, family-oriented, and welcoming, qualities that don’t happen by accident at a business nearly 190 years old.
Wiard’s has weathered the Flu Epidemic of 1918, the relocation forced by World War II industrial expansion, and the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging from each challenge with its identity intact. That kind of staying power is rare, and it speaks to something deeper than good donuts or a well-run corn maze.
This orchard endures because it genuinely means something to the people who visit it, season after season, generation after generation.
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