In summer, there’s raspberries and strawberries, cherries and tomatoes, apples and blueberries. The apple season carries over into fall, along with pumpkins and blooming flowers. From above, the lines of orchards and plantings crisscross over 90 acres. Wilson’s Orchard and […]
Since Wilson’s Apple Orchard first opened to the public 35 years ago, the visitor experience has been centered around exactly what you would expect: apples. Over the last four decades, thousands of visitors have journeyed to the orchard in autumn […]
The opening of the Rapid Creek Cidery at Wilson’s Orchard on Dingleberry Road has been noted in several media stories applauding the project. While I am agnostic about the new building itself, there is an aside to the cidery story that should concern all county citizens. The cidery offers unique amenities, but those came at a high price and I hope they remain one of a kind.
The item in the June 2015 agenda was simple: An application by Wilson’s Orchard for a conditional use permit for a retail orchard and winery. As defined in the Johnson County Code of Ordinances, a retail orchard is “land used for the growing and limited sale of trees, fruits, vegetables and the retail sale of assorted products not produced on site.” The ordinance defines a cidery as “a facility for the preparation, marketing and distribution of (cider). May include a tasting room or sales area.” Good for Wilson’s, I thought. Not thinking those definitions would be abused, I did not attend that meeting. […]
Chef Matt Steigerwald and owner Katie Goering bring a restaurant, cider-tasting room and event space to Wilson’s Orchard this spring with the opening of Rapid Creek Cidery. The cidery is housed in an antique barn, meticulously reconstructed by Wilson’s owner […]
Iowa City’s Wilson’s Orchard just added hard cider to their list of apple offerings — “Goldmine.” I found a bottle of it at the Co-Op (it’s also available at John’s Grocery) a few weeks ago and I’ve been enjoying it […]
Back-to-school Weekend Wilson’s Orchard — Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23 School is (almost) back in session, and Wilson’s Orchard is hoping to ease the pain with a special back-to-school bash this Saturday and Sunday. The end-of-season party will include balloon […]
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