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Riley's Apple Farm is located in a small mountain hamlet in Oak
Glen, California. Oak Glen is situated midway between Palm Springs
and Big Bear. The elevation is about 5,000 feet and is ideal for
the cultivation of apples. We have four seasons, snowfall in the
winter, and reasonably cool summers. Part of the old Wilshire
homestead established in 1877, we continue to care for trees planted
as early as 1887. We currently cultivate 10 varieties of apples
- both new varieties such as Fuji, and some heirloom varieties
such as Winesaps, Northern Spy, Jonathons, Starkey Reds, McIntosh
and so on.
We are a "living history" farm where you can experience
the joy of picking fruit, pressing cider, making a rope, stacking
a log cabin, and many other activities that bring-to-life the
farm ways and customs of long ago. Most of the apple trees are
the "seedling" type: trees grown from an apple seed
rather than a piece of root stock. These are the fabled large
spreading trees that have largely disappeared and have been replaced
by modern "dwarf" trees. So if you want to sit "in
the shade of the old apple tree," you can do it here!
Weekdays are largely reserved for school and private tours, but
if you call ahead we can arrange to have small numbers of guests
pick apples. Weekends are open to the public for apple and raspberry
picking, cider pressing, archery, knife and tomahawk throwing
as well as classes in corn husk doll making. We open at 10 a.m.
and close the gates at 4 p.m. Try to come early as it is less
crowded in the morning hours. We provide bags, bottles, picking
poles and instructions. See our calendar
page for up-to-date hours & information.
Dennis and Sharon Riley are the original owners and will be your
hosts when you come to visit. We look forward to seeing you, or
hearing from you via e-mail.
NOW BOOKING 2007 Spring and Fall tours! Just give us a call!
We'd love to talk to you directly!
Riley's is Currently Closed for the Winter, but see our calendar for opening hours this coming spring!
U PICK: Open August for berries & late August for
U-picking.
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