Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch

Approximately twenty years ago, when our children were attending field trips, we had the pleasure of visiting Critter's Orchard. It was a delightful apple orchard with a pumpkin patch, a beehive, and several petting animals, including goats, rabbits, and chickens, which the children enjoyed interacting with. It was a truly pleasant experience back then, and the children were particularly fond of it. My husband and I recently revisited the orchard, and we were quite impressed by the transformations. It is truly remarkable. They have significantly enhanced their offerings. The orchard was bustling with children and visitors of all ages. They have a lovely gift shop that offers a diverse selection of items. It was a wonderful day spent admiring pumpkins, honey, and apples, and they even had a cafe where we could enjoy a meal. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of options available.

A fabulous place for everyone in the family. This place is simply magical. And the apple cider donuts….GOOD LORD are they DELICIOUS!!!!! Oh and the apple slushy is absolutely phenomenal. I just loved the entire experience. It’s 2 hours from my house but let me tell you it is worth the drive. I have been to many pumpkin patches and I have to say this is by far our favorite! Seems to be popular with the college kids too. It was pretty packed with folks of all ages. What fun!

I recently spent a day at Curtis Orchard, and it was a fantastic experience! The apple farm is well-kept, and we had a blast picking our own apples—they were fresh, crisp, and incredibly delicious. We also explored the pumpkin patch, which was full of great pumpkins for fall decorating. For kids, there’s so much to do, from feeding goats to enjoying the playground. The Flying Monkey Cafe is a must-visit; the apple cider donuts and hot cider made for the perfect snack. This place captures the essence of fall and is perfect for families or anyone looking to get into the seasonal spirit. Highly recommend for a fun, memorable outing!

A beautiful, family-owned farm with the best pecan pie I’ve ever had. It paired perfectly with their sweet apple cider. The people were incredibly warm and welcoming! Such a lovely experience:)

We were highly impressed with the retail store and all the options inside. Although the weather was super warm the Flying Monkey Cafe coffee, hot cocoa and cappuccino were all VERY HOT. We enjoyed the drinks with a donut and apple fritter...just a fair warning that the drinks were super hot and I was glad my kids are old enough to handle that. I would have given it 5 stars if we could have done just the corn maze on a token and not the wristband pricing.

Cute place to be. Lots of activities for youngsters (plus apple picking of course). Tried hot and cold cider loved both but the hot had some additional spice and tasted like a warm apple pie. Didn't try the Cafe but they do have one and the shop had lots of options for a foodie and decor to choose from.

One of the best places to go around this area during fall time, so much fun things to do for kids and adults! They even have a whole flower field where you can pick your own bouquet now!

I miss the old token system… requiring wristbands for the parents who just want to be within eyesight of their kids is a bit much. I think it would work better to let wristbands only inside the attractions but have the open area free to enter. This was a much more enjoyable experience last year.

This is such a nice place for kids to play, adults to shop and delicious fresh made daily apple donuts! The apples are beautiful. They even make their own honey. For a lovely day outside it's a must do.

One of the best things about Champaign, love their farm stand with fresh fruit and veggies. Apple picking was a big let down with many kids running amok, no apples in multiple lanes. Definitely would not do that again but love their apple cider and little curios in the gift shop. The staff is very nice and friendly, just really sweet people.

So happy to find this location close to campus. Had all our favorites... kettle corn, cider, donuts (go with glazed), apples and a cool selection of pumpkins, gourds, etc. Lots of photo ops. Tons of stuff for younger kiddos. Definitely the place for fall vibes!

Really fun experience, but the prices are very high.. for everything you get nickled and dimed. My husband and I were charged $15 each to supervise our two kids in the gated area, also $15 each. Grand total $60. This prevented us from buying or doing literally anything else. No pumpkins, treats, pony ride, didn't see the orchard, etc. We spent about 2 hours there.

Love Curtis Orchard! Have been visiting here for years and hadn't been back in a while. They've done so much!! New play area and all sorts of fun activities for the kids. I went apple picking this time (how had I not done that before?!) and it was so fun - even in the hot sun. The rows of trees with ripe fruit are well marked and there are plenty of apples at different heights. I also shopped. Definitely try the cranberry orange pecan butter. I should have bought a case! The staff was so nice as I was in and out with flowers and food and decorations. I ate at the restaurant as well. Donuts have been a go-to but I tried the pulled pork (yum) and sides. Everything was simple yet delicious. Generous portions also. Clean restrooms! It gets busy in the fall but this spot is 100% worth a visit. Can't wait to return. Don't forget a photo op in the giant chair!

Really good apple cider. Their pulled pork was real porky. The chairs were very comfortable.

Always a Champaign Classic! Its pretty much an apple orchard kind of place that you do during the fall. If you are looking more for apples, pies, and cider, this place is for you. They have some entertainment in the front, but it seems much smaller than most places. This is really more of a place to shop and grab a doughnut or a piece of pie. Nothing wrong with that! In fact, I would say their selection is better than most. Good cider too at a fair price. Their doughnuts are a bit on the expensive side, but what are you going to do? They're good!

This is a great apple and pumpkin farm. Had lunch here with my adult daughter. Food was unexpectedly good. Kitschy gift shop with holiday items (fall and Christmas), canned and baked goods. Good selection of fresh apples. U-pick trees are right outside the door. Great variety of pumpkins and gourds. We went at lunchtime on a Wednesday and it wasn't crowded. A delightful fall day.

Now charging $9 to walk around in the orchards and get pumpkins. No fun anymore. Very disappointing.

Wonderful in every way! From the great apple pie, to fancy baby gifts, come on in! Thank you, lovelies!

Sensuous and seductive pies and desserts. A sexy venue with voluptuous decor and tenacious and titillating ambience. We slathered our treats with honey and slurped up the fresh cold whipped cream. Our treats were so divine they made us positively corpulent with delight...especially with the creamy fixings! Thank you for providing us a venue for our tantalizing rendezvous.

This review concerns the Flying Monkey cafe, not the whole shop. It was only after i filled in the order couoon and headed down to the order desk that i spotted the priced menu - this was not going to be cheap. The meal consisted of about two tablespoons of pulled pork with apple in a bun, a spoon of green beans from a can, a slice of pie and a bottle of water. This cost over $15 - more than the cost of a delicious cat fish dinner at Cracker Barrel. In short, a vastly overpriced mediocre meal which i would recommend you avoid

This would be a very fun afternoon if you're under the age of 10. Many, many activities for the kiddos. Disclaimer: not for introverts or people who strongly dislike crowds; weekends are particularly horrible. Pros: free parking and admission, food in every nook and cranny, expansive gift shop (maybe too expansive?), nice selection of pumpkins and gourds. Very well staffed and the long lines moved rather quickly. I didn't think prices were too bad. Apple donuts are tasty and my husband enjoyed the cider. I can't speak to the Apple picking policy, as we didn't venture into the orchards on this visit. Cons: horribly crowded on weekends. If you don't have a traditional 8am-5pm weekday job, I highly recommend visiting during the week. A parking person might be nice; or a sign signaling when lots are full. Would definitely return again; sure to avoid Saturday & Sunday.

The Flying Monkey Cafe is located in the orchard. It has a unique self order style you rarely see anywhere. There is a nice variety of lunch options and drinks. The place has a undersized dining room for how popular this place is. Fortunately, it has a large size outdoor dining area. The food is prepared to order and has ample portions. It also offers children's meals which is nice on the budget. It is self order and self pick up so there is little waiting for your order. The service behind the counter is friendly and efficient. There is a gift shop where you can purchase a wide variety of apple favored baked goods. The shop also has many keepsakes to remind you of your visit. Outside there are many kids activities both free and a small fee. The main attraction by far is the kitties, if you're lucky enough to get one to come close. Overall great place for the entire family.

Unique ordering with self select paper menu slips. Food is good, everything was tasty. Pumpkin Bar was a highlight. Pick your own apples is fun!

This small town orchard has really expanded! In addition to apples and peaches and pumpkins (oh my!) there's a petting booth, a gift shop, a cafe, and pony rides. I love the honey and local jams that Curtis Orchards sells, and it isn't fall if I can't buy apple cider. This is a great place to spend a couple of hours with the kids and have some delicious treats. Be sure to visit in the fall!

I was pretty disappointed in how overpriced everything is and how they try to nickel and dime you for every activity. It''s $5 (or five tokens) for a pony ride and $1 (one token) for a trip down the giant slide. We were going to pick our own apples from the orchard, but they require everyone in your group to buy a bag. (And the bags only hold a small number.) At the end of the trip, I promised my kids that we would go to Raders in Bloomington. We'd have to pay for a ticket to get in, but at least all the activities come with that ticket. We ended up buying a bag of honeycrisp and donuts, but I know we could have gotten a better price at the store

Curtis orchard is just an extreme disappointment. Super sky high prices and decrease quality products. Any kids attraction will put you in the poor house. Customer service is extremely rude. Forget buying a pumpkin there My burial plot cost less. I am being gracious by giving Them one star., Only because I had to.

Cute place, but do not go here on a Saturday if you have any concerns about social distancing. We were there yesterday and it was packed. I am sure the patches are fine, but the cafe and shop and eating areas were crazy. Way too many people inside and no spacing so people in line super close together. Some customers not great at wearing masks even with posted signs. Not enough staff to properly control this. We left because we felt uncomfortable.

Rude people and some are dishonest, money hungry owners. Inflation is one thing but you go broke to buy a pumpkin . Better tasting apple donuts at Aldi, and 3/4 less expensive. Don't ever try to return anything, you have to work for the Cartel before they'll accept it. Old set up and double the expenses to do anything for the kids. Cafe food is small and nasty. The only thing nice without spending money are the cute paintings on the walls. Twenty five years ago they were pleasant and clean and respectful even though they were a little pricey. Today Curtis Orchard should close their doors. All the other pumpkin patches and orchards around Are far more reasonable and enjoyable. Can't say enough bad things about this place.

Fall is my favorite season. Sunny, crisp weather is great for heading to a football game or out to the apple orchard to pick. Curtis Orchard is a family-friendly place to take the kids and get apples and all the related jams, preserves, baked goods, and other goods you can imagine. If you enjoy apple-picking, this is a great choice. Don't miss the famous apple donuts if you go.

Apple Doughnuts. If that doesn't make you go then there are Honey Crisp Apples, Pumpkins, handmade jams and cider. And then, there's pie! It is a fun place for adults and the kids I have seen there seem to be LOVING it! Give it a try before or after a football game.

A massively commercialized "farm" experience, but what the hell? It's pretty damn fun. You get to pick some apples, pet a goat, find a pumpkin, wander a corn maze, eat some AMAZING fresh hot apple donuts, grab some soybeans, or frolic amongst the squash--ALL AT ONCE. I liked it. It was cheesy and a bit cliche, and the people that were visiting were as much farmers as I (a Los Angeles transplant) am. But that's alright. I spotted everyone from a nun to a group of African international students to a Chicago businessman in the cafe eating those delicious donuts.

Landmark review: It only took 1 year before I got to experience Curtis Orchard. I can see why so many people are fans of this place. Unlikely many other attractions where you have to pay money for admission and more money for activities, they allow you to explore for free and you only pay for what you buy or play. My son enjoyed the pony rides 5 dollars, playground free, and the giant slide 1 dollar. You can actually get an all day pass for 25 dollars as well. (Play-All-Day Wristbands - $25 each (includes two pony rides, five rounds in the Wicked Orchard Shoot-Out, and unlimited play on all other activities). Does not include face painting or Wayne's Kettle Korn. The purchase of a child's wristband includes a free wristband for one adult.) There are a lot of other activities as well including a corn maze, obstacle course, and wagon ride. For the little ones it was nice to pick and chose which ones he wanted to go. The other major highlight is picking your own pumpkin or going into the apple orchard to pick apples. We did not do this during our visit. Finally the store has everything from apple cider to apple cider donuts. Expensive, but tasty! Hidden deals: Get the fresh bags of imperfect apple cider donuts. They really look the same, but they come in a bag and are simply delicious.

If you're in the area, it's a nice fun place to spend an afternoon in. Picking fruit or pumpkins is fun if you're with family or a couple friends and the food items are quite addictive, especially their donuts.

They have so much to offer! The apple cider is so good, their Amish-style fudge is great, and they have these cool elaborate stones and I had to buy them. I didn't know strawberry and hot chocolate butter existed, and it looked delicious so I had to buy some. The employees were so nice and cheery!

Curtis Orchard's one of the most illuminating examples of capitalism from top to bottom, its systematic enterprise propelled by social media and reduced to a simplistic, romanticized image of a farm through word of mouth. That said, it's a great place for kids with lots of activities for them to do-- from slides to riding on the back of little ponies, feeding goats and rolling around in the pumpkin patch-- as long as their parents are willing to spend the dough (the costs have already been mentioned by several reviews). I was also a little disappointed by the deceptive apple donuts, which despite its popularity, breaks down to fresh fried dough dipped in sugar with a sour apple aftertaste.

Disappointing for a local business. Inside store was fine and comfortable. Outdoor area should either be closed completely or have mandated masks and rules. "At your own risk" puts the business and others at risk. Not one person wearing a mask outside. Unsafe environment and no thought has been placed into its maintenance.

Pretty cool place we have in here C-U. There's something here for the whole family. They have a nice area for you to be able to feed the goats which is always fun, and there are multiple spots set up for some great pictures. They have their general store that offers a wide variety of food and craft items where you can stock up on apple cider donuts or even some corn salsa. There's so much available, it's great. Last time we were we here picked apples. They've changed the process and make every person going into the orchard pay for a bag to put their apples in, and the bags are smaller than they were in previous years. It's still a good deal though overall though. You really can't beat apples picked right off the tree, so good. Overall, Curtis Orchard is a great place to spend some time at with friends or family. With everything that they have to offer, everyone is sure to have a good time.

We used to come to Curtis Orchard sometimes. The $5/bag charge isn't the worst bit, it's that you can't enter the orchard without one. I visited today on weekday with family of five and paid $20..but the worst part was there were no apples left on the tree to pick. The girl on the counter told us "tough luck" as all the people visiting during Columbus day long weekend might have picked it all.. sorry you will have to give us $20.. take some rotten apples lying on the ground.

Tip: Don't go pumpkin picking when it's over 80 degrees! This fun outing turned into slave labor very quickly. The urge to sing spirituals was overwhelming. Grab a rickety red wagon and walk the dirt path out to the pumpkin patch and pick your pumpkin baby. It's dusty and dirty so leave your fancy duds at home. Most of the pumpkins were easy to remove from the vines but some of them required a bit of tugging and yanking so I suggest bringing a pocket knife or Wolverine. In addition to pumpkins you can get all sorts of gourds for eating or decorating and they have some pretty strange shapes. Let's just say we giggled like 12 year olds at certain shapes. I know, I know, grow up! Other Highlights: Apple donuts are the shizz! Giant sized rocking chair makes a great photo prop once you're able to push the families and kids out of the way. No so high lights: Lines can get crazy and they move like molasses Pricing for some of the items in the store are insane and laughable. The dirty pumpkin washing basin, no way to keep it clean of course but I still don't like it.

The fall is not complete without a couple trips to Curtis Orchard. We usually go at least twice during the football season. They have AMAZING apple doughnuts, a spectacular apple selection, mums, pumpkins, gourds, pies, and almost anything else you can imagine. Sometimes we pick our own apples and other times we are in more of a time crunch. Either way we are always pleased with the selection. When you are in Champaign, you should find a way to work this into your visit. Enjoy!

This place is my childhood. The cats that roam around when you're outside eating you delicious apple doughnuts paired with their apple cider. As a Midwesterner who loves fall this is my fantasy. I love the Wizard of Oz theme! It's a great family friendly place. There's a plethora of pumpkins to pick. The employees are all very kind from what I've experienced. I do notice the price but it's a awesome place to come to ,so I really can't resist. After you get home you can enjoy their honeys,jams,peaches, and of course apples!

This will always be a special orchard and patch for me. My family used to take us apple picking when we were just wee little things. But this was the first orchard I'd developed a relationship with on my own. Kinda like my own autumn haven when I was in college -- acres of trees away from campus with the sweet smells of apple and spices in the crisp autumn air...ahhh.... The fact that its a dual apple and pumpkin one-stop-shop rules. And I'm a sucker for u-pick, so none of that off-the-shelf stuff for me. I like to stretch and toil and twist and cut to get the luscious, crisp apples and plump, thorny pumpkins! Although I admit even pre-picked items here are pretty good if you come too late in the season to pick. It's way better than the mealy dealies in the groceries, that's for sure! But Curtis is more than just the pickin'. Its little shop is so homey and quaint and the Wizard of Oz themes bring me back home. They've got great comfort food and baked goodies (fresh apple-cinnamon donuts that you can watch through a window being made by the donut machine!) as well as all sorts of preserves, butters and knick-knacks you can take home. This is where I first tasted apple butter. And man, do I love it.... Take some time, even if you're an adult, to go through the maze or the giant slide (I guarantee you'll want one in your back yard!) and watch the goats at play. You'll feel much better for it, trust me. Makes me feel like a kid again. Like fresh apple butter on warm cinnamon toast, Curtis Orchard is a choice kiss for autumn!

I have been here many times. The kids love it and they do not charge to get in. However, they basically charge for everything else. There are your basic pumpkin patch staples like a corn maze and a tour of the pumpkin patch. They also have face painting, pony rides, inflatables (2), playground, mini golf, a barn with a hay loft the kids can jump out of. Also kettle corn cooked outside and a bluegrass band playing. The inflatables were very frustrating to me because they only let one child through the obstacle course at a time. The person overseeing it is a kid probably in high school. We waited and waited for the little kid who went in front of my daughter to get done. He seemed to have disappeared. Everyone just stood there and did nothing to encourage the child to come out. I would say we waited for 10 to 15 minutes before the grandmother finally decided to go see where he was. What I am getting at here is that the person supervising the inflatable should have had more of a backbone and spoke up to the Grandmother or the child so the other kids did not have to wait such a long time. Thankfully my daughter had way more patience then I did because I was fuming. This was the first time I ate of the Flying Monkey. The line was long and it went slow. But, it was worth it. The green beans were really good. I wish I knew what they put in them. I also had the Au gratin potatoes and I personally like them. They were fresh and not greasy. I overheard someone say that the chili was the best chili they have ever had. I did not try it. Everything looked good to me. The apple donuts are good but not my thing. They are about $10 per dozen which marks them expensive in my book. The cider is $8 a gallon. I did not pick apples or pumpkins so I can not comment on those aspects of the orchard. But all in all I really enjoyed our time spent here and I thought the food was good.

Let me start by saying that Curtis Orchard sells delicious food. The apples, cider, jams, jellies and so forth are great. There are some great options if you want sugar and salt free products that still taste amazing! However, the prices are high. If they were more reasonable I would visit much more often.

Yes it's pricey, so coming here to pick pumpkins or apples probably will not be your new weekly ritual. But if you have kids or just want to go in a casual outdoors date with activities, Curtis Orchard is a great option. Make sure to try the apple cider and apple doughnuts (only fresh and hot, they lose all their flavor after cooling down). Both are addictive.

Curtis Orchard is a fall staple for going pumpkin picking and buying apple doughnuts with cider. The atmosphere still feels the same to me as it did when I would come here at age 5. It's so homey and has a general happy vibe. The reason I am rating them four stars is for two reasons: 1. Everything is pricey 2. The crowds in the small store is a nightmare when you go during the fall season. With the amount of people that go to Curtis Orchard, they should really look into expanding the store so people have room to breathe.

If you would've asked me to rate this place when I was in high school, or before that, it would've gotten 5 stars, hands down. But now, it's overly corporate and maxed out. Every time I go there in the fall, it's completely packed and almost unbearable. I miss the days when the old-school donut maker was there with just a few simple picnic benches. Now they have a full lunch-bar and cafeteria-like room. Then of course there's the rest of the property, which is updated and completely unrecognizable to those of us who had such nostalgic, childhood ties to it. That being said, I still have a strong emotional attachment to the place. Above all, they still manage to crank out some awesome apple cider, apple donuts, honey, and other produce. I also go there to pick pumpkins if I'm ever in town around Halloween. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else.

This place is ridiculous. Maybe it's worth the premium if you have kids, but I can't get on board. A pumpkin that costs $4 at Meijer is $16. A $5 gallon of cider is $9. I used to work at farmer's markets in heavily gentrified areas of Baltimore and Washington DC and people would have laughed in my face if I tried to charge this much. The apple doughnuts were the only thing I found worthwhile.

Curtis Orchard is a traditional autumn activity for me. Much of the decorations are incredibly cheesy (with a Wizard of Oz theme), and I have to agree with other reviewers who complain that the crowds here are enough to give anyone claustrophobia. Still, I see so many carefree smiles that it's hard not to get caught up in the positive energy. Check out the orchard website to see if your favorite type of apple is in season. Fruit-picking can be a fun activity, but at Curtis, it's probably reserved for the wealthy ($9 for a 1/2 peck!?). I really wish they would sell smaller bags, because I'm usually sick of apples a week later. During my visits, I tend to spend more time in the gift shop than out with the apples. For tourists, this is a great place to pick up a non-Illini-themed souvenir to remind you of Champaign. Many of the items keep with the whole country theme (comfort food cookbooks, home decorations, etc.). Being a family attraction, they've also got lots of neat, traditional children's stuff, like wooden toys, plastic animals, and prop sets for playing "pretend" games. In terms of food, they're stocked with pies, apple donuts, and cider. The popularity of these items is so obvious; you can buy single donuts and fritters at the check-out registers. One aisle is all jarred pantry items: jellies, preserves, pickles, and salsas. They've got special cases so that you can mix-and-match your favorite jarred items to make a gift set for friends. At their Flying Monkey Cafe, you can grab a quick meal from a cafeteria-style line. Most of it is American home-cooking, with barbecue, casseroles, and pie. Nothing really stands out as amazing, but I would caution to stay away from the au gratin potatoes (they taste like they were made from a box, but under-flavored and greasier). The price of combination platters range from $6 to $10, kind of high for the quality (I guess attractions never have cheap food, even out in Champaign).

You know.....maybe I just don't go apple picking often enough, but $9 for a bag of apples seems a little steep, don't you think? It was actually something like fifty cents cheaper to buy pre-picked, pre-bagged apples. Why does my labor cost me more money than their labor? So weird. Anyway. Curtis Orchard is a very pleasant experience overall. It was a beautfiul autumn day, and while it was busy, the orchard is huge, which allows for avoiding human interaction. Most of the people were out in the pumpkin patch, anyway. The apples wound up being very tart and delicious, but it was kind of arduous finding ones that weren't horribly misfigured (in a scary way) by hail damage. I think what would merit another go-round is the store. Cider donughts! Various fruit butters! Many flavors of pasta! Syrups! Pickled bloody mary goods! I was in food accessory heaven, friends. That alone is a reason to visit.

Took the grandkids last week and had a great time. Everyone had masks on for those that are worried about being outside or in. They are required inside and definitely suggested anywhere outside except where you can sit and eat. It was the first time It wasn't too crowded to eat at the restaurant since we went through the week. The kids absolutely loved the train in the dining room! Not all the attractions are open but there was still plenty for four kids 5 and under to do. They had a great time and it was very relaxing for the adults. I'm already out of apple butter so will need to go back very soon!

The corn maze is not a corn maze it is a corn path. Do not pay for it at $5 a person it is a joke. They do have a nice assortment of pumpkins in different colors.

It is nice that there are places like this in Illinois. It may be a bit of a hike to get here, but I see some trips in the future once the little one is old enough. This is a great place to take kids and the family for a nice day trip. The orchard is very close off the main highway so there isn't a lot of searching and they have their own gravel lot for parking. There is no admission fee to enter or do any of the activities. We did, however, happily pay 25 cents to feed the goats, and they appreciated it very much. Aside from a few animals there are play areas for kids, mazes and they have pick your own apples. It was 9$ for a half peck bag, which was 16 small apples for us. The items in the shop are fairly expensive compared to other similar places. Jams and jellies were between 4 and 6 a jar and their pies were 12.99. They did have an absolutely delicious apple cider slushie for 3.49 and it was totally worth it. They do have a small restaurant that serves food for lunch and of course cider doughnuts all the time. The doughnuts were 89 cents each and I think they were about 7 a dozen, but they were fluffy and delicious.

It was entertaining for an afternoon, but all the apples were gone by the time I got the chance to visit. Sad. However, the weather was still awesome enough to take a stab at their corn maze, and play with the goats. I found all those 4 marker things and gave my filled out sheet to a little girl who was looking longingly at the blow-up slide. =) I guess I was expecting a lot more because my friends all rave about this place. True, their store and variety of jams and goodies was pretty neat, but $9 for a little baggie for apples? No thanks. Actually, everything there I would say was overpriced. It was worth going the once to say I did it, but as for going back again? Ehhh... maybe next year....

I live about 45 miles away from Curtis Orchard but really didn't discover it until my daughter had my first grandchild. She lived about 45 miles the other way and we met in the middle at the Orchard for my grandson's first visit. Since then going to Curtis Orchard is a MUST HAVE in the fall - we have been going for nine years now!! They have evolved over the years from a plain orchard and pumpkin patch to a fun and accessible destination. They offer pumpkins already picked to choose from in the front OR you can walk back to the patch, pulling the provided wagons, and pick out one for yourself. The walk is fun, and the kids love roaming around the patch (yes, she added a granddaughter a few years later). Once the perfect pumpkin is located, the kids love to "wash" it off in the provided troughs of water. Then the fun begins for Grandma - they have a lovely store with lots of cooking accessories, kids items, decorative items and the best thing of all - home made apple/cinnamon donuts! They have a cafe that has expanded in the last few years with a great food menu. I love the BBQ. They have home made pies, cobblers, caramel apples. You can eat these things there or you can take them home. I think I made three trips over this year and got the donuts and pies (those come either baked or frozen to be baked at a later time) for everyone in the family. For the kids, on the weekends, they offer a large play area, petting zoo, pony rides, balloon slides and bouncy houses...I'm sure I missed something because the kids love to play and are all over the place. They also offer a hayride that is totally safe. They go through the orchards, out to the pumpkin patch and back and that is also a must have. This year I found out something I didn't know - that they offer guided trips for schools. I went over with the grandkids classes to visit and got a behind the scenes look at how the apples are harvested, washed and pressed for cider, as well as a great presentation on how bees are a vital part of the apple's life. I can't say enough good about the Orchard. I haven't ever tried to pick the apples as I always pick up a bag of honeycrisp that they have picked and are for sale in the gift shop, but I know that is available. We look forward to our trip there every year and will definitely be going back. Best pumpkin patch in Central Illinois!

Busy on weekends with ppl of all ages and ethnic groups. Kid friendly. Pricey rides, kettle corn, food, and store products. The hot and canned foods are delish - and the apples, peaches are awesome everytime. The kids enjoy the rides and bouncy patch. 2-yr olds are free to enjoy all! The tractor ride tour of the grounds is rather lame but is an opportunity to sit and take a short ride to the pumpkin patch. Music may be provided during the weekend afternoons, which is nice. 3.5 stars.

Oh Curtis Orchard, you are now a "sell out" As nearly all of the farmland around them is now developed, maybe this has been a necessity. Who knows, but it makes me really sad. Went this weekend...1/2 peck u-Pick is now $9? That's Chicago style pricing. I know they have to make a living, and I am glad that people support local food, but I am now on the search for another mom and pop apple orchard that makes their own stuff (not packaged for...) This weekend they had price stickers on zucchini and other food. $1.60 for a zucchini. I guess Curtis is now the sheek place to go. It makes me sad...I bought my 2 bushels and came home. I won't be going back.