We're closed for the season.
Thanks for a great year!

Our 2008 Festival dates have been set!
Join our email list for updates.

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Open September 1 through Thanksgiving Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday: Noon until 6 p.m. Click here for directions and map.

Sign up to get occasional news (more frequently in season) and special savings. We never sell, rent or share our mailing list.

Get a Farmyard Pass for only $6.25 for ages 3 and older ($4.25 on weekdays without wagon rides); sales tax included. A Farmyard Pass is not needed just to shop in our store, pick your own apples or enjoy our Welcome Porch.

Step Into "The Farmyard"

A Farmyard Pass is your ticket to all of the following:

• weekend hayrides around the farm
• Jumping Pillow NEW in 2008!
• hay castle
• corn pool
• corn maze
• hay maze
• rubber duck races NEW in 2008!
• apple sling shot NEW in 2008!
• one-room schoolhouse and time tunnel
• Three Little Pigs houses
• farm animals
• elk
• pedal tractors
• antique tractor display
• "rope-a-steer"
• Molly Moo, our life-size milking cow
• goat walk

We have a Country Store for those who wish to pick apples from the cooler, rather than our trees. There is also a wide and unique selection of jams, jellies, honey, sauces, baking mixes, frozen homemade apple pies, fudge and gift items. You'll find apple prices here.

Our Country Kitchen offers apple cider slushies, cider donuts, caramel apples, apple crisp and a variety of other good things to eat.

On weekdays, we have over 6,000 children visit each year with school tours.

Center Grove Orchard is the perfect place for no-fuss, full-of-fun birthday parties.

We are also a memorable gathering place for group outings. We offer bonfires and fire pit areas by reservation to church groups, clubs, youth groups and family gatherings.

We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and Discover. We also accept purchase orders for tour groups.

 

Our Story

Center Grove Orchard, owned and operated by the Larry D. Black Family, has been open to the public since 1994. The first apple trees were planted in 1986. We now have over 18 acres with 4,000 apple trees. We have 31 varieties of apples!

We are a working farm and apple orchard. Our wish is for our guests to experience a lively farm atmosphere and gather as many happy memories as apples. We work to provide our visitors with an enjoyable, educational experience in a peaceful country setting.

 

Directions

We are located just north of Ankeny and south of Ames, 5 miles east of I-35 on Highway 210 (Exit 102, Cambridge). Then, north 1/8 mile on 610th Ave.

Home | Festivals | Apples | Groups | School Tours

Member of Central Iowa Tourism Region
Listed on www.pickyourown.org