MUNCIE, Ind- Jacobs Family Orchard, located in New Castle, is a fall favorite for locals. The Orchard has been owned and operated by the Jacobs family since 2002. The Orchard works hard to locally grow apples, vegetables and pumpkins.
Most famously, the orchard is known for its pumpkin patch, petting zoo, apple donuts and apple slushies. Jacobs has a large area for kids to play, including a basketball station, a climbable hay stack and a playground. The variety of things to do makes this orchard a go-to place for all kinds of people.
“We have a lot of customers that come every year, a lot of families, we have a large activity area that the kids can go out and play in and cut flowers, if they'd like to go out and cut flowers,” Samantha Jacobs, the owner, said.
People coming from year to year is a common trend at Jacobs. Customer Nancy Watson has come to Jacobs for decades. Even as her kids have grown up, Watson’s family still attends Jacobs yearly.
“We have come to Jacobs since my kids were young teens; they are in their 40s now, and it's just a fun place, they have really good apples, and the kids have fun playing on all the stuff here,” Nancy Watson, a customer, said.
While the Watson family is continuing to make memories at Jacobs, some families are just beginning their traditions. Customer Caleb Grubb’s family visited Jacobs for the first time this week. Grubb came with his two children, partner and his own parents. He says the Orchard is great for spending time with family.
“My kids are almost two, and so we've been reading books about pumpkins, and so it's great that they can go to a place, a pumpkin patch like they've read about,” customer Caleb Grubb said.
Jacobs Family Orchard is full of children running around and playing. The Orchard is able to meet the needs of older kids and toddlers. Melissa Ruther’s family enjoys coming every year with her older son and young daughter.
“I have an older son, and he likes to run around and pla,y and then we like to pick out the pumpkins and go on the hay ride, and we love their apple donuts, so it's just nice family time,” customer Melissa Ruther said.
Jacobs Family Orchard has been a festive activity to attend, a place to get treats and to continue traditions for many families. As time continues, more families will get to enjoy the orchard, even as their families grow and change.
Contact Estella Davis at estella.davis@bsu.edu.
