GREEN BLUFF, Wash. – The first open weekend of the season has concluded at Walter’s Fruit Ranch, bringing several new attractions for visitors.
One of the new additions is freshly installed taps for local draft beers and ciders. Jason Morrell, the owner of Walter’s Fruit Ranch, noted the community’s positive response.”Oh, they love it,” Morrell said. “Something about a draft beer. People just like cold draft beer. Ya know, it’s the adult version of a kegger.”Morrell highlighted how his staff can quickly produce apples into cider, starting with thousands of apples picked annually from their farm.The process involves washing, oggering, and mashing the apples into a thick apple sauce-like consistency, including the skins. The apples are then wrapped in a special cloth, smashed into juice, and cleaned again.For hard cider, the juice is placed in a vat with yeast for three months before it’s ready for consumption. Morrell explained they produce about 80 gallons of cider for every thousand pounds of apples, contributing to the higher price of cider.Another exciting addition is a 25-foot tower introduced in their Barnyard Maze. Staff constructed the wooden tower last year, using over 1,000 wooden pallets from various shipments. This marks its first appearance during an opening weekend.Morrell shared that the tower replaces a hay maze built about 12 years ago, which had issues with kids knocking it over. Each year, organizers aim to add something new, taking roughly a month of work each time.Additionally, bouncy houses have been set up for kids, enhancing the family-friendly atmosphere at Walter’s Fruit Ranch.
More info on Walter’s Fruit Ranch here.
