About:
The Justus family has been growing apples for over 100 years, we love what we do and invite you to come experience our apple orchard in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Enjoy a day in the country with your family, picking apples from our dwarf-size apple trees, bring your lunch and enjoy eating it at our new picnic area while you take in the beautiful views surrounding our apple orchard.
We offer apple orchard tours for families, church groups and other groups featuring quality apples and a great time for all. You can pick your own apples, or we can pick them for you, but whichever way you like it you're sure to find the variety of apple you love. Make sure while you are here you visit our bakery for your favorite dessert. We look forward to seeing you soon!
History:
Pete Justus and his father began growing apples at Justus Orchard in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
The farm continued with Ken Justus who grew apples with his father, Pete, from 1940’s through 1960. Ken and his wife Glenda Justus continued the apple tradition into the 60s and 70s. In the early 1970’s Glenda Justus was one of the first in North Carolina to invite customers to not only buy apples already picked but to go into the orchard and pick their own apples. ”U Pick or We Pick” has been a favorite tradition here with families ever since!
1985 through early 2000 came the next generation when Don Justus started growing apples with his father, Ken. The duo grew apples for many big named companies like “Gerber” and “White House” and had just a few fresh apples to sell in the fruit stand. Ken, Glenda, Don and his wife Margo continued to work together for 20 years.
In 2006 Don and Margo Justus took the reins and changed course to no longer sell apples to big named companies and shifted the business to Agritourism. With this came an expansion to the sales area, a bakery, animals to interact with and a play area for kids including a huge Jumping Pillow.
Every weekend you can find fun activities such as horse-drawn hayrides, music, face painting, vendors and even Sheriff, Fire and Rescue vehicles so kids can meet our men and women who bravely serve.
Justus Orchard has also upgraded to be more “picker friendly” with easy-to-pick from “dwarf trees.” We grow 17 different variety of apples, each turning ripe between August and October. Our bakery features our famous homemade fried apple pies, apple cider donuts, cider slushies and more.
Don and Margo’s two sons, Chris and Cory are the fifth generation to work this land between their full-time jobs. Chris is your local TV meteorologist and Cory is a Henderson County Sheriff Deputy. They and their wives Lauren and Brianna all ensure this family farm keeps going.
The 6th generation to farm this beautiful land was born in 2016! Mason (son to Chris and Lauren) was born in July of 2015, and Grayson (son to Cory and Brianna) was born in late September 2015. The Justus family goal is to keep farming and always provide a way to share this way of life with the public. We hope you enjoy your visit to our farm and continue to visit year after year. Our customers are what keep us going. Thank you and as always, please support your local farmer.