OUR HISTORY
Drumheller’s Orchard has been part of the community since 1937. That was the year Everette (E.O.) and Eva Drumheller bought the land from the Horsley family. Back then it was an unattended farm with old fruit trees scattered across the hills. They cleared, planted, and cared for the land, starting new peach and apple orchards. In the early 1940s they built the original packing shed, which grew over time to handle bigger harvests.
Their son Darrell joined the farm in 1957 and played a big part in its growth. He even designed a 110-gallon apple butter kettle with an electric stirrer that helped keep their apple butter recipe just right. Darrell’s three sons all worked on the farm after school, and his daughter pitched in whenever she could. Kevin stayed on and, together with his mother Doris, helped run the farm after Darrell passed away in 2005.
Kevin’s daughter Morgan came on board in 2008 and has been a big part of the orchard ever since. She helped set up the website and other ways to get the word out, and she still rolls up her sleeves to help with sales, school groups and the festival every fall. What started in the 1970s as a simple weekend of apple butter making and picking has grown into a full fall tradition. Visitors can ride out to the pumpkin patch, wander through the corn maze, try the apple sling shots, shop with local crafters, eat good food, enjoy live music, sip fresh cider and take home pies, cakes and plenty of apples.
The family has never stopped planting new varieties of peaches and apples. It keeps the season going longer and brings more people to the farm. There is also a new sales area and kitchen where the family makes pies, cakes, jams, jellies, ice cream, cobblers and more, all with the same care and recipes that have been passed down through the years.
After Doris passed away in September, the remaining family members came together to keep running the orchard. Every jar of apple butter and every basket of apples still carries the care and pride that started with Everette and Eva so many years ago.
Remembering Doris Drumheller
On Friday September 5th, we lost a very special part of our farm, Mrs. Doris Drumheller. To know her was to love her. She didn’t know a stranger and she always treated her friends and employees like family, and many even called her “Grandma, Grandma Doris or Grandma Drumheller”.
She could always be found during our annual fall festivals that she started many many years ago, dancing to the live music and socializing with the guests. She looked forward to these each and every year and prepared all the baked goods from her heart to share with others.
The sudden unexpected loss, lead us to shutdown the orchard for the past few days as we all needed time to process and grieve. We know it will never be the same without her, but we do know she would want us to continue all the family traditions, and that includes keeping the orchard running and hosting our annual fall festivals. We take comfort in knowing her legacy and spirit will be with us each and every day.
Click READ MORE to read Doris Drumheller’s full obituary and share your favorite memories, stories, or kind words in her honor.