Cider Mill and Orchard in Fly Creek – Trip on a Tank

This is hands down my favorite time of year. I love cooler temperatures, leaves crunching under foot, comfy sweaters and visiting orchards and that’s exactly where Trip on a Tank took me and my family- to a cider mill and orchard in Fly Creek.

Fly Creek is located in the middle of Oneonta and Cooperstown and is the most adorable mill/orchard that I’ve ever visited and I’ve visited quite a few. The Cider Mill and Orchard is actually a historic, water-powered mill that people have been visiting for over 150 years.

As soon as we walked through the door to the gift shop, we were greeted by a woman with a huge smile who asked if we’d been there before. When we said we hadn’t, she told us we were in for a treat. She introduced herself and called other employees over to introduce them to us as well and let us know it would be their pleasure to serve us however they could. The friendly staffer explained that there were lots of samples for us to try and suggested that we be sure to peek in on the apple treats in the refrigerated section and to also be sure to taste test some wine in the wine corner.

The Fly Creek employee wasn’t kidding when she said there were lots of samples for us to try. By the time we made it around the room, we were pretty full just off of samples, but the smells wafting from the Snack Barn were so tantalizing that we couldn’t help but meander to it. I had a Ruben panini and my husband opted for a hot dog. And we washed them down with apple cider slushies. Everything was delicious!

After our bite to eat, I went back into the gift shop to the second floor (there’s no elevator for strollers or wheelchairs- at least not one that I could find) to check out the cider press- a seriously old school press still used to this day and while I was watching the video on how the cider press is used, my husband took our son to the pond to see the ducks and swans.

We didn’t take our son to the play area because he was too small, but if you’ve got a kid between 2 and 6-years-old, be sure to take them to the play area next to the cafe where they can climb and explore.

The owners of Fly Creek have done an absolutely phenomenal job at creating a wonderful experience. If you go, expect to spend a couple of hours looking over everything and wandering the grounds. This isn’t a rush through kind of place- it’s the kind of place to kick back in a rocking chair and relax.

Fly Creek is located at 288 Goose Street in Fly Creek, New York and is open every day from 9am-6pm, but you might want to call ahead if you’re planning to visit on a weekend or snowy day.

Feel free to bring your leashed pet with you, but know that you won’t be able to bring them into the Mill. Strollers are allowed, just not inside the Mill on weekends in September and October. Fly Creek doesn’t allow picnicking with your own food and the property is smoke and vapor free.

Learn more about Fly Creek and get directions here.