As the upcoming Labor Day weekend rolls in, one of our area’s most beloved traditions returns along with it: the opening of Apple Hill. For many families across the region, a drive up Highway 50 into the rolling hills of Camino has become an annual rite of passage, the signal that autumn is around the corner. It is this weekend that the orchards and ranches that haven’t already done so, open their gates and barn doors to welcome visitors back, creating a blend of nostalgia and discovery that has endured for more than six decades.
What began as a quiet farming community has grown into a bustling destination that welcomes more than a million visitors each year from every corner of California and beyond. The Apple Hill Growers Association now includes over 50 member farms and wineries, each with its own character but united by a shared tradition of hospitality. Families return year after year to mark the start of the fall season with familiar sights, familiar tastes, and memories made fresh with every visit.
The draw goes far beyond apples themselves. While visitors can choose from over 16 different varieties of the fruit—from crisp Galas to classic Granny Smiths—the region has become just as famous for its sweet creations. There are pies that rival grandma’s kitchen, donuts fried and coated in sugar still warm from the pan, sticky caramel apples, buttery turnovers, fritters, dumplings, and fudge in every flavor. Bake shops brim with the aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg, turning a simple drive into a sensory experience.
It’s not only about food, though. Many families build their annual Apple Hill trip around activities for children: fishing at High Hill Ranch, wandering through the corn maze at Abel’s Acres, riding the little train at El Dorado Orchards, or watching water wheels spin at Larsen’s. Others come for the wine, with nearly two dozen wineries in the area pouring everything from delicate whites to bold reds, often paired with sweeping views of the foothills. The variety makes Apple Hill a rare destination where every member of the family—whether craving adventure, relaxation, or indulgence—finds something just for them.
Apple Hill also thrives on its generational roots. Ranches like Abel’s Acres, Delfino Farms, Larsen’s Apple Barn, and High Hill are family-run operations that carry legacies dating back to the mid-20th century. For decades, these families have worked the land, tended orchards, baked pies, and poured cider for eager visitors. Each ranch carries not just its own offerings but its own story, part of the broader tapestry that makes Apple Hill unique.
At Abel’s Acres, for example, the Abel family has been welcoming guests since 1976, now with four generations helping during the season. Evelyn Abel alone has baked thousands of pies, including the ranch’s signature Dutch apple and its inventive pumpkin-apple pie. These recipes, refined over decades, connect visitors not only to the season but to the family itself.
High Hill Ranch, one of the largest and most iconic stops, is especially poignant this season. It is now in its second year without patriarch Jerry Visman, who passed away in early 2024. Jerry was for many the face of Apple Hill, appearing in local TV interviews each fall to announce the season’s return and promote its offerings. His enthusiasm for the land and his family’s ranch made him a trusted figure in the community. This year, the Visman family continues his legacy, ensuring High Hill remains the vibrant hub it has always been—with fishing ponds, craft fairs, bake shops, and the smells of hot apple cider drifting through the pines.
For many, the appeal of Apple Hill is as much about tradition as it is about the treats. The journey itself becomes part of the ritual: the drive up Highway 50 with anticipation building, the first glimpse of orchards dotted across the hillside, the joy of filling bags with hand-picked apples. It’s a chance to step away from busy routines and into a place where time slows, flavors deepen, and family memories are harvested as surely as the fruit from the trees.
So how does one plan a trip to the Apple Hill Farms?
To each their own as everyone has their own desires and styles. One of the most traditional ways to tour the area is through the official Apple Hill map that details all of the member farms in the area you can find by clicking here.
If you are on the go, the official Apple Hill Growers App can be downloaded to your mobile device and the official website is a key resource to all of the special events that take place throughout the seasons ahead at www.applehill.com.
Apple Hill as Rich in History as It Is in Tradition and Flavor
Apple Hill’s story is as compelling as its flavors, rooted in perseverance, innovation, and community spirit. In the late 1950s, farming in Camino faced a crisis. Pear orchards, the region’s main crop, were devastated by blight, threatening the survival of dozens of family farms. Out of this hardship came the spark of an idea: why not pivot from pears to apples, and bring visitors directly to the farms to enjoy them?
In 1964, a small group of forward-thinking growers made that idea reality. Gene Bolster, who had returned to take over his father’s farm after his father’s passing, joined forces with agricultural commissioner Edio Delfino, farm advisor Dick Bethell, and retired Army officer Bob Tuck. Together, they created the Apple Hill Growers Association, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most successful agritourism initiatives in California.
The name “Apple Hill,” coined by Tuck, gave the region an identity that could be promoted to the public. That same year, the growers held their first “press picnic,” inviting members of the media to dine at their farms and see firsthand what the area had to offer. They also distributed 50,000 paper litter bags at the California State Fair, each promising two pounds of free apples to anyone who brought one back to Camino. The clever campaign worked, and visitors came in droves.
Back then, there were just 16 farms. Today, there are more than 50, including not only apple orchards but wineries, vineyards, Christmas tree farms, and even a bed-and-breakfast. Along the way, the growers never lost sight of their history. Antique apple varieties are still cultivated at certain farms, and Larsen Apple Barn is home to what is believed to be the oldest apple tree in El Dorado County.
Much of the credit for Apple Hill’s lasting success lies in its cooperative spirit. As Bolster once remarked, “It’s never easy to get farmers to agree on anything, but they did agree on forming the growers association.” That spirit of unity transformed a region on the brink of collapse into a thriving community that today supports thousands of jobs, strengthens local tourism, and preserves a way of life for the families who built it.
Apple Hill has since become more than just a farming area—it’s a cultural landmark, a place where generations of families gather to celebrate the seasons, and a reminder that even in hardship, creativity and community can spark something lasting. For visitors, it’s an opportunity to step back in time while still enjoying the comforts and flavors of today.
This Labor Day weekend, as ranch gates swing open and pies slide warm from the oven, Apple Hill once again offers its blend of flavor, history, and tradition. Whether you’re returning for the umpteenth time or making your very first trip, the experience promises the same simple magic that has kept families coming back for over 60 years.
Member Farms of the Apple Hill Growers Association
Apple Hill is made up of dozens of unique ranches, farms, orchards, and wineries that together create its rich character. For more information on the member farms and seasonal events, visit the official website at www.applehill.com.
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