Sunday, August 30, 2009

Parking Opens When the Orchard Opens!

We are excited to open today for apples and pears! And Prairie Fire BBQ will be here with their pulled pork!

We open our parking when the orchard opens. So, today, parking and the orchard both open at noon!

So please plan your drive accordingly and arrive sometime after noon when we remove the barricade from the drive and hang the open sign. Please remember that there is only one drive into and out of the orchard - the gravel drive just south of the Wagon Wheel Orchard sign. Do not pull into any other drive in the area - they are all private drives.

We made this decision based on feedback from customers of other pick your own establishments which indicated that when parking opens early, guests come early and wait. What tends to happen is the "day after Thanksgiving shopping rush" where people anxiously wait for the doors to open so they can rush and get what they came for. Early arrivers don't wait in their car for opening, they get out, unload, get ready and when we hang "open" they grab their bag and go, often picking much of the available fruit. Those arriving at opening still have to park, get out, unload and get ready before they can begin picking.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you this afternoon!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Bonfire Bonanza!

Friends & family...hay-rack rides...pond-side bonfire...ooey gooey smores...
This can all be yours here at Wagon Wheel Orchard when you reserve your very own Bonfire Bonanza!

We are taking appointments for our Bonfire Bonanzas from May through the end of October!

Here's how it works:
*Call 913-893-6050 and reserve a night for your private party (groups of up to 30 with a maximum of 15 adults). A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your reservation.
*Members of your group arrive at Wagon Wheel Orchard on your reserved night between 6:30 & 6:50pm.
*Bring your own coolers, beverages, (weiners for roasting if you want!), chairs & blankets & load it all up on our hay-rack.
*The hay-rack leaves at 7:00pm to take your private party to the bon-fire ring in the meadow by the pond.
*We provide fixins for s'mores for everyone including the forks for roasting the marshmallows & trashbags for collecting all of your trash when you are done.
*Cook your dinner, play some games, tell scary ghost stories, look at the stars, visit with your friends & family.
*The hay-rack returns at 10:00pm to pick your party up and return you to the parking area.

Cost is only $5 per person. This includes the hay-rack rides to & from the pond, s'mores for everyone & wood for the bonfire!

We look forward to being a part of your memories & traditions here at Wagon Wheel Orchard!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

We're picked out for the weekend 08/22 & 08/23!

Thank you to everyone who came to visit us today! We are picked out of all available fruit for this weekend and will not open Sunday 08/23. Watch the picking report on this blog for the coming weekend! We will reopen as produce becomes available! Have a great week!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Mary Pepitone truly is a peach!

A juicy thank you to everyone who has called us in response to the Kansas City Star Cream of the Crop article written by Mary Pepitone that ran Wednesday, August 19 (http://www.kansascity.com/living/food/story/1388962.html). It was so much fun to have Mary visit, and yes, she was slurping and yes, her hand and arm were a sticky mess!

One clarification...if you stick your peach pit on the windowsill to plant someday, it won't grow! It will dry out and die! Stick it in a baggie with a wet paper towel and plop it in your refrigerator! The pit has to think it has gone through winter before it will grow! Once it has sprouted, you will be able to plant it! So get that pit in the fridge, Mary! We want to see that Peppy variety grow!

One more thing...if even one-tenth of those who called since Wednesday come on Saturday, there will not be any parking and there will not be any fruit left by the end of the day! So, please keep in mind that this is not the last weekend for juicy slurpy peaches! We still have a couple of varieties that we will be picking into September! Also, please visit this blog and the picking report to the right before coming as we will update it as produce is picked out and change our hours if necessary!

And remember that when you do come, please respect the privacy of our neighbors. We only have one driveway into and out of our property by the Wagon Wheel Orchard sign. Please do not pull into any other gravel drive. Thank you!