Places, Earth
Oak Glen 2017 |
We left on time at 8:00 AM, heading east on I-210 passing through two miles of land devastated by a bad brush fire only two weeks earlier. It took less than two hours to reach Oak Glen, an apple growing region in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains north of Yucaipa. The area was originally named Potato Canyon because potatoes was the first crop. Soon after it was discovered to have an excellent climate from growing apples. |
Our first stop was at Parrish Pioneer Ranch (38561 Oak Glen Road) for two fresh baked, hot, apple tarts. The buildings date back to the late 19th Century. Enoch Parrish established the ranch in 1867, originally growing potatoes and some believed Enoch planted the first apple tree in the area in 1868. Today the ranch grows 18 varieties of apples and sells apple products and candy. There is a restaurant on the other side, but we weren't hungry enough yet. |
Front of facade of Parrish Pioneer Ranch. |
We planned to stop on the way home because we forgot to bring a cooler for fresh cider. |
It was only about 10:30 and already the entire community was filled with tourists and parking spaces were few around Oat Tree Village. We found a place on the side of Oak Glen Road and decided to do everything within walking distance before moving on. We walked a short distance to Law's Ranch where we sampled several apples (Braeburn, less sweet; Spartan, more sweet; Mutsu, sweet; Parkdale, pear-like) and bought a half bag each of Braeburn and Spartan. Law's grows a variety of apples on 40 acres. There is a restaurant and gift shop with lots of things to buy, but my house is cluttered enough already. |
We walked a few hundred feet to Oak Tree Village where we enjoyed lunch at Apple Annie's Restaurant and Bakery (38489 Oak Glen Road). My wife got Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, I got a Chef's Salad. We had a choice of inside or out and since it was such a nice day, we sat outside. We didn't realize that outside there were meat eating wasps. I twice watched as a wasp chewed off a small piece of my wife's chicken and flew off with it. My wife doesn't like insects. |
Oak Tree Village. |
This might be a good place to mention this tourist attraction needs more restrooms. After surviving lunch, we wandered through the rest of Oak Tree Village which is "14 acres of fun." . There were things to buy, activities for kids, petting zoo, Mountain Town Animal Museum, and lots of people enjoying their Saturday. I realized that when we came many | |
years ago, it was later in the season and not so crowded. We next continued on to Snow Line Orchard (39400 Oak Glen Road). There was a long line to buy Mini Apple Cider Doughnuts, but it was worth it. While I stood in line, my wife wandered the store. Snowline began operations in 1898 and one of the features here is the cider press. We sampled more apples and bought a bag of Spitzenberg apples. |
Snow Line Orchard Cider Mill. |
We had two stops left so we headed on to Oak Glen School House Museum which is nestled in a park and while there were lots of children playing, it was the quietist part of Oak Glen we found. This two-story stone building sits next to a recreation of the first schoolhouse, a wooden one-room schoolhouse. From here, we turned around and returned to our first stop, Parrish Pioneer Ranch, arriving about 3:00 PM. We bough a gallon of cider, two apple Burretos, and a loaf of cinnamon pull-apart bread. From here, we headed home arriving a little after 5:00. Now to bake a pie. | Interior of the Oak Glan Classroom. |
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