About Alber Orchard & Cider Mill
Alber Orchard & Cider Mill on Bethel Church Road, about 5 miles northeast of Manchester, has been farmed since John Alber established it in 1881. Some of the gnarled apple trees are around a century old, and the family grows more than 100 varieties, many of them heirlooms you rarely find in stores. The farm store sits in one of the original barns.
The heart of the place is an 1890 Mount Gilead cider press, which you can watch from a viewing deck through a window. Cider is sold by the glass or the gallon, and larger batches for home fermenting can be ordered ahead. Apples come by the pound, peck or bushel, alongside donuts and other fall treats. On the same property, Freedom Winery pours wine and hard cider.
Fall brings a free straw-bale maze and farm animals to visit, with a 7-acre corn maze, tractor-drawn hayrides and a U-pick pumpkin patch for a fee. In fall 2024 the store was reported open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 to 6 and Sunday from 10 to 6, closed Mondays. The orchard also hosts seasonal gatherings such as a December 2025 winter event with a historic orchard walk.
Plainly Elegant Lavender is about 5 miles northeast, so a summer lavender morning there and a fall cider trip here are each a short hop apart.
What to do
- Watch cider pressed on the 1890 Mount Gilead press from the viewing deck
- Taste heirloom apples from more than 100 varieties
- Find your way through the 7-acre corn maze in fall
- Ride the tractor-drawn hayride and pick a pumpkin
- Try the free straw-bale maze and visit the farm animals
- Sample wine and hard cider at Freedom Winery on site
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Fall season September through November; seasonal events into December
- Hours
- Fall 2024 (reported by local press): Tuesday–Friday noon–6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., closed Mondays; call to confirm current hours
Tips for your visit
- Call 734-428-9310 to confirm hours before you go; posted hours change by season
- Order larger cider quantities ahead if you plan to ferment at home
- The straw-bale maze and animals are free; the corn maze, hayrides and pumpkins cost extra
Pair it with a lavender farm
Plainly Elegant Lavender Farm · about 15 minutes away
Plainly Elegant Lavender is about 5 miles northeast, an easy pairing for lavender in summer or a return trip for cider in fall.
Getting there
Questions
How old is the orchard?
John Alber established the farm in 1881.
Can I see the cider being made?
Yes. A viewing deck looks through a window onto the 1890 Mount Gilead press.
Is there wine?
Freedom Winery operates on the property.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Ann Arbor & Milan, Michigan
Checked in October 2026 against local tourism and news pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
