About Altapass Orchard
Altapass Orchard sits right on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 328.3, straddling Mitchell and McDowell counties near Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland. The Holston Land Company planted the first apple trees here in 1908, beside the newly finished Clinchfield Railroad, and at their peak the orchards held more than 32,000 apple and peach trees. When the Parkway was built in the 1930s it cut the orchard in two. Some of the trees still bearing fruit are nearly 100 years old.
Kit Carson-Trubey and Bill and Judy Carson bought the 277-acre property in 1995. Two nonprofits formed in 2002 to 2004 to protect the land and its mountain heritage, and in 2021 they merged into the Altapass Foundation, which runs the orchard today. The heirloom apples are grown with as few chemicals as possible.
The orchard opens seasonally from early May through the last weekend of October, and admission is free, including the education center exhibits, the butterfly garden and live music on the pavilion. During apple season, guided U-pick apple tours leave at the top of every hour from 10 to 4, Wednesday through Friday. The Apple Core Grill serves food from June through October, and the general store sells homemade fudge and hot apple desserts. Groups can reserve tractor rides for a flat fee of about $150.
Geer Farm Lavender near Rutherfordton is a little over an hour south by way of Marion. The family farm is usually private but opens for a June you-pick event, which pairs well with an early-season orchard visit and a Parkway drive.
What to do
- Join a guided U-pick apple tour, Wednesday–Friday on the hour from 10 to 4 in apple season
- Listen to live music at the Music Pavilion
- Visit the butterfly garden and education center exhibits
- Eat at the Apple Core Grill, June through October
- Buy homemade fudge and hot apple desserts at the general store
- Book a group tractor ride in advance
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open early May through the last weekend of October; Apple Core Grill June through October; U-pick tours in apple season
- Hours
- Seasonal; U-pick apple tours Wednesday–Friday 10 am–4 pm on the hour during apple season (current season)
- Admission
- Free (current season); group tractor rides about $150 flat fee
Good to know
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Accessibility
- General store and restrooms, back deck, Music Pavilion and Apple Core Grill are wheelchair accessible; U-pick tour paths are not
Tips for your visit
- The orchard says this season looks different and its trail system is closed, so check the harvest update on their website before you go
- Park behind the Red Barn; the Apple Shed is a short walk away
- Bring bags to clean up after your dog; water is set out in front of the Red Barn
- Group tractor rides must be reserved ahead
Pair it with a lavender farm
Geer Farm Lavender · about 70 minutes away
Geer Farm Lavender near Rutherfordton is about 70 minutes south and opens its rows for a June you-pick event.
Getting there
Questions
Is there an admission fee at Altapass Orchard?
No, admission is free, including exhibits, the butterfly garden and live music.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, leashed and well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the grounds.
When is Altapass Orchard open?
Seasonally, from early May through the last weekend of October.
When are U-pick apple tours?
During apple season, Wednesday through Friday, on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm.
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
