About Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Royal Oak Farm Orchard spreads across 160 acres outside Harvard, about a mile and a half from the Wisconsin border. Peter and Gloria Bianchini planted it in 1992 as a retirement project after careers in the building trade, and their daughter Renee and son-in-law Dennis Norton joined in 2003; grandchildren and their spouses now help run it. The four orchards hold roughly 20,000 apple trees, and the family uses integrated pest management and keeps honeybees on the farm year-round.
Picking runs daily from late August to October 31. Early weeks bring Zestar, Ginger Gold and Red Free; September adds Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonathan and Liberty; October finishes with CandyCrisp, Crispin, EverCrisp, GoldRush, Braeburn and Granny Smith. Yellow flags mark the rows at their peak. Admission for picking is $12 a person and includes a quarter-peck bag. Summer brings u-pick raspberries from about July 10 into early September and Blossom Ridge, a cut-flower garden of zinnias, sunflowers and more that opened July 10 in 2026 and runs to first frost.
The farm's signature attraction is Amaze 'N Apples, which the family calls the country's only apple tree maze; the entrance is through the Harvest Barn. The bakery is known for apple cider donuts, and the Country Kitchen serves lunch daily. Children have a playground, a petting zoo, Pick 'N Putt mini golf, and on weekends a train, carousel and barrel train at $5 a ride. Tractor wagons run on September and October weekends, and the farm books school, group and corporate tours.
Maria's Farm, a lavender farm in Marengo that hosts visits by appointment, is about 20 minutes south.
What to do
- Pick from 30-plus apple varieties, late August through October
- Find your way through the Amaze 'N Apples tree maze
- Pick raspberries from mid-July into early September
- Cut a bouquet at Blossom Ridge, July to first frost
- Eat cider donuts from the bakery and lunch at the Country Kitchen
- Ride the train and carousel on weekends
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Raspberries and cut flowers from about July 10; apple picking daily from late August through October 31
- Hours
- Fall 2026 (Aug 21–Oct 31): Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri–Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; last entry one hour before closing
- Admission
- Apple picking $12 per person age 4+, includes a quarter-peck bag; apple tree maze $10; rides $5 each (posted on their website, 2026)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Tips for your visit
- Pick only in rows marked with yellow flags; picking poles are not allowed
- Outside food and alcohol are not permitted
- Children's rides run on weekends only, plus Columbus Day
- Strollers and wagons are fine in the orchard but not on the tractor wagons
Pair it with a lavender farm
Maria's Farm · about 20 minutes away
Book a lavender visit at Maria's Farm in Marengo, about 20 minutes south, and stop here for apples or summer raspberries.
Getting there
Questions
How much is apple picking?
$12 per person age 4 and up, which includes a quarter-peck bag.
Are dogs allowed?
No, pets are not allowed on the farm.
What is Amaze 'N Apples?
A maze planted with apple trees, entered through the Harvest Barn next to the u-pick entrance.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Marengo & Woodstock, Illinois
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
