About Whistling Well Farm
Whistling Well Farm sits at the corner of 90th Street and St. Croix Trail in the St. Croix River Valley, about two miles south of Afton State Park. Carol and Charlie Johnson started the farm in 1972 and planted the first apple trees in 1980 with their sons, Chad and Neal. The wishing well on the grounds gives the farm its name: the farm matches the coins visitors toss in and donates them to the Child Family Life Services program at the University of Minnesota's children's hospital.
The 2026 season opened September 4. Pick-your-own apples run while the fruit lasts, with varieties ripening at different times through the fall; by mid-October 2026 the U-pick apples were finished, though bagged apples were still for sale. In the pumpkin patch you can pick your own or choose pre-picked pumpkins, and mums are sold for fall porches. The season usually ends the first weekend of November.
There's no admission or parking fee, and wagons are loaned out while they last. The Apple Festival fills every weekend from September 19 to October 25, and a family-friendly band plays on Sundays from noon to 4:30pm. Kids can feed the chickens, visit the goats and sheep, and use the climbing area. The Red Barn Store and Country Store sell honey, jams, jellies, baking mixes and slices of pie, and food trucks often come on weekends.
Lavender Barnyard is about 30 road miles southwest, roughly 40 minutes away. Since the lavender blooms in summer and Whistling Well is a fall stop, most visitors will pair this farm with Afton State Park and save the lavender for a separate summer outing.
What to do
- Pick your own pumpkins or choose pre-picked ones
- Buy bagged apples, jams and pie slices at the Country Store
- Hear live music on Sundays, noon–4:30pm
- Feed the chickens and visit the goats and sheep
- Toss a coin in the wishing well for the children's hospital fund
- Hike at Afton State Park, two miles north
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Early September (opened September 4 in 2026) to about the first weekend of November; Apple Festival weekends September 19–October 25 (2026)
- Hours
- Late fall 2026: main farm Thu–Sun 9am–5pm, closed Mon–Wed; Red Barn Store daily 9am–5pm
- Admission
- free
Good to know
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Payment
- Credit cards accepted
Tips for your visit
- Bring coins for the wishing well
- Leave the picnic at home; the farm asks guests not to bring their own food
- Birthday parties, weddings and professional photo sessions aren't allowed
- Check their website or social pages for which apples are ripe before you go
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Barnyard · about 40 minutes away
Lavender Barnyard is about 40 minutes southwest; visit it in summer bloom and save Whistling Well for a fall day in the St. Croix Valley.
Getting there
Questions
Is there an admission fee at Whistling Well Farm?
No. Admission and parking are free; you pay only for what you buy.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Friendly, well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome, and owners must clean up after them.
When does the season end?
Usually around the first weekend in November, depending on apples and weather.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of the Twin Cities South Metro, Minnesota
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
