Uncle John's Cider Mill

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• Emma Hainstock

  22 November 2017

  I recall coming here for a field trip in elementary school, and I got to learn all about how cider is made, as well as try some hot cider. I typically stop here on my way northbound to visit family, and today I got to try some of the seasonal Apple Brandy which was very strong, but pairs exquisitely with hot cider, as well as their dessert wine and a very sweet honey wine. The bartender was very helpful and friendly, she does a great job of explaining the different beverages available. I also went into the main shop where there are donuts, hot cider, baked goods, etc. The cashier who rung me up was helpful as well, quick and friendly. I always have a pleasant experience when I stop by, and will always look forward to the next time I pass through! Keep up the great customer service and tasty selection!

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• Jim Doyle

  26 October 2017

  I found it to be very kid friendly, lots of games, corn maze, pumpkin patch and of course donuts and cider. There was a tasting bar with lots of Meade ciders and wine s to sample served up by the incredible Brook'l who is going to be a singer one day. Just ask her to sing something.
  Anyway a neat orchard, check it out.

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• Benjamin Moe

  18 October 2017

  Uncle John's is a great Fall family visit. The cider and donuts are delicious and there is a great place area for the kids. We always have fun letting the kids pick their own pumpkins in the pumpkin patch but if that's not your thing, they have plenty of pumpkins up near the cider barn.

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• Ing9701

  14 October 2017

  I took my team there, for an off-site today and we all had a fantastic time. The staff was friendly, there were plenty of things to see and The Cider was outstanding! I'm planning to bring my family back up for a visit for the season is over.

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• Andrew Blair

  13 October 2017

  Good times. Good people. Had a nice time with my daughter here today. They have a tractor ride, pumpkin patch, hot cider and gift shop. They have a bounce thing for kids and a few other little things for them. They've been doing good things here for years.

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• Ed Behr

  12 October 2017

  Uncle John's Cider mill was a huge disappointment. Their website advertises train rides, a hay ride, and many activities for the kids. We purchased the $10 VIP wrist bands that gave us free train rides, access to the bouncy stuff, a hay ride, and one trip to the apple cannon.
  
  The kids' activities included with our $10 purchase, which consisted mostly of bouncing on things or sliding down a slide, were pretty satisfying to my friend's five-year old son. However, their "carnival" attractions are not included in the price. They are a bunch of small, cheap, and not particularly thrilling rides, ranging in price from two to five dollars and all of them overpriced.
  
  There is no "train" as there are no tracks; the "train" consists of a tractor with a fake locomotive skin that pulls a couple of trolleys on a path around one small part of the compound. Part of the path is on the drive that cars use to enter the compound and we got stuck in traffic. Pretty sad.
  
  Their wasn't much for us adults. Wine tasting? Great if you like drinking at 1:00 in the afternoon, and the point really is to get you to buy wine. Cider press? Interesting, for about three minutes. There is a gift shop and bakery where you can buy cider and donuts. The one thing I really wanted to do was the apple cannon. I waited in line for over an hour for that.
  
  There is almost no shade on the compound and almost no place to sit other than the table for the food trucks, which were almost always full. There were four porta-potties for the perhaps 2,000 people, so I had to wait there as well. There were sanitizing stations nearby, which were empty by 2:00.
  
  The corn maze is all brown, not surprising at this time of year (October). It's also about four feet tall, making it a maze in name only. And yes they do have a huge pumpkin patch, where you can buy a pumpkin (of course), just like any of dozens of other farms and orchards.
  
  The hayride is a long walk down a big hill. We never made it, as we were by then worn out from over-priced rides and waiting in line in the sun and all.
  
  Finally, unlike many cider mills and orchards, there is no picking your own apples (which they do tell you on their website).
  
  Overall, I felt it was cheap and commercial. It's not so much a cider mill as a giant machine that is intended to separate you from as much of your money as quickly as possible: buy donuts, buy cider, buy carnival rides, buy gifts, buy wine, buy a pumpkin I felt like it was never-ending. And do it all standing in the sun, because we don't care about you. Believe me, there are other, better orchards and cider mills. I will never go to Uncle John's again and I recommend you don't either.

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• Jessica W

  09 October 2017

  Those kids at the registers for the actual cider mill are crazy efficient! This is more than just a cider mill-- it is an experience! Not the place to go if you want peace and quiet though. Lots of stuff going on, lots of people.

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• Joe Breuer

  13 November 2016

  Had an amazing time at the hard cider festival. It was organized very well.

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• Michael Grosskopf

  18 October 2016

  Wonderful cider and donuts experience! They've grown a lot since I was young but still have the old cider mill where you can see the apples pressed and amazing donuts/caramel apples to go with them. They've added many activities for kids. An excellent place for a family trip.

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• Dave Kuhbander

  01 August 2016

  Donuts are the best. Have the best concord wine and cranberry wine ever. Mix half and half for cramcord. Always stop half way to cabin in UP.

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• Brian Franks

  29 June 2016

  Cool place to visit. Fun play area out front for kids. Nice products in the bakery shop. Try it if you're in the area.

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• Carl Seabold

  15 May 2016

  The new Kangaroo bouncer is a ton of fun even if you haven't had any hard cider or spirits samples. Uncle John's has grown up quite a bit over the last few years. They now bottle their hard ciders and spirits and sell them throughout the state, the bakery and donuts are still excellent, but the growth of the alcohol making portion of their business had really elevated the experience of stopping at the main Mill. You can get samples, pick your own apples in season and carve pumpkins in the fall. A great family friendly time.

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