Braeutigam Orchards

We had a great day pumpkin picking at Braeutigam! The pumpkin fields themselves were a little picked over, but there was a great play area for little ones and animals to pet up front. They also had a nice store and donuts (who doesn’t like donuts?!?) Definitely less crowded than Eckerts. I’m a fan!

Hands down, the best Orchard in the STL area. Not commercialized at all, super friendly, lots of stuff for the kiddo’s, yummy apple cider donuts fresh from the bakery, as good as it gets.

This HAS to be one of the best kept secrets in the Apple Orchard world! I’m almost afraid to post this review because i want to keep the cheerful friendliness of Braeutigams to myself.
Tucked away on a little side road about a mile down the way from a huge theme park type orchard is a 7^th generation family run farm. Perfect for adults and children, THIS orchard makes the connection between the land and family. It is hard to not get swept up in the cheery smiles and laughter that pervades every inch of it. From the tiny bakery with Mom cooking in the back, to the apple barn /​museum, it brings you to a time and place long forgotten in the corporate farming world. You will be impressed by it all.
The highlights were the AMAZING apple cider doughnuts fresh out of the kitchen. The From scratch pumpkin, apple and blueberry pies. And then there are the animals… Which you can get up close and personal with (for NO cost, I may add). Feed is there for you to use, and learning experiences are plenty. We got to talk to a turkey, hold the chicks, see the fresh laid eggs come out, wander through the pig cage, and walk the lake trail to help fetch the cows. Where else can you do all that?!
There is even more beyond that once you start on a pumpkin and apple picking journey. The hayride to and from the multiple pumpkin patches is great (and also FREE), and picking what you like is wide open. No goofy restrictions on what you can pick or where you can go.
Braeutigam Orchards is a DO NOT MISS place when visiting St. Louis. Trust me, I already want to back to be greeted by that friendly family, and their very addictive doughnuts.

We had fun, free entry, kids friendly, we will go again

Not organic but the BEST orchard in the area. Very friendly helpful staff. U pick veggies too! Not commercial just a great place to visit. A real farm with a new bakery.

I love me some fall frolicking on the farm. We visited to pick apples and we were delighted by our expereience here!
It’s another mile down the road from Eckert’s and you have to drive to the back of a neighborhood and then a little farther to find it, but it’s worth it! It’s a much much smaller operation, but that’s what makes it great! There’s a small house on the side that has baked goods — including APPLE CIDER DONUTS! They did hint that they were made from a mix, but they are at least made on site.
Then, there’s barn. Head through there to pick up the hay bale shuttle out to where they are currently picking. They have apple picker poles available out in the orchard for people’s use. I was concerned to see how many trees looking like they weren’t picked soon enough and were just raining their fruit onto the ground, but I’m not an expert.
You can also pick tomatoes when they are in season and peppers. If you like peppers, pick your own. I got a bag full of peppers for $ 2.00. No joke.
So then you take a ride back to the barn and pay for your wares. There are chickens running amok, a few pigs you can look at, some goats to feed, and port-​o-​potties in case nature calls.
They also have Cider Slushies. Genius. They just pour the cider in a slushie machine. I personally would have added some buttershots or something, but maybe I have a problem.
Anyway, this is a great, fantastic, family farm that you should visit if you like anything at all about fall.

Great family U-​pick farm. It’s a little tricky to to find… its about 2 roads past Eckerts on the left. Small, easy to park, no crowds to fight… just get your box and head out in the fields to pick. We picked blackberries, blueberries (there were tons!) & tomatoes. There was also various peppers, zucchini, eggplant, peaches… apples and punkins in the fall. Im sure they had more that I am leaving out. I think if you get there early enuf they have fresh eggs. There is also a small bakery (use to be Grandmas house) with homemade apple cider and blueberry donuts as well as other baked goods.
There are some kids activities that are free… a small village, goats, chickens, turkeys… but mostly it’s about the wonderful opportunity to see a real farm and the ease of picking your own. We laughed as we passed the packed parking lot at Eckerts! We will be back for sure.

Great family farm. Very small but a welcome change from Eckerts. Adorable playground and animal area that are free. I’ve heard with school field trips it gets too packed. We were fortunate enough to have the ace to ourselves. Played for hours. I wish they sold coffee, cold cider just doesn’t do it for me! Other than that it was great

I could go on and on, but I don’t have to. Read this well, APPLE CIDER DONUTS! That’s all I need to say.

We have been going to Brauetigam’s for 8 years now. My wife and I love it as do our 3 kids. The owners are always so friendly. The playground for kids is a great place to let their imaginations run wild. We have to drag them out of there! The fruit and vegetables at Brauetigam’s are great. Over the years there we have picked Apples, Peaches, Blueberries, Blackberries and Pumpkins. We have never been disappointed. The prices are fair and reasonable, and it feels like home to us. I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants a pleasant, enjoyable experience at a pick-​your-​own orchard. It is a fantastic place for a family outing.

I cannot believe that this is not on Unilocal yet!
Braeutigam Orchards is down the road from the more touristy commercial circus also known as Eckert’s. Similar in concept, this orchard can be found further east off of Route 15 through some back country lanes. Maybe that’s why it’s less popular; it’s harder to find even though the signage is plentiful.
Less commercial in nature, Braeutigam Orchards boasts a children’s «farm village», farm animals (including cows, pigs, chickens, goats, and rabbits), tractor wagons, and of course, orchards and fields of fresh produce. It does not have a restaurant, custard, or even an extensive country store.
Geared toward children groups and families, Braeutigam Orchards runs like clockwork. I accompanied a friend, her child, and their daycare group for a field trip. Kids are first introduced to the «farm village» where they are encouraged to explore what a farm really is, all in kiddie form. Petting and feeding animals are available. Sooner or later, one of the owners comes and takes the kids to feed the cows and maybe the pigs. The trip is then rounded out by a tractor wagon pull to the orchards for picking either peaches, apples, or pumpkins, depending on the season along with some apple cider at the end.
Their website is excellent for telling customers what is currently in season. Better yet, in store, they have several varieties of produce, accompanied by suggestions on what to use them for. My recent visit showed apples for baking vs. making butter vs. eating. That makes shopping easy!
Most of the field trip was rained out. Staff members tried to accommodate us the best they could and actually asked if the group would like to re-​schedule, which the day care staff declined. I’d like to check this place out again on a better day.