Gilcrease Orchard

The best place to be !! It was my first time there and I’ll deff be going back! My daughters had an amazing time picking out their veggies and their donuts are amazing !! You must try their peanut butter too

I’ve never been to a farm before so this was pretty eye opening for me. Moreso the fact that we are even able to have one with how much little rain we get in Las Vegas.
I don’t know how to pick fruit or vegetables so I tried using Google and Youtube while walking through the fields. It seemed as though people were prematurely plucking everything out or the ready ones were already picked.
Either way, it was still fun and educational for me. I ended up getting a couple of pumpkins for Halloween, almond butter and the delicious cider apple donuts. Hopefully the next time I go back, I’ll have a better idea in what I’m doing.

This place made me miss home. I miss being surrounded by farms, ranches, and orchards.
That being said I was a little disappointed by our visit out here today.
We drove 45 minutes to get here and we left empty handed and let down.
Now I completely understand that it’s nobody’s fault if there’s no produce left to pick because hey that’s a harvest for you! No one can force them to grow more on demand, and yea its nearing the end of October so I can see how maybe we missed out and should’ve came earlier but our work schedules simply don’t allow us that luxury.
But it was disappointing to come all that way and not even leave with a pumpkin. We did have a nice time walking around together through the orchards but besides that it was a miss for me.
Even if we did find something to pick I wouldn’t of wanted to waited in the line that had to be at least a forty minute wait to check out. We didn’t even get to try the food because the line for that was equally as long.
In the end I left with a sad hubby who only wanted a candy apple out of this entire trip and a half empty tank of gas.
If we’re still living in the area we will definitely try to come earlier next year.

Really love visiting this place each year. Visited on a weekday and it was still busy! That was nice to see, love seeing locally grown. Walked around for about 20 minutes until I found my pumpkin ($ 2.50). Picked up 2 caramel apples and paid $ 8.50. If you are looking for a lot of fruit and veggie picking, this wasn’t the right time (End of October). Saw some tiny tomatoes and a few sweet potatoes but mostly pumpkins! We also had to visit the food stand and get the mini donuts and apple butter. So delicious, hot and fluffy! I know it’s fall when it is time to visit the orchard!

Such a nice little hidden gem in the Valley!
Unfortunately, I just can’t give them more than 3 stars this time around, which is really no fault of their own. I can imagine it’s very difficult to farm in our climate, and the fact that they have any produce is a feat within itself.
Perhaps we came at the wrong time of year — but there was almost NOTHING to pick. We did do the hay wagon ride, which was pretty uneventful, other than it got you to the other side of the farm without having to hike on your own.
The pumpkin patch had the nastiest looking pumpkins I have ever seen. We ended up buying 2 at the grocery store after leaving.
The donuts were really good, as was the cider. Unfortunately, I live in Henderson, so I won’t be making the trek out there just for donuts.
I plan on going back in the early spring, hoping everything isn’t so bare and picked over.

I’ve been in Vegas for almost two years, but just made it out to Gilcrease Orchard last weekend. I’m going to assume fall is the best time to visit for the pumpkin patch, wagon rides, and festive snacks, like caramel apples, apple cider, and of course… the famous cinnamon donuts! They were delicious.
The orchard has both street parking and a lot, with guides. Clear signage indicates where you can find each crop. For those disappointed with their pickings (or the lack thereof), common sense would be to come early for the best pickings and keep in mind that nature does it’s own thing. It’s not a malicious act of the owners to pick all the good produce or to lure you out here for no reason. Dial back your expectations.
Prices are pretty fair, and the staff I encountered were friendly and helpful.
If I had one suggestion, it would be for increased signage or laminated postings that indicate what to look for regarding ripe, overripe, or unripe vegetables (color, firmness, size, etc.) I grew up with a backyard garden and regularly hit the farmers markets but had some difficulty determining whether to pick or leave some of the product.
TIP: Join the mailing list to get a weekly update of what’s available, what’s out, and any special events or closures.

I just had to drag my husband here after demolishing a friend’s kettle corn she bought from Gilcrease Orchard. I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin picking during Halloween time and I’ve never been to a pumpkin patch. But, I just had to drive 30 minutes out just to buy a few bags of their kettle corn!
When we got there around 10am, it was already packed with families and their children. Instead of heading out towards the pumpkin patch, we turned left towards the donuts and kettle corn. The line was fairly long but it didn’t take too long to get to the front. We ended up ordering a dozen donuts with frosting and 3 bags of kettle corn. We came here for the kettle corn but man, the donuts were finger-​licking good! It was soft and doughy with the most delicious frosting. It wasn’t too sweet either like most donuts. I am definitely coming back once we finish our kettle corn to buy more as well as more delicious donuts!

A slight chill in the air, pumpkins, homemade donuts, and tasty cider; fall is officially here in Vegas.
Gilcrease Orchard is about as hyper local as you can get. The farm/​orchard has been in Vegas for over ninety years and they are still churning out some of the best gourds this side of the state line. I came here looking for pumpkins and found a lot more than that; tomatoes, apples, squash, cabbage and did I mention doughnuts?
Homemade pumpkin spice doughnuts and apple cider doughnuts are sold along with homemade cider they make on property. These are a great snack after you’ve wandered the grounds either by walking or taking a tractor tour and seeing everything from the comfort of your very own bale of hay.
Yes, stuff here might be a little more expensive than the average grocery store, but you’re only supporting a farm, but also a family who has deep roots in the Valley.
Support Local!

I’ve lived in Vegas for 21 years and this past weekend was my first time at the Gilcrease Orchard. I was surprised that we could actually grow fresh fruit and veg in the desert! Here’s what you should know.
It is 100% free to get in. They are open right now Tues, Thurs, Sat/​Sun from 7a-​12p. I suggest getting there early as possible, because it gets BUSY. We got there right around 7:15 so it was pretty dead, but a couple hours later when we left it was really busy. This just means you have to wait in lines longer when you are checking out, or if you are getting snacks.
Speaking of snacks, try the apple cider donuts at the snack tent. That shiz is delicious. They are sweet little donuts that are topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting. I washed those puppies down with some fresh made apple cider. They were running pretty low on cider, and there was none for purchase that day which was a bummer. I hear they have pear cider as well, and I would have loved to try that. They also have caramel apples and peanut and almond butters for purchase.
When we were done stuffing our faces, we went to go do some picking! We went to the designated wagon pickup area, (there are several located around the orchard) and waited for a tractor to pick us up. We waited and waited but finally decided just to walk. We passed a chicken coop and stopped to take pics of the chickens and a very large rooster. I don’t know if they sell eggs there, but it was fun to see.
The Orchard is HUGE. Lots of fresh veggies to pick this time around including TONS of pumpkins. I was looking forward to eggplant and sweet potato, but neither one looked very good. I also wanted some green apples, but it didn’t seem like there were any to pick. There may have been and we were not in the right area, but I would ask someone if you are looking for something specific. After we were done picking, the tractor was up and running and we hopped on and took us to the front of the orchard to pay. Although I didn’t get anything this trip, I will definitely be back.
Tips: Get there early! Bring plastic grocery bags, gloves and shears if you have them. Totally not necessary, but will help with the picking of stubborn crops. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, and tennis shoes, it is muddy! They have wagons you can borrow, but you can’t bring the wagons on the tractor, so maybe a backpack or a big bag to keep all your stuff in. Check the website for hours and to see what is available for picking. Have fun!

Just came back from there today, which is a Tuesday! We came really early around 7:30, they open at 7. And by the time we were leaving at around 10am the place was really getting packed! So, to beat the heat and larger crowds, come early. We came in and had the donuts, kettle corn, coffees, and apple ciders first thing. The donuts are so good! Made fresh in front of you and they were really soft and delicious. Kettle corn was just made so we bought a bag and you just can’t beat that sweet and salty goodness! The apple cider was really good, I wish they sold it by the gallons. After our breakfast, we went to get pumpkins, okra, and eggplants. They had a good variety of vegetables you can pick. We had a great time wandering around and picking our veggies. We also grabbed a couple of caramel apples before checking out: D

It was a fun experience, but unfortunately it was scorching hot still. We’re in mid October, it should be cooler already, but it was not and it made it a little harder with two kids. They have little wheel barrel carts to put your veggies or pumpkins in, which was helpful.
I’d say take water, a hat, sun block and comfy shoes. We didn’t even try the donuts because the line was incredibly long and there was no shade. The seating area is shaded but the line surpasses that and you have to wait in line in the sun.

We came for pumpkins and left with pumpkins, pie pumpkins, sweet potatoes, green beans, and apple cider. This was an absolute blast! We didn’t have to pay to get in and were given bags at the entrance along with directions to the many different places that we could visit. Everyone there was nice and friendly! I am excited to eventually get back there and spend more time because we did not realize how cool it was. My daughter was absolutely fascinated with everything! Thank you so much!

This is Vegas!!! Ugh, what a wonderful surprise! When we arrived, I felt like I was somewhere else. Having lived on the east coast for a few years, the array and variable bonanza of quaint and picturesque pumpkin patches out of the pages of Better Home And Gardens is every hundred feet. Even California offers a nice assortment of that good ol’ family fun outing of hay rides, you pick pumpkins, apples and veggies, Apple cider donuts and bottles of icy apple cider, Gilcrease Orchards compares with those and makes one feel whisked away from this dry, arid desert full of casinos and strip chaos and endless sea of track homes… Sorry, I sound a little cynical of Vegas, but having lived here almost 2 years and honestly this place isn’t my «fit,» it was comforting to be somewhere that felt green and alive, added with the adorableness that is a plain old pick your own pumpkin patch, well, thank you Gilcrease Orchards!
Great free parking across the street, it’s well organized and affordable prices.
Will definitely be returning each fall, I’d actually like to go back a few times and have my kids pick other veggies.

I had no idea this type of place even existed in the desert. Awesome experience. Went mainly to see if they had some green tomatoes so that I could make some fried green tomatoes and sure enough, there were probably more green than good ripe red ones.
Overall a good place. Everything is mostly $ 1.00 a pound and you pick your own fruits. Things to pick: apples, pears, zucchini, spaghetti squash, okra and tomatoes. Everyone was super nice and they had some bags for you (we brought our own).

This farm is so much fun! We came early on Saturday. They had «Seeded» watermelons today. Seeded watermelons are so much sweeter than seedless… and close to impossible to find in grocery stores anymore.
When you first get there, ask or look for signs on which fruits & veggies are ready to be picked, and grab a wagon and some plastic bags. We went to the peach orchard first and picked a bag full of beautiful peaches, then we picked tomatoes and eggplants. We also checked out their hayride. After picking the fruits and veggies we wanted, we headed to the registers to pay. At checkout you’ll see bins of onions, garlic etc that were picked earlier by the farm staff. Load up on as much apple cider as you can carry, because that is really delicious. The prices were surprisingly good. This place is way more fun than we expected… if you haven’t tried it yet, you should!

I am such a city girl. I always wanted to kind of see what this is all about and I am glad I did, but it is not for me. That is not why I marked this place down though.
When I went, they were not charging an entrance fee. They had a nice young lady handing out bags for picking fruits and vegs. Those things are definite bonuses. After we got our bags, I was sort of lost as to where to go. We wandered around until we saw the rows of veggies and people picking them. They have the prices for the produce posted before the rows. I just wish there was some additional guidance as to how to pick the item and what to look for. There were a lot of items that were pulled off the vine or uprooted that were not mature so were left laying around, which is such a waste. This is why I marked this place down. I love that Vegas has an option like this, but the lack of guidance is a turn off.
So if you are going, be sure to have sunscreen and water. You should also consider bringing shears/​knife, gardening gloves, and shoes you are not afraid to get dusty. Maybe you should also brush up on your gardening knowledge as well.
The do have some already prepared items like peanut butter near the registers. I may make a trip here during apple season to see if they have some fresh apple cider.

Unilocal 100 Challenge 15′ * ¹¹⁄₁₀₀
Came here with a couple of my good friends to pick some fruits and veggies! We had been planning to head out here since winter but picking the right time was tricky. Early May, we decided to beat the heat by arriving at about 10am to our dismay. Even if the thermometers said 80 degrees, the blazing sun made it feel much hotter. Also, since the farm had been open since 6am, we lost our chance to get a wagon (which would have been free) to place our greens in. Cloth bags are on sale for $ 2 so remember to bring your own.
It would really help to bring your garden gloves if you have a pair. We were not ready for the muddy soil when harvesting carrots, kale and getting pricked by thorns from zucchini branches. Apricots, pears, apples and peaches weren’t quite ready yet so I might go back to pick some out before the month ends. Itching to make some cobblers!
We only managed to go around for an hour when the heat was too much for one of my friends to bear. Payment was done in front of the orchard. Prepped bundles of asparagus, garlic cloves and almond butter are available at the counter for those who want to bypass the field. Debit, credit and cash are accepted. Don’t wait till summer to take your friends or mothers here. It’s a wonderful experience and a great way to bond.

Not much beats the taste of organic, freshly picked fruits and veggies. Some of my earliest memories are from when I was a child in Wisconsin, and I’d go picking berries on my uncle’s farm. Visiting Gilcrease Orchard reminded me so much of those fun times.
Gilcrease Orchard is free to enter on foot, you simply pay for what you pick. What is available to pick is dependant on the season, you can check the website prior to going, or sign up for their newsletter which will inform you of newly available crops.
Be sure to check the website for current operating hours as well!
Fall is a popular time at the Orchard, lots of families head there to purchase pumpkins for Halloween. Personally, I have only visited during the month of October myself, and it’s always the same: BUSY. Go as early as possible to beat the crowds.
Some tips:
–Bring things to help you pick your fruit and veggies: Bags are a must, gloves and clippers could be handy as well. If you forget your bags, like we did the last time I visited, Gilcrease employees/​volunteers MAY be able to help you out. but it’s better to come prepared.
–Gilcrease has a limited number of wagons available on a first come first served basis, if you own a wagon, bring it!
–The trees and plants in the middle of each row tend to have the best selection of fruits and veggies. Don’t get discouraged if it seems like everyone else got all the good stuff, there is tons of fruit and veggies to go around, you just have to work a little to find them!
–Don’t wear flipflops or anything you would mind getting dirty. You will be walking on uneven dirt, sometimes even mud.
–Bring your patience. There will most likely be a long line to check out if you go on the weekend.
And finally… Don’t miss the delicious apple cider donuts, they are served hot and they are AMAZING. Make sure to get some cider to wash it down.
I only spent $ 5 at Gilcrease but I ended up with a bag of apples, some small zucchini, a couple sweet potatoes and a decent sized butternut squash. The farm-​fresh taste can not be beat!
Gilcrease Orchard Is a gem in the desert, and I am looking forward to visiting again when they reopen after the winter season.

I’ve never been to an orchard before and I’m glad I finally went to one. There’s nothing more rewarding than picking your own vegetables. First off I must say, those apple donuts are amazing!!! My man and I split an order, but we could have easily finished off a second batch. They were so fresh, warm, soft, not too sweet with a rich apple flavor. So good! Next we hit up the vegetable fields. We scored big on a full bag of kale, carrots and sweet potatoes. And all of it for only $ 4!!! Score!!! They also had eggplants, zucchinis, spinach and pumpkins. We enjoyed walking through the orchard and just looking at everything. It’s funny though because as we were picking the vegetables, we felt badly for killing the plants, but hey, we do have to eat. My only dislike was that a lot of the plants were really picked over and the sun was beaming down, which would be fine if I wasn’t sick.
Overall, I had an amazing time and I can’t wait to taste all the delicious vegetables we picked. It’s really far from where we live, but the apple donuts alone are worth the trip.
P. S. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and bring bags for your produce.

I’ve lived in Vegas for over 25 years and had never been to Gilcrease Orchard. On a Saturday Jessie B and I made plans to check it out.
First things first here is a little list of items that you should bring to help you on your Gilcrease journey.
A bag or backpack to carry all your fruit and veggies in. They offer plastic bags too. If you don’t have your own.
Gloves to aide you in picking veggies and fruit.
Clippers to help you clip the veggies and fruit.
Water. They do sell it, but not till the end when you check out.
We got there around 9am. Gilcrease opens at 7am. The earlier you get there the better. The later you go the more people there are and parking becomes an issue.
They have signs that point you in the direction of things on the farm. Jessie and I knew we wanted the apple cider donuts first. So we headed over to the covered area where they were selling them. I was excited cause they were also selling pear cider. It was great that they had benches to sit and eat at. Yum! The little apple cider donuts were still warm and not to surgery. They topped them with pumpkin cream cheese too. It complimented the donuts perfectly. That pear cider! Omg so refreshing! I think it’s better then the apple cider that they sell too. While we were finishing our donuts we noticed a tractor that was picking people up just outside of where they sold the donuts. It’s totally free to ride the tractor and they drop you off at different picking spots along the way. This is a great thing cause Gilcrease is huge!
Our first stop was the green apples. The workers on the tractor ride told us to check out row 8 and we’d find good apples. Which we did! How fun! Next we stopped at the veggie patch where we picked grape tomatoes, zucchini and butternut squash. By this time it was getting HOT! So we passed up the pumpkins and hitched a ride back on the tractor to the front of the farm. On our way back we got to see the little owl sanctuary they have in the back of the farm. We also saw a road runner. (Please if you have kids and you see a road runner at the farm please do not let your child chase the animals. It’s not funny.)
At the front of the farm you stand in line and pay for what you picked and you also have the chance to buy peanut butter, honey and fresh garlic.
Gilcrease is awesome! What a find in the middle of the Vegas desert. It’s a fun time for everyone. I can’t wait to go back when it’s not so hot! Another great find with Jessie B!