Wightman’s Farms

We go to Wightman’s weekly to get a pie — apple or cherry, but they have other types too. The only homemade pies around. If we are hungry we get a coffee and freshly made donuts. The apple cider is pressed right there. Very friendly folks — been in the area for decades.

We went on a weekend for the hayride. It was so busy and chaotic but the hayride was longer than the usual and was quite scenic. Then we went on a weekday in the middle of fall and the only thing that was open was the store. They wouldn’t even let the kids sit on the picnic tables in the open space. Better farms and service in Chester.
FYI their pies are way sweet. I like sweet and the pies are too sweet for me.

This farm is only 40 minutes from me and was fully functional on Columbus Day so we decided to visit. They offer apple picking, a hay ride that includes pumpkin picking and a donut, a corn maze, and corn pit. There is a fee for each activity.
Like others, I wasn’t crazy about the $ 15 membership fee to pick apples on top of the $ 1.99/lb fee. If I lived closer and loved apples it would make sense, but not for someone who only wants to pick once a year. We decided to go on the hay ride ($ 7.50 for 3 and older) which took us around the farm and brought us to an artificial pumpkin patch where small sized pumpkins were manually placed in the field. For me it’s a much better experience picking pumpkins from the vine, but for little kids it doesn’t really matter. My toddler enjoyed the mini hay stack maze and loved the CORN PIT ($ 4) which had various trucks to play with.
If you plan to come here during lunch, bring your own. They do not sell lunch food items. However, they do have really good apple cider donuts and roasted corn on the cob.
Overall a decent local farm to visit during the fall and not as overly commercial as other farms. Come early to avoid the large crowds.

We had our first visit to Wightman’s Farms about a month ago. We visited with our kids and our friends and their son so the kids’ ages ranged between 2 and 3 years old making Wightman’s the PERFECT Fall Place for them. The kids had a ball riding on the hay ride, picking their perfectly child-​sized pumpkin, playing in the hay playground area, eating their donuts in the picnic area, and of course picking apples. There’s also a lot of great spots for the perfect fall family photo. Overall, a great place to spend a fall morning with the family. A lot closer than other farms we’ve been to. Can’t wait to return with the kids next fall. Just one piece of advice: get there EARLY!!! It gets crazy crowded later in the day.

My daughter and I had the best time at Wightman’s last Friday picking apples and pumpkins, flinging pumpkins from giant sling shots and hay riding. This is a perfect fall adventure. After apple picking we purchased the supplies to cook pies in their little country market. The pies are the best we’ve ever tasted!

Every fall since I moved to the East coast, my social newsfeeds have been flooded with photos of people apple picking. So much raving about apple cider donuts and warm cider on a brisk fall day, it has been on my list for quite some time now. I finally had the opportunity to go this past Saturday. I may be a bit late in the season since all the other farms I researched have ended their apple picking, but luckily for us Wightman’s does apple picking on weekends until the end of October.
Wightman’s farm has a bit of everything for your fall enthusiast. Aside from the you pick apples, there are a bunch of food stands with good eats to snack on — I highly recommend the freshly roasted corn and the pickles on the stick (three options: half pickled, dill and hot — get them all). Venture into the store for fresh apple cider donuts — dusted in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or just plain. Their shelves are also stocked with freshly baked pies, local honey, apple butter and homemade jams and jellies. They also had other fresh vegetables and a large selection of pumpkins (both decorated and bare).
For apple pickers, they have a membership program that allows for unlimited entrance to apple picking for up to 5 people for just $ 15 dollars. Included with the membership are two reusable tote bags, two water bottles and a bunch of coupons (discounted hay rides and apples). At the entrance of the orchard, you have the option of a basket and apple picking sticks — I found them annoying since the stick often knocked over other perfectly good apples and I have a huge fear of bruised fruit but the fiancé was having a grand ol’ time with it.
Depending on when you go, certain varieties of apples are available. They give you a detailed list (along with recommendations for what they are best for) at the entrance and those trees that are ripe for the picking are clearly labeled with different colored ribbons. I recommend that you go down the rows for the best picks since the first half of the rows are generally picked over. Keep in mind that picked apples are $ 1.99 per pound, we somehow ended up with 9 pounds. whoops.
A few other things to know, their apple picking hours end at 5pm so plan accordingly. We arrived at about 2 and my heart dropped when we pulled up because the first parking lot was completely closed out, thank goodness they have plenty of overflow parking across the street. They take both cash and credit for the most part but do have an ATM in the store for some of the stands that are cash only.

I understand that the first rule of business is to make money, however the proper advertisement of the business is the key. So let me try this: unless you pay $ 15.00 annual membership — you will not be allowed to pick anything!!! How about that. So if you just want fresh apples– save a trip and go to a supermarket or an organic store. We went to a farm last weekend for the experience– unfortunately that didn’t happen.

It’s a crowded nightmare. I’m guessing because it’s kind of local. They charge $ 15 for membership, $ 1.99 per lb, pumpkins are separate. Then the hayride is another charge. Go super early and best of luck. :)

The butter roasted corn is delicious!!! It’s overpriced but worth it. The place gets very busy over the weekend so come early or weekdays for parking. It’s October and they have apple picking, pumpkins, hayrides, pumpkin sling shot, corn maze, fresh baked cider donuts, and pies. Every activity cost money so visit their website or call the farm ahead so you’re not surprised.

This place is a zoo! If you’re imagining a nice drive in the country and some leisurely apple picking, fuggetaboutit, as they say in NJ. It takes two cops out front to direct traffic and point you toward an auxiliary parking lot. Once you’ve finally trod up to the front, it’s mayhem — no direction, just people everywhere. The store is so crowded it’s like being on a New York City subway. Lines for everything, overpriced everything and not so great. Donuts don’t seem like they’re made onsite – they may be, they just don’t taste like it – on the edge of stale and cakey like supermarket donuts. Brought home corn to steam and it was like «cow corn,» big, starchy and chewy kernels. The two stars are for the cider, which is sweet but good. Up the road just a few yards is a nice, chill nursery too where you can get pumpkins and huge pots of mums without all the hassle.

Apple picking was fun. They make you sign up for an apple picking membership. It’s 15 dollars but the membership covers five people. The apple pies were really good. Apple cider was fresh.

First time here, Loved the apple picking. I did so many things, including hay ride, corn maze. Got to pick out my own little pumkin. (For free at the end of the hay ride). Theres alot for kids to do. They also have a variety of food and a store to buy a lot of home made goods from. Pricing is ok and it is very clean. The people there are very nice too. Definitely a family fun place. There is alot of walking.

If you are going for Apple picking once, it will get expensive, you pay $ 15 membership and $ 1.99 per pound. Unless you pick a lot of apples or go apple picking a few times, it’s expensive. However, if you are going for an experience, it might be worth the money.
There is a lot of entertainment for the kids: hay rides, corn maze, etc. you have to pay for each of them and I’m sure it adds up quickly.
The store has a variety of farm’s own and other local produce and processed food such as sauces, preserves, etc. Most of the processed food had corn syrup in it, so i didn’t buy anything. While it’s nice to have everything local, there were no signs saying they don’t use chemicals or anything else indicating it was a healthier option than regular grocery. I didn’t buy anything in the store besides apples that were $ 1.99 that’s The same price as you pick your own, but no membership charge.
We tried their own cider. It was a little too sweet for me.
Overall, great place to spend a day with the kids. Otherwise, just a nice stop if it’s on your way. I wouldn’t make a special trip here.

I give the apple and peach picking 4 stars. After paying $ 15 season membership to pick, we’ve been back 4 times already. $ 1.99 per pound for peaches and apples is a fine price even if we pick them (do the work). Yellow peaches and nectarines are fantastic — sweet, delicious. They are a hike though up a steep hill and the last few rows after the apple trees. You get a good workout and a view of the valley though! White peaches are good, too, but I learned not as sweet (is that true everywhere?).
We bought an apple pie at the pie shop inside. It was too sweet. Will try their ‘no sugar’ version next time or just make our own.

Absolutely the worst apple cider doughnuts I’ve ever had. They are cold, dry and flavorless. One of the only farms I’ve ever been to that doesn’t serve hot doughnuts fresh out of the fryer. Apple cider doughnuts and fresh apple cider are Apple farm staples. It’s part of the whole Apple picking experience and this place fails in an epic fashion. This place is simply not willing to take the extra steps when they can simply cut corners. They know people are going to buy doughnuts when visiting an apple farm anyway. But you can seriously get better Apple cider doughnuts from the super market.

We love Wightman’s for annual apple picking. Only 45 minutes (in no traffic) from the George Washington Bridge and so many awesome things to do in addition to terrific apple picking. Corn mazes, playground and hayrides, with a pumpkin patch and a freshly baked, moist delicious donut at the end of the day. There is a picnic area for lunching and a wonderful little market that sells farm-​grown treats and other goodies. You need to buy a membership for $ 15 (up this year) but you get a season of peach, nectarine and apple picking, two reusable tote bags for carrying the goods and two bottled waters, which are really cold and very handy after climbing the orchards (even in the early morning it gets very hot and you can really exert yourself making it all the way through the rows to find the ripe fruit). We always have a fun time and will come back over and over again.

I come here every year around Halloween time for the past 3 years. They have a lot of activities to take part in especially for children. They have a tractor ride that takes you up to the apple orchards. My favorite is the pumpkin sling shot game its definitely competitive because if you succeed you get a FREE pumpkin of your choice!
Pick your own apple, pumpkins and inside the store they sell everything including pies, freshly made donuts and vegetables. The donuts and pies are so good and you can smell them from outside! Definitely one of my favorite spots for fall activites!

The good:
It’s a nice way to spend the say outdoors doing «fall things». The hayride is longer than expected, taking you around the whole farm and giving you a nice view. The cider is so great. The maze is ok (seen better at other places) but it will keep you entertained for 40 mins or so. Everyone we spoke to was pretty friendly. It’s highly organized (it has to be with this many people).
The bad now, since it’s just so glaringly obvious:
Stopped here on a Saturday and it was a madhouse. First the traffic getting in, (even with 2 cops regulating traffic), parking is a nightmare (at least 300 (?) spots will fill up very quickly), and in general once you get to the farm you stand in lines for everything: stand in line to buy tickets, stand in line to wait for the hayride, stand in line for food, stand in line for the tile maze, stand in line to buy stuff in the store, etc.
It’s expensive:
It all adds up (especially for a group). Bought tickets for the mazes (includes corn, stone, rope, and tile) + hayride (includes very small pumpkin, hayride, donut). It’ll cost you about $ 14 and change per person. If you’re hungry (obviously), food is extra (though not too bad) (pretzels 2.50, cider $ 2 small glass). Pumpkin slingshots are $ ²⁄₃ pumpkins, not sure about all the kid-​friendly stuff but there seemed to be ticket options for everything.
It’s slightly ridiculous:
Pumpkin picking here does not mean you select one off the vine as it grows naturally. It means walking through a field and selecting a smaller pumpkin that someone placed there. We passed by a building and they had the bay doors open to show the area these smaller pumpkins waiting in Walmart looking cardboard containers for the next day. It broke my «I-​love-​fall-​heart». Great for families though, the youngins can easily carry their own pumpkins without having to worry about tripping over vines.
The mazes:
Corn maze: takes the most time, it’s ok
Rope maze: meh
Rock maze: the one place with no one there!
Tile maze: geez, this is a tough challenge, loved it!

This was mine and my boyfriend’s second time here and can’t say that I was too pleased this time around.
This farm was rated as one of the 5 Best Apple Picking Orchards & Farm on
. It’s a large farm and filled with fun little activities for the kids, and a shop that’s constantly busy and filled with customers.
We were directed to go to the top of the hill where all the Fuji apples would be and after hiking up the hill, there were hardly any apples left and our family wasn’t too happy especially since there were two kids with us too. We managed to find the apples, but they weren’t quite delicious as I hoped.
Near the little shop, there were men roasting corn on a cob. $ 3.00 each and you can get it with butter or no butter, but may I say having it with butter is truly delicious. The butter is melted already and they just brush the butter on the corn. The corn was sweet and buttery!
Will I be back? Probably not for a while because there are other apple picking farms I’d love to check out and I have already been here twice. Nothing too… special.

They have so many different types of apples. The apples are crisp and tasty. There’s something about picking your own apples that makes it more delicious. Probably a psychological thing.
It gets crowded going in. If their first parking lot is full, they do have a second one across the street. Once you get into the orchard though, there’s plenty of apples for everyone. It is a bit expensive. They require you to pay $ 11 for membership which is good for 5 people through the month of Aug-​Oct. The apples themselves are $ 1.79/pound which can be expensive depending on what supermarket you go to.
The store is just as fun. They give free donuts to those who rode the hay ride and their donuts are amazing. They also sell a variety of fresh vegetables, pies, jams, candy, and bother baked goods. Outside they have many kinds of weird shaped squashes and gourds I’ve never seen.
I wish their pumpkin picking was actual pumpkin picking though. Instead they have a sea of already picked pumpkins outside the store.