Spotlight on O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch
Donna grew up on an apple ranch in Yakima Valley, Washington. After finishing college Donna married Pat O’Halloran. Donna and her husband, Pat, and their five children began to build a life for the family in Camino in 1968 farming on the land that is now O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch.
The O’Halloran’s joined the Apple Hill Growers Association in the 1960s and have been involved ever since.
“The Apple Hill Growers really helped grow the region by helping publicize the farms and encouraging people to come up and visit,” said Donna. “We organized some popular annual events that brought the media up to show what the different farms had to offer.”
The second generation of O’Hallorans are now running the farm, with daughter Kelly as the manager. Donna is still actively involved and enjoys greeting their longtime customers each year. Third and fourth generation family members look forward to helping with the harvest and sales each year.
Today, the farm offers 16 varieties of apples (Gala, Honey Crisp, Jonathan, McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Red Gold, Mutsu, Fuji, Braeburn, Winesap, Arkansas Black, Pink Lady, Red Rome, and Rome Beauty) and four types of pears (Bosc, El Dorado, Bartlett, and Red Bartlett). The ranch cultivates a popular three-acre pumpkin patch, which opens in mid-September every year for U-pick.
“The pumpkin patch is a fun attraction for all ages,” said Kelly O’Halloran. “We’re one of just a few ranches that grow pumpkins on the vine in the area. It’s a great experience to pick your own pumpkins and gourds off the vines and a great place to take family photos.”
Another great photo spot is the ranch’s fields of zinnia and sunflowers that visitors can pick for their own bouquets and arrangements.
The ranch stays open through December when visitors can choose from five varieties of Christmas trees – silver tip, white fir, blue spruce, noble fir, and Fraser fir. There is only one price, regardless of the variety and size so there is bound to be one for every holiday home.
O’Halloran’s invites you to come up, enjoy the amazing picnic area, sample apple sauce, apple butter and apple cider and explore the beautiful nature trail that meanders through the apple orchard on the property.
O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch is open daily from September through December 11th from 9 to 5. Christmas tree sales begin the day after Thanksgiving until they sell out.