Sept. 10, 2021

Five years after opening an event barn at The Country Apple Orchard, Kate and Greg Jones now own most of the property.

And they’ve got some exciting visions for it.

But the first one is to keep growing apples at the 30-year-old orchard.

“The Harrisburg/south Sioux Falls area is developing so quickly we wanted to preserve both the surrounding areas of our wedding venues as well as the orchard itself because it’s been such a longstanding family attracting and agricultural experience,” Katie Jones said.

“We wanted to make sure that stayed true to what it is currently and continue to offer all the fun amenities.”

They opened Meadow Barn at Country Orchards in 2016 and added The Veranda by Meadow Barn three years later. Both venues are especially full in the fall, so the family is managing that along with the programming at the orchard.

The new owners acquired about 50 acres along Highway 115 in Harrisburg, which becomes Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls, except for some frontage remaining for future development.

This year’s harvest is a little “hit and miss,” Jones said, as the drought this spring hit some varieties harder than others.

“But there are plenty of apples and lots to pick, and you can purchase in the store as well. The rain this last month really helped the apples push through,” she said. “And there’s plenty of pumpkins. We have them shipped in, so we have more of a pumpkin display instead of a pumpkin patch.”

They have changed the format of the orchard’s festivals this fall, offering lots of activities every Friday through Sunday until the end of October.

It’s a ticketed event, $13 for anyone taller than 35 inches, which includes access to a sand tire tractor mountain, three zip lines, two mega bouncy pillows, a giant corn kernel pit, two mazes and a petting zoo.

For an extra charge, you can ride a pony or shoot apples from a cannon toward targets.

“You can still just go pick apples (without a ticket),” Jones added. “Last weekend was our first (festival). It went really well. Friday was our soft opening, and the weekend turned out amazing.”

There will be some themed weekends involving extra activities. And there are now tents available for groups or corporate events.

Looking ahead, the new owners are talking about adding a holiday light show, selling Christmas trees and opening the candy store with a holiday theme.

“There are talks and plans for the future, probably not this year, (but) we’re excited about that,” Jones said.