Welcome to the new Crossnore Heritage Orchard website. While this website is still under construction it is ready to use. Visit the links to the < Left to see the Orchard Map, List of Heirloom Apple Varieties, full Apple Descriptions, and other interesting pages.
This website is designed to be available on your phones as you walk through the orchard. Locate the trees by our Orchard Map or by their number and start learning about each. These apple tree varieties are 100 to 350 years old. They were grown by our Nation’s founding fathers and by your own grandfathers. Click our Mission Statement on the left for more information.
How this Began
In 2009 the Crossnore Communities for Children contacted the Avery County Cooperative Extension Center for help establishing a community orchard in the town of Crossnore. Planting historic heirloom apples; it is designed to be a living museum of the apple history of Crossnore and Avery County NC. It’s also a collection of America’s oldest apple varieties.
We currently have 43 apple trees and 28 heirloom apple varieties, most of which are common in Avery County. We estimate it produces 40-100 bushels of apples annually. The. apples are intended for free public collection, education, and the celebration of apple history. It’s no accident we have these apple trees in a “Community Park” atmosphere. If you are visiting today, stick around and see these historic apple varieties up close.
The Crossnore Communities for Children, the Avery County Extension Center, and Volunteers continue to cultivate and maintain this orchard. The Town of Crossnore is also a supporter of the Orchard. Click < Acknowledgements < to see all the folks who have made this Orchard happen.
We will be starting an “Orchard Donation Program” in the coming weeks to help support this new work. Thanks for visiting,
