Archives for :

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ruth Chiles

Ruth Eliza Dollens Chiles—wife to Henry M. Chiles and mother of Cynthia, Huff, and Sarah Chilesーpassed away peacefully on Friday, July 30, 2021. A third generation Chiles family farmer, Ruth was the heart and soul of Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain Orchard, both of which were founded by and under her direction for nearly 50 years.

Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ruth grew up in Midway and attended Greenwood High School before continuing her education at Mary Washington College. Ruth then married Henry M. Chiles in 1961 and quickly embraced the orchardist lifestyle. She served on several state associations and governor-appointed agriculture advisory committees.

Ruth worked alongside Henry since before they were married 60 years ago. On a particularly cold year where the weather froze out most of the crop, Ruth began selling peaches at a roadside stand. Nearly 40 years later, that roadside stand is now Chiles Peach Orchard on Jarmans Gap Road in Crozet!

As the first female member of the Crozet Lion’s Club, Ruth exemplified the Chiles family’s commitment to community service. She remained active in the Lions Club throughout her life and we still celebrate this connection today at Chiles Peach Orchard’s Annual Homemade Peach Ice Cream Days.  

On a personal note, Ruth was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed volunteering at Tabor Presbyterian Church as choir director and organist. Church members and family alike remember Ruth for her talent, sweet smile, warm personality, and sense of humor. Ruth put everything she had into raising her children and contributing to her community.

Ruth was the type of person whose light shone on everyone around her. While that light will be deeply missed, the Chiles family and our friends will forever honor her incredible impact on our community. 
Memorial gifts in Ruth’s name can be made to Tabor Presbyterian Church in Crozet, Virginia.

Ruth loved life and the people she surrounded herself with and dedicated herself to. She truly enjoyed spending time with her three grandchildren, who adored her endlessly. Ruth will be deeply and sorely missed by her family and friends, her church, and her community. 

The Daily Progress

Carter Mountain Orchard Open Every Day

The sweet smell of spring is in the air! C’mon out to breathe it in and enjoy panoramic views of Charlottesville growing greener, we’re now open daily 10 AM–5 PM.


Carter Mountain wine being bottled

Cheers Are in Order

Keep a glass ready, we’re preparing to release our new Carter Mountain wine! We can’t wait to share the fruits of our labor with you later this year.


Display of Easter merchandise at Carter Mountain Orchard

Have an Eggcellent Easter

Hop up the mountain to snag some truly adorable bunnies, kid-friendly crafts, and spring fling cookie cutters from the Country Store.

We won’t be hosting an egg hunt this year, though we can’t wait to get back to it in 2022!


Sunset at Carter Mountain Orchard

On the Horizon

The sun just loves showing off and we are here for it!

Thursday Evening Sunset Series kicks off on May 7, keep an eye out for the musical lineup and ticking info on our calendar and Facebook page.


Cider donut with mountain views in background at Carter Mountain Orchard

Wednesday is the New Friday

You can find us now at the Local Food Hub Wednesday Drive-Thru Market @ Seminole Square (instead of Friday).

We’re keeping our Ivy Road Pop-up through 2021 on Thursdays– Saturdays.


Carter Mountain Orchard's recipe for apple cider donut bread pudding

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

If you thought you loved our apple cider donuts before, wait until you try our cider donut bread pudding.

Grab it fresh from the Country Store or whip up a batch yourself with our recipe.


Bottle of Bold Rock Hard Cider seasonal watermelon on ice
Bold Rock Watermelon Cider blends the iconic summer refreshment of watermelon with deliciously crisp Blue Ridge apple juice.

Enjoy the View with a Seasonal Cider in Hand

The Bold Rock Tap Room at Carter Mountain Orchard has also kicked off their 2021 season. Soon you’ll be able to admire the budding peach blossoms while sipping on your favorite brew, whether it’s hard cider, seltzer, tea, or lemonade.


Get fresh orchard info, ready-picked for your inbox by subscribing to Carter Mountain Orchards today!

Carter Mountain Orchard Will Be Open Weekends This Winter

Orchard Outlook for 2021

For the first time ever, Carter Mountain Orchard will be open to the public throughout the winter, Fridays–Sundays!* We’ll close if the weather forecast looks iffy; we’re not taking any chances with safety. PLEASE NOTE: tickets/reservations are NOT required!

*The Bold Rock Taproom will remain closed.

In the past, the orchard has closed at the end of December and reopened around Easter. You can now enjoy the crisp air, fresh cider donuts, and our spectacular mountain views all year long.


A Look Back at 2020

This year was one for the history books and we couldn’t have gotten through it without the support of our community and amazing staff. We’re so grateful to everyone on team Chiles Family Orchards for their hard work, perseverance, and overall awesomeness. 

At this point, March seems like a million years ago. Here’s a look back at the Carter Mountain Orchard 2020 highlights.

April

The uncertainty in April delayed our season-opening and postponed a ribbon cutting with Sigora Solar. Hopefully, we’ll be able to celebrate our new solar panels and ongoing commitment to sustainability in 2021.

May

New times called for new service offerings. We opened a drive-thru at the Country Store pavilion and the new Ivy Road Pop-up.

June

The Virginia sun-ripened some tasty peaches for peach picking season and set beautifully behind the mountains for gorgeous Wind Down Wednesdays and Thursday Evening Sunset Series. But the sun can be a fickle friend; it also hid behind plenty of clouds, causing us to cancel events due to rain. 

July

In July, we introduced your new favorite summer snack: peach sliders. The slice of fresh peach sandwiched in a cider donut topped with powdered sugar was an explosion of sweet flavors.

Peach and cucumber salad at Carter Mountain Grill

August

The Mountain Grill provided one of the best outdoor dining experiences in Charlottesville. With a delicious Americana menu featuring fruits and vegetables from our orchards, stunning views of #Charlottesville and the surrounding mountains, and sanitized, spaced picnic tables, it was a win-win-win.

September

Apple season looked a little different this year. To control crowd size, we started ticketing for in-person visits and opened a new scenic drive-thru.

Carter Mountain Orchard was voted #7 in the nation on USA TODAY’s “Best Apple Orchards” (2020) list!

November

We partnered with Quirk Hotel Charlottesville to give apple pies to first responders at Charlottesville Fire Department (CFD) on Ridge Street.

December

It’s a bummer that Santa has to quarantine at the North Pole this year but our gift guide made shopping local merry and easy.


View our seasonal hours

Chiles Peach Orchard Closed for 2020 Season

How could any recap capture what a crazy year it’s been? We’ve never been more grateful to be able to welcome visitors out to the orchard for some outdoor family fun. 

As we close our doors for this season, we’re reflecting on all that has happened during 2020.


COVID-19 delayed our season opening and brought about a new way of doing things. We introduced a drive-through service in early April for a quick and safe way to deliver fresh Chiles Family Orchards produce and goodies from our farm to your bellies.

The new Ivy Road Pop-up is a convenient pickup point for our produce, cider, and, of course, apple cider donuts.

Strawberries started in late April but cooler than normal temperatures throughout the spring made them slower to ripen. Boy were those red, ripe strawberries worth the wait!

Summer’s bounty was particularly delightful this year, filling our Farm Market with sunflowers, zinnias, asparagus, tomatoes, blueberries, cherries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins.

Our outdoor events, the Orchard Jams concert series and Come Grow with Us summer children’s program, provided some much-needed (COVID-compliant) fun.

Come Grow with Us children's event at Chiles Peach Orchard

We’re a family business and that family includes our amazing staff. We couldn’t do it without them!

Whether we could see them or not, we loved cultivating so many smiles and can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year!

Apple Season Will Look a Little Different This Year

For over 40 years, the Chiles Family, along with our amazing staff, have invited people from all over to visit our orchard each fall to pick their own apples. It’s a family tradition for us, and we know for many of you as well. Our 2020 fall season must be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to protecting our staff and our guests.

Beginning Friday, September 11, we invite you to enjoy our fresh, mountain-grown apples, famous apple cider donuts, jams and jellies, and the beautiful view and hospitality that we are known for—in a new way. 

We know that many of you may decide that 2020 is the year you will skip your visit. We will miss you, and we understand. We’ll be here when you are ready.

Some might want to enjoy our scenic view (and some cider donuts) but aren’t comfortable getting out of your car. We get it. And we can make that happen with our Scenic Drive-Thru.

Some may want to pick up donuts and apples but not the “hassle” of driving up the mountain. Here are some other ways to get a taste of the orchard.

And for those who still want to have your traditional fall experience like you always have, complete with apple picking, we can accommodate you through our ticketed entry.

So, please read the options carefully—planning ahead will make for the best apple season experience!

Summer Outlook for Chiles Peach Orchard

We’re so grateful for all of the community support that helped our family farm get through the first few months of the season. Thank you, and we can’t wait to see you at the Orchard this summer.

Safety Policies

We are taking the COVID-19 situation seriously and have implemented the following policies for the 2020 season. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to comply with state and federal mandates and recommendations and provide the safest experience we can at this time.

Protective Masks

Our staff working inside will be wearing masks in areas where we come into contact with customers. 

Disclaimer: We are not air-conditioned, so when temperatures reach 85 or higher, masks become optional for our staff, who are wearing them for hours on end.

Guests and customers are requested to wear masks or face coverings when coming inside our markets, restrooms, or other indoor spaces.

Social Distancing

We ask that you maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between yourself and other parties while you are here.

Regular Sanitation

Our staff is sanitizing high touchpoints, including door handles, picnic tables, restroom fixtures, etc. every hour. We ask that you do your part by making sure you remove your trash from tables. And please call our attention to any areas that seem to need a little love!

Sorry, No Pets Allowed

We have made the difficult decision to no longer allow pets on our property. There are several reasons for this. 

We have been certified in our growing practices by several local, national, and global organizations.  These certifications do not permit animals in our growing areas.

While most pet owners are good owners, we’ve had a lot of issues with dogs being off-leash and uncontrolled. We also end up cleaning up after a lot of dogs whose owners don’t take on that responsibility. We’ve also seen a lot of owners who let their dogs sit on our picnic tables. We are trying very diligently to keep our facility clean and sanitary, especially this year.

No Outside Food or Drink

Food and beverage may not be brought in.

Cool off with soft-serve ice cream: order your favorite flavor at the window and enjoy your cup or waffle cone while seated in the shade of our pavilion. We also sell bottled waters, ciders, fudge, and of course our homemade cider donuts.

The Bold Rock Tap Room is currently open Wednesdays through Sundays. You may purchase hard cider to-go or to enjoy on-site. ABC Law does not permit any other alcohol on our property.

Prince Michel Winery is no longer on site.

PYO Fruit Pre-pay

We are not weighing any fruit this year to minimize contact.

You will pre-pay for pick your own fruit, and we provide the container. We are not permitting any bags or baskets from home. If you are picking fruit, please leave your backpacks, purses, or tote bags in the car as they are not permitted in the orchard.

Please follow all signage and instructions from staff.

For pre-picked fruit, we have them conveniently packaged in many quantities, from “just a few” to “a whole bunch”!

Limited Event Capacity

We are limiting the number of folks participating in our events this year, including our children’s programs, evening music series, and special events. Most events are by ticket only; see our calendar for details for each event.


Please review all of our visitor guidelines before your visit.


Pick Your Own

View today’s picking availability or stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates.

Source: Instagram @rinxriot | Girl with peach

Peaches

Our homegrown peaches are available for both pick-your-own and ready-picked.

Freshly picked blueberries and peaches at an orchard

Blueberries

Pick-your-own blueberries are finishing up, pick ‘em before they’re gone.

Pick-your-own flowers at Chiles Peach Orchard

Flowers & Veggies

Our flowers are starting to bloom and the veggies are nearly ready for harvest.


Outdoor Summer Events

Orchard Jams free music event at Chiles Peach Orchard

Orchard Jams

Join us on Fridays for great live music, refreshing craft hard cider, and delicious eats. No advance registration is required, but we reserve the right to cut off admission if we reach capacity.

Come Grow with Us children's event at Chiles Peach Orchard

Come Grow with Us

Our weekly summer children’s program will take place on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. We’ve put additional health precautions in place, including advance registration to limit the size of sessions. Get your tickets here, space is limited.


Curbside Pickup

We understand that even with certain precautions in place, many members of our community may not yet feel safe going out and about. For this reason, we are now offering curbside pickup for cider donuts, baked goods, ready-picked fruit, gifts, and more.

Call the Farm Market at 434-823-1583 and we’ll help you put together an order.

Chiles Peach Orchard Farm Market

Good, Clean Summer Fun at Carter Mountain Orchard

We are so happy to be open! Thank you so much for your amazing support during the early part of our season. We’re looking forward to lots of farm fun at Carter Mountain Orchard this summer, including peach picking, live music, children’s events, and plenty of homemade cider donuts.

Safety Policies

As have all businesses, we’ve had to make some adjustments to our daily operations to keep our staff and guests safe and be compliant with Executive Orders from our governor. Some of the changes you will see when you arrive include:

Protective Masks

Our staff working inside will be wearing masks in areas where we come into contact with customers. 

Disclaimer: We are not air-conditioned, so when temperatures reach 85 or higher, masks become optional for our staff, who are wearing them for hours on end.

Guests and customers are requested to wear masks or face coverings when coming inside our markets, restrooms, or other indoor spaces.

Social Distancing

We ask that you maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between yourself and other parties while you are here.

Regular Sanitation

Our staff is sanitizing high touchpoints, including door handles, picnic tables, restroom fixtures, etc. every hour. We ask that you do your part by making sure you remove your trash from tables. And please call our attention to any areas that seem to need a little love!

Sorry, No Pets Allowed

We have made the difficult decision to no longer allow pets on our property. There are several reasons for this. 

We have been certified in our growing practices by several local, national, and global organizations.  These certifications do not permit animals in our growing areas.

While most pet owners are good owners, we’ve had a lot of issues with dogs being off-leash and uncontrolled. We also end up cleaning up after a lot of dogs whose owners don’t take on that responsibility. We’ve also seen a lot of owners who let their dogs sit on our picnic tables. We are trying very diligently to keep our facility clean and sanitary, especially this year.

No Outside Food or Drink

Food and beverage may not be brought in.

Our Mountain Grill is open most days, and we have “grab and go” items during the days or hours that the Grill is closed. We also sell bottled waters, sodas, ciders, ice cream, and of course our apple cider donuts!

The Bold Rock Tap Room is currently open Wednesdays through Sundays. You may purchase hard cider to-go or to enjoy on-site. ABC Law does not permit any other alcohol on our property.

Prince Michel Winery is no longer on site.

PYO Fruit Pre-pay

We are not weighing any fruit this year to minimize contact.

You will pre-pay for pick your own fruit, and we provide the container. We are not permitting any bags or baskets from home. If you are picking fruit, please leave your backpacks, purses, or tote bags in the car as they are not permitted in the orchard.

For pre-picked fruit, we have them conveniently packaged in many quantities, from “just a few” to “a whole bunch”!

Limited Event Capacity

We are limiting the number of folks participating in our events this year, including our children’s programs, evening music series, and special events. These events will be ticketed, and tickets must be purchased in advance. We will not be able to permit unticketed guests at these events.


Please review all of our visitor guidelines before your visit.


Top Picks for Summer

Sun shining through branches full of peaches

Sun-ripened Peaches

Our homegrown peaches are currently available for pick your own, or already picked. Follow us on Facebook for daily picking updates or check out our picking availability chart.

Fourth of July event at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville

Fourth of July Celebration

While many local fireworks demonstrations have been canceled this year, a local group has come together in our area to raise money for a fireworks show. We’ve decided to open our venue for our annual Happy Birthday, America! event for a limited number of people.

Cultivating Curiosity children's program

Children’s Programs

Our weekly summer children’s program Cultivating Curiosity takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please register in advance, as there are a limited number of tickets available for each session.

Lockjaw Musical Act

Live Music

Our evening music series are back on: Wind Down Wednesdays and Thursday Evening Sunset Series!

To help with crowd control and social distancing, these are now ticketed events.

Glass Jar of Peach Preserves by Chiles Family Orchards

Curbside Pickup and Online Store

We understand that even with certain precautions in place, many members of our community may not yet feel safe going out and about. For this reason, we are now offering curbside pickup and online ordering.

Order online or call the Country Store at 434-977-1833 to place your order of cider donuts, specialty foods, ready-picked fruit, and more.

COVID-19 Updates: Season Opening Date Postponed

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the safety and health of our customers, employees, and community remain our top priority. We are closely following the guidelines issued by the CDC, including frequent hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces, and social distancing. Our staff has undergone additional training and will continue to abide by new sanitation guidelines when we open our doors.

Chiles Peach Orchard’s 2020 season-opening date is being postponed to April 15. This date is tentative at this time and will be reevaluated as circumstances warrant. As new developments occur, we will adjust our operations and events calendar as necessary. The Hop Into Spring event has been canceled.

In the meantime, our online store remains open for business with gift cards, t-shirts and apparel, and specialty foods. The kitchens are temporarily closed for baked good production but Chiles Family Orchards jams and jellies, apple butter, salad dressings, BBQ sauces, and prepared mixes are as tasty and convenient as ever. We’re currently offering 50% off our standard shipping rates.

Peach trees in blossom at Chiles Peach Orchard

On a brighter note, the weather is shaping up for a beautiful spring and the peach blossoms are stunning to see. Since we are not open, we are not able to welcome guests into the farm fields at this time. You may take photos from the roadside.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the orchards when it is safe to do so. Our family has proudly served the Crozet community for generations, and we thank you for your support during these difficult times.

If you have questions, please reach out on Facebook or at Hello@ChilesPeachOrchard.com.

Sincerely,
The Chiles Family

Chiles Family

COVID-19 Updates: Season Opening Date Postponed

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the safety and health of our customers, employees, and community remain our top priority. We are closely following the guidelines issued by the CDC, including frequent hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces, and social distancing. Our staff has undergone additional training and will continue to abide by new sanitation guidelines when we open our doors.

Carter Mountain Orchard’s 2020 season-opening date is being postponed to April 15. This date is tentative at this time and will be reevaluated as circumstances warrant. As new developments occur, we will adjust our operations and events calendar as necessary. The early spring events Cultivating Curiosity: Spring Break Edition and the Easter Eggstravaganza are canceled.

In the meantime, our online store remains open for business with gift cards, t-shirts and apparel, and specialty foods. The kitchens are temporarily closed for baked good production but Chiles Family Orchards jams and jellies, apple butter, salad dressings, BBQ sauces, and prepared mixes are as tasty and convenient as ever. We’re currently offering 50% off our standard shipping rates.

On a brighter note, the weather is shaping up for a beautiful spring. Get a bit of fresh air when possible: it is still safe to take walks, run, and hike outdoors, as long as proper social distance is maintained.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the orchards when it is safe to do so. Our family has proudly served the Charlottesville community for generations, and we thank you for your support during these difficult times.

If you have questions, please reach out on Facebook or at Hello@CarterMountainOrchard.com.

Sincerely,
The Chiles Family

Farmer Henry Chiles pruning grapevines
We may be currently closed to the public but our orchards are still active farms! Farmer Henry is shown here pruning grapevines.

2019 Season Recap: Chiles Peach Orchard

Thanks for gathering together for another peachy-keen year at Chiles Peach Orchard! Whether you came to pick fruits and vegetables, sip on wine or cider, or participate in one of our signature events, we enjoyed your company.

Jammin’ Out

Our new stage and pavilion set the scene for Orchard Jams in 2019, a lively concert series co-hosted by Bold Rock Hard Cider. Now it’s even easier to jam out; the Crozet Trolley Service stops at the orchard on Friday nights.

Pavilion and live music stage at Chiles Peach Orchard

Live music stage at Chiles Peach Orchard

Crozet Trolley Co. Photo by @xiaoqiliphotography

Photo by @xiaoqiliphotography

Crozet Trolley Co. rides to Chiles Peach Orchard

Crozet Trolley offered free rides to Orchards Jams in May!

Filled up on family time

We’re still sporting food babies from chowing down on all-you-can-eat pancakes during our signature weekend Pancake Breakfasts. Leave the sticky dishes to us so you can focus on fun with your family!

Gathering at Chiles Peach Orchard

Countdown to Spring

We’re honored that so many visitors featured the orchard in the fun memories you captured this year. Check out the top posts taken at Chiles Peach Orchard on Instagram.

We’ll see ya on April 10 when we re-open for the 2020 season!

Sunflowers, bees, peaches, butterflies, and zinnias