What’s Growing on at Luce Line Orchards?
The Luce Line Orchards in Watertown is, perhaps, one of the greatest orchards still operating in our area today. This 1907 family farm has been lovingly restored by owners Rich & Terri Pawelk, who purchased the property in 2004 with the intent to do major renovations to their homestead. One major project was saving the farm’s crumbling barn. The century old building had been on the verge of collapse for years, with trees growing through the roof, rotted timbers, and disappearing walls, the Pawelks certainly had their work cut out for them!
In 2008, the family planted their first 300 apple trees and, today, have roughly 10,000 of them across their 155 acre farm! They also grow pumpkins and grapes to great acclaim. This is certainly a farm worth visiting, especially in the fall season when the trees make themselves known with displays of beauty and elegantly colored foliage.
My girlfriend and I visited Luce Line just a few days ago and, though we’ve been there before, we greatly enjoyed our visit! I had the opportunity to talk with Terri Pawelk about her farm and she was happy to divulge its history and some of the more secluded corners of her bustling enterprise. We noted how the crowds were manageable and the sights weren’t overly disorganized or dirtied by others.
Children have many opportunities to play alone or make new friends in corn bins, bounce houses, slides, and games. For Mom & Dad there are a myriad of sitting areas to relax, enjoy an apple or baked treat, and watch the little ones in action. Yet, there’s also much for the other cohort of visitors who are without young chilren! A three mile walk around the farm’s edges takes day trippers along marshlands to enjoy sights of birds and little critters, rest on benches, or simply keep each other company in the present moment. Not to mention a bar near the farmhouse which offers alcoholic beverages, many of which are fall themed.
Lastly, visitors of all ages can enjoy cheese curds, hotdogs, lemonades, and more outside the barn. Inside the barn building, a full store awaits. Bushels of fresh apples in a variety of breeds, pumpkins, squash, gourd, and more are among the produce selection while being stocked alongside dry goods such as pancake mix, honey, candles, clothing, knickknacks, and beyond.
We went home with a bushel of apples, cider, and some caramel kettle corn, which has delighted our houseguests in the ensuing days after our visit!
For those local residents looking westward for an orchard of desire, the author cannot recommend Luce Line enough as the standard by which all others should abide. The Pawelk family has lovingly balanced children’s entertainment with adult’s desire to quietly enjoy the benefits of the season. Likewise, there’s no shortage of alternate attractions to the farm which has built itself on simply providing visitors with fresh, locally made & grown, produce.
The farm is located at 2755 Rose Avenue, Watertown, Minn 55388
Dial 612-817-6229
Vintage photos sourced from www.Lucelineorchard.com. All other photos by Nathan Hofer