At LuceLine Orchard, summer isn’t just a season – it’s an invitation for families and friends to slow down, explore, and savor the outdoors together. For owners Rich Pawelk and Terri Traen, their orchard has never been just about the apples; it’s about the moments families make together.
Rich and Terri grew up on farms and spent the early part of their marriage working the land alongside Rich’s family. When life pulled them in a different direction, they stepped away from the farm and pursued a new path with three young children in tow. Rich transitioned into a role with a food distributor, while Terri brought her warmth and energy to the morning show on 92 KQRS. It was a new chapter, full of opportunity, but the rhythm of farm life and the love for the land never fully left them. Over time, they felt the pull back to a place where their roots – and their hearts – felt familiar. In 2004, they purchased a farm and began building their next adventure from the ground up. Three years later, the first 300 apple trees were planted. The first acre of grapes followed just two years after. With the help of friends, family, and former colleagues, their vision kept growing, eventually reaching nearly 10,000 apple trees and six acres of grapes. And in September of 2012, that dream officially became LuceLine Orchard, a sprawling 155-acre property located in Watertown on the Luce Line Trail.
If you’ve never been to LuceLine Orchard, it’s time to add it to your list. It’s not just an orchard, it’s an experience. This isn’t the kind of place where you simply stop by to pick a pumpkin or grab a bag of apples. Of course, you can still do that, whether you prefer to wander the rows and pick your own or choose from the beautifully curated selections inside the orchard’s restored 1907 barn. However, a visit to LuceLine is so much more. Plan to stay awhile, because the moment you arrive, you’ll realize the day has a way of unfolding into something bigger: a full, immersive fall outing with a collection of activities, flavors, and fun.
LuceLine is a place where families can wander along the mile-long nature trail or enjoy hayrides that wind through the property. Kids light up at the pony rides, feeding the friendly animals, and weaving through the corn maze, while the new Corn Coliseum, filled with over 1,000 bushels of corn, offers fun for all ages. Scale a hay mountain, shoot the Apple Slinger, or race your friends down the giant carnival slide. Add in face painting, a kiddie train, the corn cannon, and countless places to play, and it’s easy to see why a day at LuceLine becomes a memory families return to year after year.
Adults will find plenty to enjoy as well. The Dog House Pub pours LuceLine’s signature Sweet Tango and Caramel Apple sangrias – seasonal favorites that pair perfectly with a crisp fall afternoon. Food is part of the experience, too. Visitors line up for the award-winning apple fritters and the ever-popular caramel apple brats, both local legends in their own right. With a menu full of homemade specialties and a rotating lineup of visiting food trucks, there’s no shortage of good eats for families looking to make a day of it.
The sound of laughter won’t be the only thing drifting across the orchard. On select days, LuceLine will fill the air with live music, turning the grounds into a relaxed, outdoor concert space. Bring a lawn chair, spread out a blanket, or simply settle into the grass. Their website features a lineup of musically diverse artists and bands, each one adding a unique soundtrack to the orchard’s already beautiful backdrop.
If you haven’t already figured it out, LuceLine Orchard is entertainment, education, music, nature, and more woven into one inviting place. Rich and Terri have created a space that isn’t just for them – it’s for the community. They take genuine joy in watching families explore, learn, and laugh together, and even though they hardly imagined the orchard would grow into something so large or so rewarding, they never take a moment of it for granted. What began as a return to their roots has become a place where memories are made, traditions are born, and the simple beauty of being together is celebrated every day.