Pandemic pastimes: Explore Uncle John's Cider Mill
Courtesy Photo : Uncle John's Cider Mill located at 8614 N. US-127 near St. Johns, MI.
With the fall season just starting, traditions such as pumpkin carving, scary movies and apple cider are on people’s minds. Luckily, the latter option is only 40 minutes from Mount Pleasant.
Anyone driving on U.S. 127 to or from Central Michigan University may have seen Uncle John’s Cider Mill atop a hill at 8614 N. US-127, near St. Johns. Since the 1970s, the mill has served cider, donuts and other treats. People can get a scope of what is sold on the mill’s website.
Despite some restrictions, Uncle John’s still has plenty to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this week’s edition of “Pandemic Pastimes,” Central Michigan Life explores what the mill has to offer this year.
Cider yard
From noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the mill will be offering a new area called the cider yard. According to the mill’s website, this area is new this year and construction will continue into the season.
The space allows families or parties to enjoy cider (hard or non-alcoholic) around bonfire pits, play yard games, eat at food trucks and enjoy live music. The space will be available to rent on Thursdays and Fridays until Oct. 30 .
Corn maze
A staple for any pumpkin patch or cider mill, people can traverse through the mill’s 5-acre corn maze from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday until Oct. 30 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 31. According to the mill’s website, the November schedule is weather permitting or until the maze is harvested.
The maze costs $4 and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Any children brought through must be accompanied by their parents.
Bottoms up!
For those who are 21 and up, Uncle John offers plenty of hard cider and wine to try. While tasting will be closed this year due to the pandemic, there are still some ciders to try.
If you want some canned cider, the mill sells hard apple, apple-cherry, apple-blueberry and apple-pear ciders in 16-ounce cans. The full range of ciders can be found on the mill’s website.
Pandemic pastimes will be a weekly article series with suggestions of activities and events CMU students can partake in during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have any local suggestions, please reach out to news@cm-life.com.
