Center Grove Orchard is a family-owned and operated farm loc

Center Grove Orchard

Center Grove Orchard is a family-owned farm in Cambridge, Iowa, about 35 minutes from Des Moines and 20 from Ames. The Black family planted its first apple trees in 1986 and opened to the public in 1994. Christmas on the Farm, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23, 2026 From the weekend after Thanksgiving through Dec. 23, the farm fills with holiday scenes, hot chocolate and Santa, with thousands of lights on select evenings. Winter Wonderland: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 4 to 20, walk through thousands of lights and visit Santa from 4 to 7pm. Daytime visits include holiday games and the Highland Cows, with horse-drawn carriage rides on select dates. Brunch with Santa: pancakes, eggs and sausage, plus a visit with Santa. PJ’s with Santa: Dec. 21 to 23, 4 to 6pm. Wear your pajamas for stories, hot chocolate and a visit with Santa. Pets with Santa: Nov. 28 and 29, noon to 2pm. Get a holiday photo with your pet. Admission required. You-Build Bear: choose, stuff and dress a plush friend. Requires Winter Wonderland admission. Tickets are limited for select events, so book early. See dates and tickets on our Holiday Events page. In fall, guests pick apples from 34 varieties, find a pumpkin in the patch and get lost in the corn maze, with animal encounters across 25 acres. Our bakery and Country Store carry scratch-made fudge plus frozen pies and crisps to take home. We also host school tours and group reservations.

Story County

Story

Cambridge

Iowa

Center Grove Orchard is a family-owned farm in Cambridge, Iowa, about 35 minutes from Des Moines and 20 from Ames. The Black family planted its...

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Center Grove Orchard

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Center Grove Orchard

Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff