As the weather transitions from warm summer days to cool autumn evenings, a familiar land outside of Elysian celebrated the changing of hands on Friday, September 5.
Irish Mountain Orchard has been a sweet slice of Elysian history since its original owner, Dr. Dwain Merickel planted the first apple trees back in 1970 and over several decades would become a full-fledged, 67-acre orchard ready for seasonal pickings of apples, pears, plums, and a variety of berries. Each fall season, Irish Mountain invited locals looking to fill a big or two full of Zestar, Connel Red, or Honeycrisp apples which would most likely be made into delicious apple pie or some warm cider during those chilly Fall nights.
As early as August 2024, the orchard would find itself for sale and in search of new owners to keep this paradise going strong, and a familiar family in Elysian, Jacob & Leslie Lee, jumped at the chance to begin a new chapter at the orchard. Nostalgia can be one powerful influence, and Irish Mountain Orchard held a special place in Leslie’s heart as she recalled visiting the orchard as a child and “picking as many apples as I could” during the fall season. The Lees are no strangers to doing business in Elysian as the owners of Ahavah Cottage and Lollipops Bakery, and the family finalized the purchase of the now Lee Irish Mountain Orchard in June of 2025.
Once they could claim the land as their very own, the Lees soon realized the amount of work and determination it took to till the land in preparation for their first harvest. Some new equipment like a harvester had to be purchased, but the real labor of love involved trimming around the hundreds of trees at the orchard, “It took a lot of work to clean up around the trees,” noted Jacob Lee who would be seen driving the harvester around the land throughout the event. Admittedly, the two weren’t exactly green thumbs when it came to running an orchard, but Irish Mountain would have a strong foundation at its roots, and the Lees had an incredible team to help, “None of this would have been possible without our incredible team helping us get the orchard ready. This has been a really fun adventure for us, and we’re thrilled to see how far we’ve come.”
The welcoming event would see a steady turnout as fall enthusiasts were ready to wear some flannel, pick some apples, and sip on some cider. There would be an Orchard Store inside one of the main barns that sold a variety of baked goods that featured the apples from the actual orchard in items like jellies, butters, and some righteous-looking apple crisp. The Lees intend to use this orchard’s produce at Lollipops as well. When asked about their favorite way to enjoy an apple, Leslie’s top pick was apple cider with caramel, while Jacob’s was the classic apple crisp. Visitors could also find other fall-themed treats and goods, from ciders and sauces to blankets and flannels.
Families and couples would then take to the orchard itself for a round of apple-picking. There’s something peaceful about pulling an apple right for the branch and taking that first savory bite. The honeycrisp apple was delightfully sweet with a pinch of tartness that would entice a second and third chomp. One family would even go as far as to load up a small wheelbarrow with apples, and the two young kids were so giddy to try one of them that they accidentally dumped out a handful or two on the ground in search of the best one.
As the Orchard opening continued, Christa Bohlmann would perform a cozy set of covers while Pleasant Grove Pizza would be crafting pizzas nearby. The Irish Mountain Orchard has been a haven for any fall enthusiast and a place to embrace another year’s harvest during the autumn months. The Lees may be a busy folk, but they are determined to share this landmark location, and its beautiful bounty, with their local community for years to come.
