October is recognized as National Apple Month and Oregon is among the leaders in fine apple production. Apples are a member of the rose family of plants and the blossoms are much like wild-rose blossoms. Oregon produces over 21 commercial apple varieties, with Fuji and Gala leading the state’s production but we know of one orchard, Kiyokawa Family Orchards in the Hood River Valley that grow over 90 different varieties! The state’s rainfall and mild climate make it a prime location for apple orchards. The most orchards can be found in Oregon’s northwestern region near and around Portland. In 2023 Oregon produced an estimated 157 million pounds of apples.
In 1847, Henderson Luelling brought more than 700 one year old grafted fruit trees from Iowa to Oregon by ox-team along with his wife and 8 children. Lewelling, known for promoting the fruit industry in Iowa, Oregon, and California arrived with 350 fruit trees that had survived the long journey. By 1850, their first crop produced 100 apples. It was the time of the Gold Rush in California, and when ‘they rushed to San Francisco with the apple crop, prospectors were so hungry for fresh fruit that he sold them for $5 each. They used the money to build more orchards.’
In 1854, Nathaniel Coe arrived in the Hood River Valley where he cleared some land and harvested his first crop of apples in 1859. Today, the Hood River Valley is one of the major growers of apples. The fertile soils found at the base of Mt. Hood and rarified, glacier-fed water sources create a unique growing environment.
featured photo credit: Hood River Valley orchards. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Pearl’s Place Fruit – Many varieties of farm fresh fruit! Apples, pears, cherries, peaches, berries, nectarines, plums, pumpkins, and much more.
Packer Orchards & Farmplace – Discover the charm of this 5th generation family farm, where every season brings something special for the whole family.
Smiley’s Red Barn – Since the 1890’s – Many varieties and samples from cherries, peaches, pears, apples, and more
Pear Bloom Farm – Begin your journey in a magical heirloom apple and pear orchard that leads to our stunning flower field and a breathtaking rose garden
Draper Girls Country Farm & U-Pick Orchards – 100-year-old trees and u-pick with over 50 varieties of apples and pears.
Mt View Orchards – 50-acre apple and pear farm growing delicious, top-grade, environmentally sustainable fruit.
Hood River U-Pick Organic – u-pick Organic Honeycrisp, Gala, Pippin, and more varieties of apples.
Thank you for trusting us to be your home away from home. We’ve posted our Hospitality and Health Policy on our website and we invite you to read online reviews for the Old Parkdale Inn. And then we encourage you to go directly to our website and Book Direct for all the right reasons.
We’re your home base for exploring and enjoying the Hood River Valley and beyond. After a full day, you’ll love the peace and tranquility of the Old Parkdale Inn. Relax in the gardens, perhaps with your favorite beverage, by the bonfire, roast some s’mores, weather permitting of course.
After serving our guests for 23 wonderful years we are hoping to gently step into retirement. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have hosted you all in creating lasting memories. In the meantime, we’re still open and delighted to welcome guests through October. Come enjoy our cozy rooms, beautiful surroundings, and warm hospitality just as you always have. Whether you’re planning a relaxing weekend getaway or a scenic Oregon adventure, we’d love the opportunity to host you and share this special place with you.
We don’t know exactly what next year will bring, but for now, we promise to continue offering the same care, comfort, and sense of place you’ve come to know and love, just in a way that allows us to balance our love of hospitality with this new chapter of life.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you back, sharing our home, and serving those hearty breakfasts that have become part of the Old Parkdale Inn experience.
And there may be more to come! If the inn doesn’t sell over the winter, we may open our doors again in the spring. So, as they say, watch this space! We’ll keep you posted as this next chapter unfolds.
What’s to do
The Hood River Fruit Loop is located in the beautiful Hood River Valley at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood offering you a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Many outdoor adventures, such as kayaking, windsurfing, skiing, snow boarding, and hiking, await. Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, and Timberline Ski areas are only a short drive away, as is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest where trails and wildlife abound.
Book your stay at the Old Parkdale Inn and take advantage of our partnerships:
Wet Planet Whitewater Adventures – A 10% discount will be applied at checkout when you use the code we provide to book online.
Cascade Canyon Guide – request code for 10% off trips
