Uncle John’s Cider Mill Spotlight: St. Johns, Michigan

Clinton County in Mid-Michigan is agricultural land, and in the fall it produces the kind of apple harvest that has made Uncle John’s Cider Mill one of the most visited seasonal destinations in the state. Families drive from Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Metro Detroit specifically to spend a Saturday afternoon here, and the experience has been delivering on that trip for decades.

Located at 8614 N US-27 in St. Johns, Uncle John’s is a working apple orchard and cider mill that has grown into a full agritourism operation without losing the farm character that makes it worth the visit. Fresh-pressed apple cider made on site is the anchor of the experience, available in quantities from a single jug to cases for the year’s supply. The cider doughnuts are made daily and consumed at a pace that keeps the fryer busy from the moment the doors open.

Pick-your-own apples give visitors a reason to actually be on the farm rather than just at a retail counter, and the orchard in full harvest is genuinely beautiful to walk through. Hard cider and a spirits lineup from the distillery operation have expanded the adult offerings while the kids’ activities and pumpkin selection keep families occupied across the whole property.

Uncle John’s has seasonal events that bring people out through October and into the holiday season, giving the operation a rhythm that extends well past the peak cider rush of September and early October.

Visit at ujcidermill.com on N US-27 in St. Johns.

Michigan Small Business Spotlight is proud to feature Uncle John’s Cider Mill as one of Mid-Michigan’s most beloved and authentically Michigan small businesses.