Somebody took an apple cider donut and blended it into a milkshake. That treat exists at a family farm market in Pennsylvania, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
The donuts come from an in-house scratch bakery. The ice cream gets hand-dipped at a counter a few steps away.
Honestly, that pairing feels like it was always meant to happen.
Then there’s the orchard outside. You can pick your own apples in season and cut fresh flowers too.
Twin brothers started growing fruit on this land back in 1955, and four generations have kept it going.
I like how a quick snack stop can turn into a whole afternoon here. Apples, peaches, festivals, a working beehive.
Which comes first, the orchard or the donut?
That Apple Cider Donut Milkshake Deserves Your Full Attention
Hollabaugh Bros., Inc. Fruit Farm and Market bakes apple cider donuts in its own scratch bakery. Then it does something bold and drops them into a milkshake.
The Apple Cider Donut Milkshake is the market’s signature treat. It brings the bakery and the ice cream counter together in one cup, which feels like smart teamwork.
The donuts are a favorite on their own, too. Grab a few plain ones for the ride home.
Your car will smell like fall, no matter the month.
The ice cream counter serves locally made, hand-dipped ice cream. That means the shake starts with good stuff from the area.
It isn’t some random tub shipped across the country.
Here’s a practical tip for planning your visit. The market keeps regular hours Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5 PM.
Winter is different, so check the calendar first. From January 7 through April 11, Sundays are closed.
The market also shuts down from December 24 through January 6, so time your donut cravings wisely.
Honestly, a milkshake with a donut inside sounds like a dare. It’s one worth accepting.
Grab A Bag And Head Into The Apple Rows Yourself
Picking your own fruit beats any grocery store aisle. At this farm, the trees are right there waiting for you.
Pick-your-own apple varieties have included Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, and GoldRush. That’s a nice mix of sweet, tart, and crisp.
You can fill a bag with a little of everything.
The PYO season usually runs from April through October. Different crops ripen at different times, so the lineup changes as the months go by.
Blueberries are part of the picking schedule, too. That patch closes for part of the year, and the farm expects it to reopen in late June.
Keep an eye on the farm’s updates before you go.
Here’s a tip that saves frustration. Fruit picking depends on weather and ripeness, so availability can shift from week to week.
Checking ahead keeps you from showing up to empty branches.
Kids usually love this part the most. Reaching up for an apple feels like a small victory, and it tastes better when you picked it yourself.
Plus, you get to brag about it later. “I picked these” is a great line at the dinner table.
The Bin Porch Lets You Mix And Match Over 20 Apples
Back in 1965, the Hollabaugh family started something simple and clever. They called it the bin porch, and it’s still a big deal today.
During prime season, the bin porch offers more than 20 apple varieties. You can mix and match whatever you like.
Want three tart ones and five sweet ones? Go for it.
The porch stays open through peach and apple seasons. It even keeps going into winter, as long as apples are available.
This setup is perfect for anyone who can’t pick a favorite. Bakers can grab firm apples for pies.
Snackers can choose juicy ones for lunchboxes.
I believe this is the best way to learn your apple taste. Try a few new kinds each visit, and you’ll soon know exactly what you love.
The farm also grows peaches, which play a starring role in summer. Pennsylvania peach season makes the whole place smell sweet, so plan a warm-weather trip too.
One more thing to remember. Bring a sturdy bag or box for the ride home, because apples roll around in the trunk like they’re on a field trip.
Twin Brothers Planted The Roots Back In 1955
Every family business has an origin story. This one starts with twin brothers, Donald and Harold Hollabaugh, who began growing fruit in 1955.
Today, the farm is a four-generation family-owned and operated operation. That’s a long time to keep a farm in one family.
It takes serious dedication.
The land covers around 500 acres. About 425 of those acres hold tree fruits, which explains all those apples and peaches.
Donald passed in 2016, and Harold in 2023. Their legacy still shows in every orchard row and every bin of fresh fruit.
Family members still work across the business today. On some wagon rides, family members even lead the tours.
That personal touch makes the history feel close and real.
I like knowing who grows my food. Here, the answer is a family that has cared for this same ground for decades.
Biglerville sits in the heart of Adams County fruit country. The area is known for its orchards, and this farm is a proud part of that story.
So when you bite into a peach here, you’re tasting nearly 70 years of hard work.
Inside The Market, The Shelves Go Way Beyond Fruit
Hollabaugh Bros., Inc. Fruit Farm and Market opened its 4,500-square-foot store in the summer of 2012. It replaced an older fruit stand, and wow, what an upgrade.
Fresh fruits and vegetables fill the space, of course. But the shelves keep going with jams, jellies, preserves, apple butters, and applesauces.
Local honey and cheeses are here, too. So are locally raised meats like beef, pork, lamb, and chicken.
You could plan a whole dinner without leaving the building.
Short on time to cook? The market also sells prepared foods like fresh soups, chicken salad, and chicken vegetable pies.
That’s a weeknight lifesaver right there.
Homemade baked goods round things out nicely. Then there are artisan goods, gift items, and fruit gift baskets for birthdays or thank-you presents.
Keep your eyes up while you shop. A model train runs along the top of the store, which is a fun little surprise for kids and grown-ups.
My advice is simple. Bring a cooler if you’re driving far, because meats and cheeses need to stay cold on the way home.
A Buzzing Bee Room Steals The Show For Curious Kids
Not every market has a working beehive indoors. This one does, and it’s pretty amazing to see.
The educational bee room lets visitors watch honeybees doing their jobs. Bees matter a lot on a fruit farm, since they help pollinate the trees.
That makes this room more than a cool display. It shows how apples and peaches actually get started, right at the blossom stage.
Kids can learn a lot just by watching. How do bees move around the hive?
Where does honey come from? Questions like these pop up fast.
Parents, here’s a fun idea. After the bee room, grab a jar of local honey from the shelves.
It turns the lesson into a tasty souvenir.
The farm also cuts its own flowers daily for visitors. Pick-your-own flowers are another way to connect with what grows here and why pollinators matter.
I can’t imagine a better way to teach kids where food comes from. It’s hands-on, a little buzzy, and totally memorable.
Just remember to stay calm and observe. The bees are busy, and they have serious work to finish.
Festivals Fill The Calendar From Blossoms To Harvest
Spring kicks off with blossoms, and the party barely stops after that. The farm hosts festivals through much of the year.
The Spring Blossom Event celebrates the orchard in bloom. Then come the Strawberry Festival and the Blueberry Festival as summer warms up.
Next up is the Peach Festival, a big summer favorite. Apple Harvest Weekends arrive in the fall, when the orchard is at its busiest.
October brings Hollabaugh’s Halloween Fest, too. That’s a great pick for families who want seasonal fun without a scary vibe.
Wagon rides and farm tours are part of the experience. They give you a closer look at the land and how the fruit grows.
Here’s my tip for festival days. Check event dates ahead of time and arrive early, since special events can have different plans than regular days.
Also note the holiday schedule. On Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, the market opens from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Each festival matches what’s ripe at the time. So every visit feels a little different, and that keeps things fresh in every sense.
Little Farmers And Grown-Up Crafters Both Get Classes
Toddlers get their very own program here, and it has the cutest name. Li’l Dumplings is designed for kids ages 2 to 5.
It’s a sweet way to introduce little ones to farm life. Young kids learn best by doing, and a farm offers plenty to explore.
Grown-ups aren’t left out, either. The farm offers workshops on topics like gourd crafting and charcuterie boards.
These classes add something new to a familiar trip. You might come for apples and leave with a fresh craft skill.
Workshops usually need planning ahead. Check the farm’s event schedule and sign up early, since class spots can be limited.
The farm keeps things comfortable for everyone. It’s smoke-free and vape-free across the property.
One more rule to know before you go. Only ADA-certified service animals are allowed inside the market and orchards, so leave pets at home.
I like that this place thinks about every age. Little kids, teens, parents, and grandparents can all find something fun to do.
That’s rare for one stop. It makes the drive feel extra worth it.
Plot Your Route Through Pennsylvania Apple Country
Finding the farm is easy once you know where to look. Hollabaugh Bros., Inc. sits at 545 Carlisle Rd, Biglerville, PA 17307.
Biglerville is in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The area is famous for its fruit, so the drive itself is full of orchard views.
The market sits along Carlisle Road, also known as Route 34. That makes it a handy stop for travelers heading toward the Gettysburg area.
Plan your timing around the seasons. Spring brings blossoms, summer brings peaches and berries, and fall brings apples by the bin.
Winter visits are possible, too, with a few changes. From January 7 through April 11, the market closes on Sundays.
It also closes Easter Sunday and Thanksgiving Day.
Give yourself more time than you think. Between picking fruit, shopping the shelves, and visiting the bee room, an hour disappears fast.
My final tip involves snacks. Save room for a cider donut before you leave, because the ride home feels longer without one.
Honestly, this is the kind of Pennsylvania stop that turns into a yearly tradition. You’ll start planning the next visit before you pull out.
