When I shared the thread, dozens of folks chimed in with ideas:
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Outdoor orchard weddings
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U-pick experiences
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Camping
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Cider, jams, jellies, dried fruit
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Tours & workshops: preserving fruit, pruning, orchard keeping, beekeeping
I love all of these.
And very well might incorporate all of this in some form or another.
But the goal was to create a place people wanted to be—a destination for the whole community (remember our recent editions re: placemaking?).
And that brings me to my orchard idea:
An Immersive Orchard Hotel
Imagine units embedded right in the tree rows—fruit literally out your window. The scents, sights, and sounds of life floating seamlessly into your room. Something new each season.
Guests could harvest, prune, make cider, preserve fruit, and become part of the orchard’s story through immersive programming and experiences.
Sounds like experiential hospitality to me!
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out Babylonstoren—my favorite hospitality experience to date ( I wrote about it a few months ago for those that are newer here).
Magical, unforgettable, off-the-charts in every way. I didn’t cover The Newt in Somerset yet, which is the sister property in England (we visited both this Spring).
