The Apple Store, a beloved fall favorite at Conner Prairie, will open Sept. 1. The store will sell a variety of fall treats, including salted caramel apples, toffee apples, cider slushies, apple butter, pies, apple and pumpkin donuts and fresh-from-the-orchard apples.
“All of our apples come from Garwood Orchards in LaPorte. We’re once again offering our caramel apples and caramel apples rolled in nuts,” said Becky Brammer, the store’s vice president. “We also have caramel apples we dip in chocolate and toffee pieces. We always have our gourmet apples. We’ll offer a new apple dipped in caramel, then dipped in chocolate and rolled in broken pretzel pieces. We also have $1 specialties.”
The Apple Store also offers specialty food items like apple butter, jam and baking mixes.
“We’re trying to go a little more Indiana and local with our food items this year,” Brammer said. “We’re paying more attention to where our food products come from because we are an Indiana-based group.”
The Conner Prairie Alliance manages the store. The seasonal stand is its primary fundraiser. Proceeds support the mission and programs of Conner Prairie.
“We’re all volunteers who work together to support the mission of Conner Prairie,” Brammer said.
In 2017, the store sold more than 1,000 gallons of cider, 700 single apples, 4,330 dozen donuts and 13,000 slushies.
“We’ve grown every year,” Brammer said. “As the economy grows, attendance goes up. Of course, you don’t have to go to the museum to visit the store.”
The store is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. During the Headless Horseman (Oct. 27-28) event, the store is open until 9 p.m. Admission to Conner Prairie is not required to enter the Apple Store.
