History in the (Cider) Making
Kelly Ridge Farms has been home to nine generations of Kellys since 1780.
Kelly Ridge Farm is nestled on the back side of Kelly Ridge (a spur of Walker Mountain) along Stonemill Creek amongst the foothills of Rich Valley in Meadowview, Virginia. The farm was founded by Ezekiel Kelly, who was born in Donaghmore Parish of Donegal County, Ireland in 1747 to James and Eliza Bryant Kelly.
Family owned and operated hop yard and orchard nestled amongst the ridges
and valleys of Southwestern Virginia
Ezekiel’s path from Ireland to this little corner of Virginia is a convoluted one. I’ll get into that later. Fast forward a few hundred years and we’ll find my grandfather and his brother MF Kelly planting an acre of apples in the 1970's.
After finishing school, my wife Sarah and I moved our family to the farm in 2012. By that time, most local apple orchards had been closed down for two decades. We came back for a variety of reasons - put down fresh roots with our children and rejuvenate the land. One of the first things I did when we moved to the farm was to prune 50 years of untended growth grandpa’s remaining orchard. Local Abingdon amateur cider makers (Dan Manweiler, Steve Lindeman, Tom Peterson, and others) came out to help teach me how to prune and helped start me on my journey in apple growing and cider making.
I was attracted to agriculture because we feel strongly that the region must continue to make and grow products locally, if it is to thrive long term.
The region must continue to make and grow products locally, if it is to thrive long term.
We made our first batch of apple cider in 2013 using a champion juicer (not the easiest route!). I was given a lesson in how farm life works when my neighbor (Brad Andis) showed up one day with an apple press in the back of his truck!
His father had heard about my interest in apples and said that when my grandfather passed, his wife had given him their apple press. They felt that my grandparent's press belonged back with me. If you visit our taproom, you can still see this original press! We made about 50 gallons of hard cider each year with that press. I still have a few bottles from those years we open on special occasions.
Fast forward to 2018- My botanist friend Jerry, with whom I had been scheming on how to grow hops, in our area approached me about starting a cidery. One fateful run later amongst out-of-breath dreaming, we lassoed in two more friends and Tumbling Creek Cider Company was firmly planted at the farm.
Back to work. Next time, I’ll pick up the story from 2018. I may pop back to the 1700’s though. There’s still a lot of story in there!
Today, Kelly Ridge Farm and its apple orchard serves as the central location for the pressing and bottling Tumbling Creek Cider. For more information about the farm, to volunteer, or schedule a tour of the orchard, click the link below.
Tumbling Creek Cider Company also provides tours and workshops on the farm. For more information, contact TC3.
To support a variety of local industries, and make some great cider, hops is a staple on Kelly Ridge Farm.