Royal Farms Fresh Market & The Cellars at Royal Farms in Ellsworth

Royal Farms Fresh Market and The Cellars at Royal Farms

Family farm magic in a red barn! This charming winery and farm market sits among sprawling cherry orchards and apple trees. Bright, cheerful tasting room with a cozy fireplace for chilly days. Outdoor wine garden and patio for soaking up sunshine and orchard views.

What It Is

Royal Farms Fresh Market & The Cellars at Royal Farms is a charming roadside farm market and winery on the highway between Elk Rapids and Charlevoix. From the road, it seems like just a cute farm stand, but head around back and you’ll find a winery and tasting room waiting to be explored.

The Experience at Royal Farms

THE WINERY: Follow the staircase beside the market to discover the tasting room and patio, where you can enjoy wine and hard cider flights. Dogs are welcome on the back patio, which offers views from the top of the hill.

THE MARKET: Royal Farms hits a home run with their always-stocked fresh produce. Their bakery cranks out delicious pies (the peach pie is a must), bread, and pastries that you’ll probably dig into before you even leave. Also available: local cherry products, preserves, and lots of fun farm-related goodies.

U-PICK FRUIT: When summer rolls around, Royal Farms lets you get right into the orchards. U-Pick cherries (July), peaches (mid-August to mid-September), and apples (September–October).

FALL ACTIVITIES: Fall at Royal Farms means a corn maze and hayrides, along with U-Pick apples. Mums spill out of the greenhouse, and fresh cider and donuts seal the deal.

FLOWERS & GREENHOUSE: Spring is a riot of color at Royal Farms. The greenhouse is loaded with flowers, hanging baskets, patio pots, veggie plants, and herbs. When fall hits, it transforms into a sea of mums.

The Story Behind It

High school sweethearts Sara Veliquette and Patrick McGuire founded Royal Farms in 1996. Inspired by Sara’s reign as National Cherry Queen, they named their venture “Royal Farms.” What began as a cherry and apple farm has evolved into a 1,000-acre operation with a thriving farm market, bakery, and winery. In 2005, they started making wine and cider from their own fruit, and in 2017 they purchased an orchard with heritage apple trees aged 75-100 years old!

Insider Tips

• Don’t leave without getting some baked goods to go.
• The wine garden is the perfect spot to relax with a glass of hard cider and soak up the views.
• If you’re visiting in the fall, plan on hitting the corn maze and grabbing fresh cider.
• Dogs are welcome on the patio.
• Check their website for the latest on special events.
• U-Pick fruit is seasonal, so check their schedule before visiting.