OUR STORY
Family Run Orchard Since 1982
Cannamore Orchard has been a family-run and operated orchard since 1982, proudly serving the Ottawa area & SDG Counties. We are located just 35 minutes East of downtown Ottawa and 45 minutes Northwest of Cornwall on the 417 to exit 88.
HISTORY OF CANNAMORE ORCHARD
The Orchard was started by Dennis and Claire Taylor and their three children, They planted their first 500 apple trees in 1982. Then planted another 500 trees in both 1983 and 1984. In 1987, 1988 and 1989, they planted another 300 trees per year. By 1987, they were producing a lot of apples and after some creative marketing, found that they had many appreciative customers coming to pick apples, especially on nice Fall weekends.
To accomodate the crowds and provide a venue from which to sell, they constructed a storefront in 1988, which was so successful that they had to expand it in 1990 and again in 1992.
Sometime around 1990 a neighbour kid named Mat Kelly got his very first job at the Orchard picking windfall apples.
The growing crowds began to ask for additional activities so Dennis and Claire started to offer some new attractions in 1992. They began with wagon rides and expanded the family activity area to include ground and finger board mazes.
They attend conferences, talked with other businesses as well as Cannamore Orchard's customers, and saw much of what was available around the province, country and in North America. They decided to branch out into providing more activities, which lead them into the realm of agri-tourism. In 1992, after attending a 2-day workshop, they decided to start a haunted ride. The Spooky Wagon Ride began in 1993.
That neighbour kid Mat Kelly was put to work driving a tractor. We won't point out he was 15 at the time.
The Spooky Wagon Ride grew far beyond expectations. As more people continued to come and visit, they began to offer more products in the store and more activities every year. Cannamore Orchard began selling strawberries in 1995, and by 1998 they were offering school, day care, nursery and senior tours.
Things moved along well for the next 7 years, and in 2005 they decided to offer much more to the visitors. Over the next 4 years, they planted gardens and began cow train rides.
2009 marked the year Cannamore Orchard started making fudge. Yummy!
In 2010, a pedal car track was added.
In 2011, they expanded the orchard's trees significantly and have done so since.
Remember that neighbour kid Mat Kelly, by 2015 he was the Ride Manager for the Spooky Wagon Ride. This was probably about the time Dennis started to ask Mat, "So, when are you going to buy the Orchard?"
2016 the Spooky Wagon Ride was rebranded, and is now known as Acres of Terror.
The new Hall was completed in 2018 and it's first event was to host a reception for Mat Kelly to his bride Vic Bakker. If you're wondering, Dennis was still asking Mat, "So when are you buying the Orchard?"
In 2019, Mat and Vic realized they might actually be able to buy the Orchard, and came to an agreement with Dennis and Claire.
Mat and Vic officially took over the Orchard in 2021. Dennis and Claire are still involved as mentors.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
Cannamore Orchard further serves the community through our commitment to youth development. We have enthusiastically helped many local parades, festivals, sports teams and agricultural groups. Over the years, we have supported local broom ball, soccer, and figure skating clubs. We encourage food bank contributions, host educational school tours and continually employ local youth every year.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
We continue to involve local groups in our business. Local high school bands (North Dundas District High School, St. Francis Xavier High School, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School), athletic associations and drama classes have benefited from over $300 000 of contributions from Cannamore Orchard for their help with Acres of Terror during the last 25 years. Our facilities have been used by organizations to raise funds for their activities.
If your non-profit organization is interested in raising money, promoting your organization or putting on a special day event during the summer, please phone us at 613-448-3633 or contact us by clicking on the button below.