Wenatchee doesn’t just grow apples; it cultivates history. Known globally as the Apple Capital of the World, this valley’s identity is deeply intertwined with generations of settlers who turned orchardists, transforming the region’s dusty sagebrush flats into an emerald valley and coaxing bounty after bounty from its sun-drenched slopes. While today’s apple industry in Wenatchee is a marvel of modern agriculture, the root of its success is owed to these historic orchards — some still thriving, others now mere echoes in the land — that tell the story of a region shaped by apples, ambition, and an unbreakable bond with the earth.
Richardson Orchard
The story of Wenatchee’s apple legacy begins with pioneers like George Thomas Richardson, nicknamed G.T., and his wife, Ida O. Richardson, who arrived in 1888 when Wenatchee was little more than a post office. Settling on their homestead at Monitor, the Richardsons planted their first apple trees in 1890, a pivotal moment in the valley’s agricultural history.
Beyond cultivating their orchard, the family was instrumental in establishing the first local school and organizing the critical Jones-Shotwell irrigation ditch, literally laying the groundwork for future success. It was on this very land that their son, Lewis Jack Richardson, would later discover and cultivate the renowned “Richared Delicious” apple, a mutation of the iconic Red Delicious that would go on to achieve national acclaim and earn the prestigious Wilder Medal for its outstanding merit.
Stemilt Growers
From humble homestead beginnings, Stemilt Growers has blossomed into a global powerhouse, its roots firmly planted in the historic soils of Stemilt Hill. The family’s journey began in 1893 when Thomas Cyle Mathison, captivated by the area’s resemblance to Scotland, acquired 160 acres and set about farming it as required by his deed. Initially focused on subsistence and wheat, the family’s foresight led Thomas to co-found the Stemilt Creek Irrigation Company, setting the stage for the pivotal moment in 1914: the planting of their first ten acres of apples and pears. What started as a modest orchard soon became the foundation for generations of fruit growers.
By 1926, Thomas’s son, Chris, took over the family farm, continuing the tradition of apple and cherry cultivation. However, it was his son, Tom Mathison, who would ultimately propel Stemilt beyond its roots, founding Stemilt Growers in 1964 and revolutionizing fruit packing and shipping in Wenatchee, forever making its name synonymous with the Wenatchee Valley’s finest fruit. This venture eventually grew to become the world’s largest fresh market sweet cherry shipper.
Columbia and Okanogan Nursery
The story of Wenatchee’s “Apple Capital” status is a sprawling saga of growth, but its historic orchards didn’t bloom overnight; it took careful tending, and no nursery cultivated those early ambitions more than the Columbia and Okanogan Nursery (C&O Nursery). Founded in 1906 by Andy Gossman near the confluence of its namesake rivers, the nursery quickly relocated to Wenatchee in 1907.
Bert Snyder, Gossman’s nephew, took the helm in 1909, and under his leadership, C&O Nursery became a vital resource, providing fruit trees, such as apples, cherries, and pears, to generations of orchardists throughout the valley and far beyond for 117 years. Its enduring presence made it one of Wenatchee’s oldest continuously family-owned businesses, an integral part of the region’s green legacy until its recent closure in 2023.
Buckner Orchard
Venturing a little further afield from the core Wenatchee Valley, the Buckner Orchard stands as a testament to pioneering spirit and enduring apple cultivation in the secluded Stehekin Valley. William and May Buckner, drawn to the area in 1911, embarked on the arduous task of transforming their newly acquired land, clearing stumps and establishing intricate irrigation systems. By 1912, they had planted their first 20 acres of apple trees, with the orchard eventually spanning 50 acres by 1924. From there, the isolated, yet thriving, homestead would blossom into a vibrant community hub as the Buckners built cabins for apple pickers and family members, a smokehouse, a barn, ornamental gardens, and even a swimming pool.
Though the Buckner family sold the property to the National Park Service in 1970, the orchard still thrives today, meticulously maintained as a working apple orchard within the Buckner Homestead Historic District. Guests are invited to explore the orchard’s 15 preserved structures and century-old farm equipment, with a welcome invitation each autumn to participate in the fall harvest, enjoying apple picking and cider-making just as the Buckners did long ago.
Wenatchee’s orchards are more than fields of fruit. They are vibrant chapters in a history cultivated by generations of ambition and an unbreakable bond with the earth. As the Apple Capital continues to flourish, these orchards serve as both a tribute to the past and a foundation for the future, ensuring Wenatchee’s legacy remains both rooted in its history and fruitful in all future apple-picking endeavors.
