Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch: Where the Apples Fall Close to the Tree
By Leslie Cooperband, farmer & storyteller
Rolling rows of apple trees and an unmistakable Wizard of Oz charm make Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch a fall tradition for generations of Champaign-Urbana families and visitors. Co-owner Rachel Coventry represents the third generation to grow apples on this historic farm, and she's carrying the family legacy forward—one bushel, one bee, and one kitten at a time.
Farm History
This 80-acre apple orchard has been a Champaign-Urbana staple for nearly 50 years, but the land itself has an even longer story. Founded as a centennial family farm in 1873, it operated as a cash grain and hog operation until 1977, when Rachel's grandparents, Paul and Joyce Curtis, made a bold pivot to apples.
Paul, an agronomy professor at Parkland College, wanted to help reconnect the community with how their food was grown; in a moment of inspiration, he landed on apples. He planted 700 trees across several varieties while Joyce, a teacher at Uni High in Urbana, hand-watered the young trees through a threatening drought. Just as their first harvestable crop came in, a severe hailstorm damaged the apples. Undeterred, the Curtises bought a cider press and turned the setback into a signature product still beloved today.
Rachel’s parents, Randy and Debbie Graham, joined the orchard in 1980 and began raising their family on the farm. What started as a modest farmstand selling apples and cider grew steadily: an 18-acre pumpkin patch, a snow-fence maze, and holiday Christmas trees were added as the orchard matured. Over the decades, the family kept building by adding a petting zoo, an inflatable slide, cider doughnuts, a bakery, and a rotating cast of kittens that have become a farm trademark.
A Family Legacy, Growing
Today, Rachel and her husband Jeremy are putting their own stamp on the farm, continuing a family tradition that now spans three generations. Last year, they added a zinnia flower field for cut-your-own-bouquets. They’re also modernizing the orchard with the latest planting techniques and new apple varieties. Rachel says working alongside her parents and husband, with their complementary skills and interests, has been one of the greatest joys of taking on the business. She's especially grateful for the way multigenerational visitors return every year, often telling her they came to Curtis Orchard as kids and are now bringing their own children.
That sense of community is central to what Rachel hopes to preserve as the farm grows. As the primary beekeeper in the family, she also plays a key role in the orchard’s pollination, and her honey has earned multiple awards at the Illinois State Fair!
The Full Curtis Orchard Experience
While apples and pumpkins remain the main draw, Rachel loves showing visitors the farm’s beloved “Land of Oz” activity area, where kids can play and explore the old-fashioned way—complete with an inflatable slide, jumping pad, farm animals, and no shortage of farm cats and kittens. The Wizard of Oz theme is woven throughout the buildings, activities, hand-painted murals by local artists, and even the café. Perhaps the most iconic spot may be the “Tin Man” grain-bin gazebo, a favorite perch for watching the kids have fun.
While her dad and husband focus on maintaining the orchard and other crops, Rachel enjoys educating visitors about the orchard’s apple varieties, including Ludicrisp, Gold Rush (Illinois’ official state apple), Crimson Crisp, and Zestar. Drawing on her beekeeping expertise, she highlights the importance of diverse plantings for native pollinators of all kinds, not just honeybees.
Future Plans
The Coventry family isn’t slowing down. Look for a new orange-and-blue inflatable slide (a nod to the Fighting Illini) alongside an expanded zinnia field and a low-ropes “Flying Monkey Training Course.” A water-pump duck-racing course (rubber ducks only—no real ducks were harmed in the making of this attraction) is also in the works, alongside a farm-themed minigolf course. The family is even building a year-round animal barn to house goats, chickens, and rabbits, complete with game-based educational elements for young visitors. The farm store, too, will soon feature more produce from nearby Central Illinois growers.
From hailstorms to honeybees, Curtis Orchard’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep community roots. Between the apple picking and three generations of family behind it all, it’s easy to see why this farm has become a fall tradition that keeps families coming back, year after year.
(Curtis Orchard welcomes visitors from mid-July through the end of December, with weekday hours often filled by school groups and organized tours.)
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