Matt D

Review of Lyman's Orchard

Its time to write a review just from my last exper...

Its time to write a review just from my last experience. I grew up in the area and I remember fond trips to lymans on the weekend to do fun things. It was a wonderful place to go. Over the past few years I have really paid attention to how Lymans had become a shadow of its former glory. Years ago the lake by the store was crystal clear of brush the entire way around and there were three jets to prevent the water from developing algae. Those jets broke or were removed and now are gone and the lake is gross on one side. The same side that has tons of brush that makes the lake inaccessible from pretty much anywhere but by the store. If you go in the store and read the products they are no longer made on the premises like in the past. It is now all brought in from farms in Vermont and New Hampshire. The only thing left is the bakery which does create great desserts. One day the conveyer belts in the check out lines broke and rather then replace them with new ones wood boards were placed and now the customer has to push the merchandise to the clerk. The prices have gotten just outrageous, a pie went from 9.99 to 12.99 in one swoop over last winter. Donuts are smaller then my palm and 10 dollars a dozen.

The final straw came when we went there to take some family photos. A manager of the premises approached us, he did not address us but he did address the photographer to sternly explain to her that if she wants to do photography on the premises she needed to contact the office for permission to do so. Initially I thought that he was simply informing us because they need to know who is there and make appropriate arrangements so I called the next day to see what the requirements were. I thought it was going to be a 15 to 25 dollar fee for insurance purposes or something which I could understand. I was informed that a fee of $200 was required to take photos and on the weekends it was more. This to me was simply their way of making money anyway they could. It is a great place to bring children but it is no longer the family farm it once was. It is now a machine that looks for anyway to make money. I partly dont blame them because I am sure that they have to remain competitive in the market which is getting harder and harder. I just miss the magic of 25 years ago and wish it could be that way again.