3 years ago
As you can tell from the single star, this wasn't ...
As you can tell from the single star, this wasn't a good experience.
It was our first time there, and we were an hour early. This isn't Stuckey's fault by any means, but the staff made the hour wait aggravating and stressful. As we sat on the bench we had more than one employee explain to us that they didn't open until 1, and we were not by the festival entrance. We explained we weren't here for the festival and we're waiting for the store to open. We realized the store doors were exit only because of the signage. We just wanted to wait there on the bench, in the shade, away from the forming crowds of people.
One employee (red-headed elderly woman) told us multiple times we were at the wrong entrance in an incredibly rude way. I wanted to tell her to stop harassing us, but instead explained in an annoyed tone that we were waiting away from the crowds of people. She rolled her eyes at the answer.
We thought when we finally got inside things would be better. We were wrong.
"Specialty Cider Tasting" was $5 and absolutely not worth your time. You cannot purchase any of the ciders for tasting and you cannot taste the cider that is actually for sale. The tasting and apple picking are not included in the festival cost, by which we were thankfully not duped.
The store was set up like an IKEA style maze, only letting crowds go one way. You'd better hope you didn't want that dressing three turns back, because you would have to battle the River Styx, with its lifeless souls waiting in line for the Underworld, to get to it.
Most of the employees we encountered were tightly wound, barking at customers who tried to go the wrong way. The festival was expensive with little to do, so disappointed customers added to the stress.
We left without spending any money. There are plenty less expensive, less stressing orchards to choose from.
The only good part of the experience was the new employee working the fudge counter. She was not yet jaded by the Stuckey's festival experience. Thank you fudge lady for being the bright point in the day. Illegitimi non carborundum.