In this episode of Wyoming’s Wind River Country: Yellowstone’s Unique Neighbor, listeners head just outside Lander to discover a piece of local history that is still growing—the historic Ed Young Apple Orchard.
The trek begins at Ed Young’s original home, beneath some of the very trees he planted more than a century ago. From there, listeners hear the story of Young and his efforts to grow apples in the Lander Valley, including the ingenuity it took to keep his orchard thriving in Wyoming’s dry climate.
Along the way, the group visits the site of the old water wheel Young used to bring water up from the river before modern irrigation was available and makes its way through what remains of the orchard. At its height, the property was home to more than 3,000 apple trees. Today, more than 300 remain, along with historic buildings that offer another glimpse into the orchard’s past.
Young’s influence reaches well beyond the property itself. If you come across an apple tree in Wind River Country, there’s a good chance it is a descendant of one of Ed Young’s trees.
The orchard’s story continues today. When the harvest allows, apples from the property are put to use during Apple Fest at the Pioneer Museum in Lander each September.
Listen in as the podcast follows the Ed Young Orchard Trek, shares the stories behind this unique piece of Lander history and explores how one man’s apple trees put down roots throughout Wind River Country.
