Signal Mountain, TN -(WDEF) For generations, families have made the short drive up Walden’s Ridge each fall to pick fresh apples, sip cider, and take in the sights of Fairmount Orchard. But this season will be the last. Longtime operator Chris Roberts is retiring, and the property has been sold, bringing an end to a cherished local tradition.
Jennifer Tamble, a Signal Mountain native and lifelong fan of the orchard, said her connection to Fairmount spans decades.
“This has always been a staple for fall for all single mountain residents, including myself,” Tamble said. “Every year, when it opened just around Labor Day, it meant fall was coming.”
Tamble left the mountain at 17 and traveled the world for more than two decades. When she returned and learned Roberts needed help at the orchard, she finally had the chance to fulfill a childhood dream.
“It’s always been my dream to work here, and finally I had a chance. I had to be retired to do it, but it’s been an honor helping Mr. Roberts wrap up his 54-year career,” she said.
For shoppers, the orchard represents more than apples or cider—it’s a family tradition and a place for memories. Thad Whitfield, a longtime customer, described the simple joys the orchard provided.
“We would come out every year. They loved picking the apples, enjoying the outdoors, and of course, the cider. Just seeing them enjoy it was great,” Whitfield said.
Fairmount Orchard has been a fall fixture on the mountain for more than five decades, and while the doors will close, the memories—and the taste of fresh cider—will linger for years to come.
