More than just an Apple Farm!

BBQRileys' at Los Rios Rancho is a working apple farm, of course, but it is also a fun destination for the entire family to experience old time music, cooking and cowboy style events in a beautiful country setting.

We have apples, of course - up to 20 varieties, depending upon season; many available for U-pick.

U-pick pumpkin patch and a large selection of picked pumpkins, gourds, and ornamental corn.

A farm store with goodies and gifts for the whole family.

Deli and bakery - the perfect place to pick up a sandwich or a delicious, fresh-baked apple pie!

BBQ (weekends only) serving up slow-roasted tri-tip sandwiches, Polish or chicken apple sausages, roasted corn on the cob, and ranch-style cowboy beans.

Tours and events for private parties. You can book your next party with the Rileys at Los Rios. Let us host you and your guests for an old fashioned Packing Shed Hoedown complete with music from Rileys Mountaineers string band, dancing, and Rileys famous BBQ meal. Great for company picnics, anniversaries, and church group couples events.

Entertainment and special public events throughout the year. Monthly Hometown Jamborees featuring "chicken 'n pickin"; Apple Butter Festival Thanksgiving weekend; and Currier and Ives Christmas in December.

About the Rileys
The Riley Family The Rileys first moved to Oak Glen in 1978 when “Pa” Riley (Dennis) decided it was time to get his wife and 3 sons out of the city. They bought 12 acres from “Blackie” Wilshire, son of Oak Glen pioneer Joe Wilshire, who first settled in Oak Glen in 1871. Soon the Rileys were learning how to care for the several hundred ancient apple trees on the property as well as building a log home for the family. After a couple of years, the Rileys thought it would be great to open the orchard to the public and let folks experience orchard life, first hand. Soon, visitors were pouring into the small orchard by the hundreds and eager to participate in all that the Rileys planned, including old fashioned hoedown dances, pressing cider by hand, and picking several varieties of apples.
In 1987, the adjoining 200 + acres, also originally owned by the Wilshire family, were purchased by Ray and Bea Riley, Dennis’ parents, and soon Grandson Devon and his wife Shelli were operating the expanded Rileys venture on that property and renovating an 1887 apple packing shed for dinner dances, starting school tour programs and hosting several special events each year. During this time the Riley clan grew as the kids married and had children of their own. In 2002, Devon and Shelli decided to use their talents to develop their own property and thus began “Rileys Frontier Events.”
History
Los Rios was first begun in 1906 when Howard L. Rivers, a grower, packer, and shipper from the Pasadena area purchased property from the Wilshires, over 300 acres, to expand his operation to include apples. He planted the largest apple orchards in all of Southern California, many of which are still in production today. Los Rios Ranch soon became known as the place to get truckloads of quality mile-high grown apples. Fruit from the ranch has been shipped locally and globally over the years. The operation expanded as the shift from wholesale packing/shipping to retailing took hold in the 1950’s. Soon a sales barn and bakery were built, picnic areas developed and cider operations enhanced to make the most of the growing numbers of visitors, eager for mountain fresh apples and the things made from them.
In 1995, The Wildlands Conservancy purchased the ranch from the descendents of the Rivers in an effort to save it from certain development and to retain the rich history and landscape for generations to come. They worked diligently to return some of the land to native habitat, develop and expand trails for visitors and begin an outdoor education program that focuses on the wildland and animal life unique to California and Oak Glen.
In the Winter/Spring of 2004, The Wildlands Conservancy and Devon Riley began negotiations to join forces that would enable the Conservancy to focus its efforts on preservation, development of trails, and education while leasing the business operations and the bulk of the orchards to the Rileys to continue the tradition of apple growing and historic entertainment.
FAQ
When is Apple Season?
Apple Season officially begins each year on Labor Day weekend and goes through Thanksgiving weekend.
Are you open year-round?
Yes! After Thanksgiving weekend, we change to our off-season days and hours (Wednesday - Sunday, 10am to 5pm) but we are still open for business with our delicious pies and baked goods, deli sandwiches and BBQ food, fresh-pressed apple cider, and country gift store. We have apples available for purchase in our store year-round as well.
Are you the same as Riley’s Farm?
We are Rileys at Los Rios and Riley’s Frontier Events. There are several businesses in Oak Glen that are owned and operated by different members of the Riley family, and Riley’s Farm is one of them. We are not affiliated with Riley’s Farm in any way.
Do you make cider in the off season?
Yes! We make cider year-round. In the off season, come up Wednesday - Sunday from 10am to 5pm to get some of our delicious, fresh-pressed apple cider.
Do you allow dogs?
Dogs are welcome on the property, as long as they are well-behaved, on a leash, and cleaned up after. The only off-limits places for dogs are the restaurant area, the store, and the orchards.
Do you offer tours of the old apple Packing House?
We have school tour packages that include a tour of the packing house. During Apple Season, we also offer a free packing house tour to the general public. This is done on Saturdays and Sundays only, at 1:00 p.m. only.
Do you have a petting zoo?
We have a petting zoo & play area that is open during Apple Season (Labor Day through Thanksgiving weekend,) most holidays, and during some of our special events (such as the Old West Weekend in August). The cost is $1.00 per person to enter and $0.50 per cup of feed if you wish to feed the animals.
Do you charge for parking?
There is no entrance or parking fee at Los Rios.
Can I BBQ food at Los Rios?
We don’t allow people to BBQ on the grounds of Los Rios, but you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and use our lawn or picnic tables. We offer BBQ food for purchase in our restaurant. The picnic areas are first-come, first serve.
Do you own the property at Los Rios?
The Wildlands Conservancy owns the property, and Rileys at Los Rios leases from them. The Wildlands Conservancy has offices on the property.
Do you do mail orders?
We do offer a mail order service for some of our products, such as apple and pumpkin butters and some of our jams/jellies/honey. You can call us and ask for Ana to order.
I want to come up and bring several people to your ranch; do I need a reservation?
No reservation is needed, but if your group has 15 or more people and you will be ordering lunch, it would be helpful if you give us a call to let us know when to expect you. The only time advance reservations are needed for groups is when the group is doing one of our package deals, such as a school tour or group luncheon or dance.
Can we “tag along” on one of your school tours?
Our school tours are for private groups, so we don’t allow the public to participate. However, a lot of our school tour activities are available to the public on the weekends during Apple Season.
Map and Directions
From the San Bernardino Freeway (IS-10), exit at Live Oak Canyon/Oak Glen Rd. and go north 8 miles, through Oak Glen.
Contact Us
39611 Oak Glen Rd. #13, Oak Glen, California, 92399
Office phone: (909) 797-1005
FAX:(909) 797-2207
E-mail:

LINKS

EDUCATORS' RESOURCES

The following sites may be helpful for additional apple ideas, lesson plans, recipes, games and puzzles:

The U.S. Apple Association Educational Materials
http://www.usapple.org/educators/applestore/index.cfm

New York State Apple Country Teacher Kits
www.nyapplecountry.com/teacherkits.htm

University of Illinois Apples and More – Apple Education (includes Spanish version)
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/intro.html

Apple Farming for Kids Video/DVD
www.farmkidvid.com/aplfrmkds.php

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
www.cfaitc.org

California Curriculum Guidelines for Agriculture Literacy Awareness
http://www.cfaitc.org/CCGALA/index.htm

The following sites are great resources for learning about pioneer life:
Autry Museum (they have great artifact boxes that you can rent!)
www.autrynationalcenter.org

Arabia Steamboat Museum (The largest collection of artifacts from the
1850s. These items were excavated from a steamboat that sank in 1856.)
www.1856.com

The National Archives online exhibits (The online exhibits change frequently – you may want to save the information for use in lesson plans)
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/

Westward Expansion
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/westward.html

School in the 1800s
http://www.iptv.org/IowaPathways/myPath.cfm?ounid=ob_000254

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