Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard

What Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard does

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard is a privately held, family-owned agritourism operation and farm winery located at 288 Goose Street in Fly Creek, New York, three miles from Cooperstown. Established in 1856 by Hosea Williams, the property is currently owned and operated by Bill and Brenda Michaels, who acquired it in 1999 from Bill's parents Charlie and Barbara Michaels (who had revived the Mill in 1962). The Mill produces fresh sweet cider using an 1889 Boomer & Boschert water-hydraulic press powered by a 1872 Lestner Water Turbine drawing from a 2.5-acre Millpond, with a Cidersure UV light processor replacing heat pasteurization. Production volumes include 20,000+ gallons of cider per fall season and 14,000+ pounds of sweet butter-cream fudge annually across 14+ flavors.

The business operates as a vertically integrated agritourism destination with seven identifiable revenue streams: (1) fresh sweet cider retail and wholesale, (2) hard ciders and apple wines under its New York State Farm Winery license (acquired 2002), including an 8+ SKU portfolio such as Apple Frost cryo-extraction wine, (3) 400+ specialty food products in the Mill Store Marketplace, (4) the Snack Barn Restaurant and Bakery serving breakfast through dinner, (5) the Tasting Room with flights and by-the-glass service of cider, wine, craft beer, and spirits, (6) family-friendly attractions including Duck Racing, Gemstone Mining, and Tractorland, and (7) the year-round online store at shop.flycreekcidermill.com. Ancillary revenue includes $199 private owner tours booked via TripAdvisor/Viator, motorcoach group tours (minimum 15 people), a Flavorful Rewards loyalty program (10 points per dollar), and a B2B fudge fundraising program (8-oz tubs at $10 each, minimum 100-tub orders).

The company serves five primary customer segments: families with children, baseball-tournament tourists visiting Cooperstown Dreams Park and the Baseball Hall of Fame, food and beverage enthusiasts seeking artisanal products, motorcoach group-tour operators, and craft-beverage trail enthusiasts. Distribution channels include on-site retail, direct e-commerce, the Cooperstown Beverage Trail (37-mile, 8-member association attracting 20,000+ annual visitors), the Central New York Cheese Trail, and a satellite warehouse at 800 Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY. The Mill holds a registered trademark (Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard®), a single-entity corporate structure (Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, Inc., incorporated in New York), and no external funding, subsidiaries, or parent company. Recent milestones include the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice award for Best Cidery in the United States and the 2024 William Guglielmo Legacy Award from the Chamber Alliance of the Mohawk Valley.

Name

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard

Legal name

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, Inc.

Website

https://flycreekcidermill.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard is a family-owned historic agritourism destination and farm winery in Fly Creek, NY (est. 1856) that produces fresh sweet cider on an 1889 water-powered press, hard ciders, and apple wines, and operates a Mill Store, Tasting Room, Snack Barn Restaurant, and family attractions serving Cooperstown-area tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Cider and Farm Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Apple Orchards (111331), Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE), Cider & Orchard Fruit Production (Apples/pears for cider & processing) (AFAGACAJ), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Producer-Owned Retail & Bottle Shops (On-site) (THAFALAL), Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits) (AFAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Fresh apple cider
• Hard cider production
• Specialty food retail
• Agritourism experiences
• Farm winery products

Headquarters

HQ city

Fly Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fresh Sweet Cider Sales: Fresh-pressed cider produced on historic water-powered equipment. Cider processed through UV light for safety without heat. Nothing added, nothing taken away. Sold in the Mill Store and online.
2. Hard Ciders and Apple Wines: New York State Farm Winery producing Original and Apple-Raspberry hard ciders (22-oz bottles with foil topper), plus portfolio of apple wines including Original Apple Wine, Apple Cranberry, Apple Black Currant, Apple Blueberry, Apple Peach, Apple Cherry, Apple Strawberry (Strawberry Kiss), and Apple Frost. Sold in Tasting Room and online.
3. Fudge and Specialty Foods: Over 5 tons (14,000+ pounds) of sweet butter-cream fudge manufactured annually in 14+ flavors. Mill Store Marketplace offers 400+ specialty food products including apple salsa, salad dressings, hot sauces, preserves, and Mill-aged extra-sharp New York State cheddar cheese.
4. Restaurant and Bakery: Snack Barn Restaurant serves breakfast sandwiches, pot roast sandwiches, hot dogs, sausages, soups, mac & cheese (5,000+ served annually), baked goods including apple cider donuts and pies, ice cream, cider slushies (5,000+ sold annually), and floats. Open daily 9-6.
5. Retail Store Products: The Mill Store Marketplace offers apples, pies, dips, mustards, sauces, honey, maple products, and branded merchandise including travel tote bags. Products available in-store and via online shop.
6. Tours and Experiences: Complimentary self-guided Mill tours. Private tours with owner Bill Michaels at $199 for groups up to 6 (includes signed cookbook, $50 gift card, and four tasting flights). Group motorcoach tours with prepaid experience options.
7. Group Tour Packages: Motorcoach and group tour experiences with minimum 15 people. Gift cards starting at $15/person, tasting flights at $9/person, collector wine glasses at $7/person, and marketplace vouchers from $5/person. Prepaid reservations required.
8. Fudge Fundraising Program: Organizations sell 8 oz fudge tubs for $10, costing $5.50 per tub. Tax-exempt organizations profit $4.50 per tub, non-exempt profit $3.70 per tub. Minimum order of 100 tubs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard manufactures fresh sweet cider on a historic 1889 water-powered Boomer & Boschert press, hard ciders and apple wines as a New York State Farm Winery, and over 5 tons of butter-cream fudge annually. It sells these alongside 400+ specialty foods, Mill-aged New York cheddar, and apple cider donuts through an on-site Mill Store Marketplace, Tasting Room, Snack Barn Restaurant, family attractions, and a year-round online store. The business also operates self-guided Mill tours, premium private owner tours, and motorcoach group tours as paid and complimentary experiences.

Product overview

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard is an agritourism destination and specialty food producer offering a unified portfolio of products and experiences centered around historic cider-making. The core product is fresh sweet cider pressed on an 1889 water-powered Boomer & Boschert hydraulic press, complemented by a Farm Winery producing Hard Ciders (Original, Apple-Raspberry) and Apple Wines (7+ varieties including Apple Frost). The retail operation features over 400 specialty food products including the Mill's signature sweet butter-cream fudge (14,000+ lbs annually), Mill-aged extra-sharp NYS cheddar cheese, apple cider donuts, and an extensive hot sauce collection. Visitor experiences include complimentary self-guided Mill tours, a Tasting Room for flights and by-the-glass pours, the Snack Barn Restaurant & Bakery, family activities (Duck Racing, Gemstone Mining, Tractorland), premium Private Owner Tours, Group Motorcoach Tours, and Cooperstown Beverage Trail excursions. The business also operates a Flavorful Rewards loyalty program, Fudge Fundraising program for organizations, and a year-round e-commerce online store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresh Sweet Cider

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ gallons of cider produced annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cooperstown Beverage Trail AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding/charter member of the Cooperstown Beverage Trail, New York State's first official cuisine trail spanning 37 miles with 8 member businesses producing beer, wine, cider, and spirits. The trail attracted over 20,000 visitors annually. The Mill serves as a key tasting location offering flights and by-the-glass service.
• New York Cider AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the New York State Cider Association supporting the cider and apple culture in New York State. Association promotes cider industry interests and provides industry networking.
• New York State Apple AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NYS Apple Association supporting apple growers and cider producers. Association promotes New York apples and agricultural products.
• Central New York Cheese TrailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Central New York Cheese Trail, promoting regional cheese producers and retailers. The Mill's Mill-aged extra-sharp NY State cheddar cheese is featured on the trail.
• Cooperstown & Otsego County Tourism OfficecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner promoting Fly Creek as a must-see Cooperstown destination. Joint marketing through I LOVE NY programs and regional tourism campaigns.
• Harvest HostsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Harvest Hosts program allowing RV/camping travelers to visit the Mill. Brings additional overnight tourism revenue from travelers in the region.
• North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NAFDMA, an organization for farmers engaged in direct marketing and agritourism. Mill has received Outstanding Website (2007) and Outstanding Brochure (2005) awards through NAFDMA.
• American Bus AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of American Bus Association supporting motorcoach and group tour industry. Received ABA Best of the Best awards (2002, 2022) for food and beverage venue excellence. Promotes Mill to group tour operators nationwide.
• Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of SPOOM, an organization dedicated to preserving historic mills. Featured in Old Mill News magazine (Winter 2024) for turbine restoration project.
• New York Wine and Grape FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NY Wine and Grape Foundation. The Mill works closely with the Foundation implementing their Farm Winery plan and developing relationships with member wineries.
• Taste NYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating member of New York State's Taste NY program promoting locally-produced agricultural products and beverages.
• Critz FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft beverage producer featured in the Tasting Room offering specialty draft beers including Eleven IPA, Pig City Porter, and Conventional Wit.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards: New York State agritourism destination and cidery (1911 Cider brand) located in Lafayette, NY. Closest geographic and operational peer to Fly Creek, combining apple orchard, hard cider production, tasting room, restaurant, and family events.
• 1911 Cider Company: Founded by the Beak & Skiff family in Lafayette, NY, producing traditional and flavored hard ciders distributed across the Northeast. Direct regional competitor on product, geography, and apple-sourcing strategy.
• Doc's Draft Hard Cider: New York-based craft hard cider producer sold through regional wholesale. Comparable as a NYS Farm Cidery producing flavored and traditional ciders, though without Fly Creek's destination retail and agritourism scale.
• Critz Farms: Central New York agritourism farm and craft beverage producer with taproom, hard cider, beer, and seasonal family events. Already a current product partner featured in Fly Creek's Tasting Room and a comparable destination in the regional agritourism ecosystem.
• Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery: New York State orchard, farm store, and cidery in the Capital Region. Closely comparable agritourism business model with on-site cider production, retail marketplace, family activities, and tasting room offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Woodchuck Hard Cider: Vermont-based national hard cider brand owned by Vermont Cider Company. Competes in the same cider category with broader retail distribution and brand recognition, though without Fly Creek's agritourism/heritage positioning.
• Angry Orchard Cider Company: Largest U.S. hard cider brand (owned by Boston Beer Company), producing a national portfolio of hard ciders. Directly comparable to Fly Creek on hard cider production but with vastly greater distribution scale, marketing budget, and grocery presence.
• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Virginia/North Carolina-based regional hard cider producer with taprooms, distribution, and national retail presence. Comparable as a scaled craft cider brand investing in taproom experiences, but at meaningfully larger volume.

Emerging players

• AEppelTreow Cider & Winery: Wisconsin-based traditional craft cidery producing heritage-style ciders. Comparable as a small-batch craft cider producer emphasizing authentic, traditional cider-making methods.
• Graft Cider: New York City-based craft cidery producing small-batch, naturally fermented ciders. Comparable as a craft cider producer targeting premium positioning, though with an urban wholesale focus rather than a destination retail model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fccm1856
• Facebookfacebook.com/FlyCreekCiderMill

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard