What Riley’s Farm does

Riley's Farm is a privately held, family-owned working apple orchard and living history farm located in the apple-growing foothills of Oak Glen, California (San Bernardino County), operating approximately 760 contiguous acres. The company combines agricultural operations (U-pick apples, blackberries, strawberries, olallieberries, raspberries) with immersive educational tourism, offering six core living history programs — Revolutionary War Adventure (day and overnight), Civil War Adventure, Gold Rush Adventure, Old Joe Homestead Tour, and Colonial Farm Life Adventure — that use period-accurate costumes, original scripts, and trained theatrical staff in a recreated 18th-century New England farmstead called "Colonial Chesterfield." Supplementary operations include the Hawk's Head Public House (colonial-themed tavern), an on-site bakery, themed dinner theatre events (Ragtime Medley, Rockabilly Nights, Harvest Feast, Legend of Sleepy Hollow), an annual Colonial Faire, private events, retail through Riley's Mercantile and the Cider Barn Store, and lodging referrals via Devon Riley family Airbnb farmhouses and partner hotels.

The core technology is a proprietary living history methodology that pairs curriculum-aligned historical content (K-8 American history, civics, social studies) with theatrical production values. Program capacity ranges up to 560 for Colonial Farm Life, 350 for Old Joe Homestead, and 112 for the multi-day Revolutionary War Overnight. The underlying digital infrastructure is conventional (WordPress, WooCommerce for store.rileysfarm.com ticketing, Constant Contact for email marketing); there is no disclosed software IP beyond the content library itself.

Revenue is generated through per-person ticket admissions (individual rates $15-$34, anchor-group rates with 28-36% volume discounts for 30-60 person blocks, multi-day packages $125-$3,150), on-site food and beverage, U-pick produce, retail merchandise, private event rentals, and lodging referral commissions. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the farm website, online ticketing, school reservation systems with deposits, and organic channels (blog, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, MeWe) supplemented by word-of-mouth teacher referrals. Since September 2018 the company has been engaged in a federal First Amendment retaliation lawsuit against Claremont Unified School District, which blacklisted the farm following owner James Riley's personal political expression; the litigation has reached the Ninth Circuit multiple times and prompted a public "Save Riley's Farm" donation campaign.

Name

Riley’s Farm

Legal name

Riley's Farm

Website

https://rileysfarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riley's Farm is a family-owned working apple orchard and living history farm in Oak Glen, California, offering immersive K-8 educational field trips, themed dinner theatre, U-pick fruit, on-site tavern and bakery, and lodging referrals across Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Tourism and Living History Education

NAICS

Apple Orchards (111331), Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Stays & Agritourism Lodges (THAMADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF), Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals) (THAJAGAK), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Living history education
• Agricultural tourism
• U-pick orchard
• Dinner theatre
• School field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

San Bernardino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Living History Adventure Admissions: Ticket sales for educational field trips and living history programs including Revolutionary War, Civil War, Gold Rush, Colonial Farm Life, and Old Joe Homestead adventures. Priced per person with volume discounts for groups of 30+ (anchor groups).
2. Dinner Theatre Events: Ticketed dinner shows featuring live music, historical reenactments, and themed dining experiences (Ragtime Medley, Rockabilly Nights, Harvest Feast, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, etc.).
3. U-Pick Produce: Seasonal pick-your-own fruit operations including apples, blackberries, strawberries, olallieberries. Revenue from游客 purchasing produce by weight/volume.
4. Food & Beverage (Bakery & Tavern): On-site food service through Hawk's Head Bakery and Hawk's Head Public House tavern, offering colonial-themed meals, grilled items, baked goods, and beverages.
5. Retail Merchandise: Sales of gifts, preserves, jams, jellies, historic souvenirs, toys, jewelry, and accessories through the Cider Barn Store and Riley's Mercantile online store.
6. Event Venue Rental: Private event bookings including birthday parties, corporate events, and group gatherings in their historic facilities.
7. Overnight Accommodations (via Devon Riley Family): Extended historically-themed overnight stays in cabins and marquee tents as part of Revolutionary War Overnight programs. Separate lodging available through Devon Riley family's Oak Glen Homes & Cottages on Airbnb.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Riley's Farm operates a working apple orchard and living history farm in Oak Glen, California, delivering immersive, curriculum-aligned American history experiences through six signature field trip programs (Revolutionary War, Civil War, Gold Rush, Old Joe Homestead, Colonial Farm Life, and Revolutionary War Overnight) featuring period-authentic reenactments. The core offering is complemented by seasonal U-Pick fruit operations, on-site colonial-themed dining (Hawk's Head Public House tavern and bakery), themed dinner theatre, retail mercantile sales, and private event hosting, all delivered on approximately 760 acres of farm property.

Product overview

Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm offering a diverse portfolio of educational and entertainment experiences. The core offering consists of six distinct living history field trip programs (Revolutionary War Adventure, Civil War Adventure, Gold Rush Adventure, Old Joe Homestead Tour, Colonial Farm Life Adventure, and Revolutionary War Overnight) that teach American history through immersive reenactments and hands-on activities. Supplementary offerings include seasonal special events (Colonial Faire, Dinner Shows, Adventures in the Old World), dining services (The Hawk's Head Public House and Bakery), recreational activities (U-Pick fruit), retail shopping (Riley's Mercantile), overnight lodging accommodations, and private event hosting. The company operates primarily as an in-person, physical-location experience business with an e-commerce component for ticketing and merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hawk's Head Public House: Colonial-themed tavern and restaurant on the farm serving period-appropriate meals and beverages
• The Hawk's Head Bakery
• Riley's Farm Theatre Company

Products and services

• Revolutionary War Adventure Day-long immersive educational field trip where students participate in Revolutionary War reenactments, martial training, and mock battles in a recreated colonial New England village called Colonial Chesterfield; designed for K-8 school groups and the general public.
• Revolutionary War Overnight Multi-day overnight living history experience combining the Revolutionary War Adventure with tavern dinner, Patrick Henry performance, cabin/tent camping, and dawn reconnaissance hike on 760 acres; maximum group size of 112.
• Civil War Adventure Educational field trip exploring Civil War-era life through living history reenactments, camp life demonstrations, and hands-on activities on the farm's orchards and fields.
• Gold Rush Adventure Hands-on Gold Rush experience in which students become Forty-Niners, pan for gold, use the long tom sluice, and explore 1848 mining life.
• Old Joe Homestead Tour Tour of 19th-century homestead farm life including hay rides, candle dipping, farming, cabin chores, animal feeding, and seasonal cider pressing; maximum group size 350.
• Colonial Farm Life Adventure Interactive tour of 18th-century colonial domestic life featuring quill and ink writing, candle dipping, butter making, etiquette lessons, wool weaving, and colonial games; maximum group size 560.
• Colonial Faire Annual summer (July 2-4) ticketed event featuring patriotic reenactments, period costumes, colonial demonstrations, and entertainment celebrating America's Revolutionary-era heritage.
• Dinner Shows Themed dinner theatre events including Ragtime Medley, Rockabilly Nights, Harvest Feast, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, combining live music, historical reenactments, and themed meals.
• Adventures in the Old World Weekend living history activities open to the public featuring archery, tomahawk throwing, candle dipping, and other hands-on 18th-century skill demonstrations.
• The Hawk's Head Public House On-site colonial-themed restaurant and tavern serving period-appropriate fare such as Sally Lunn bread, roast meats, and farm-fresh dishes in an 18th-century atmosphere, with live 18th-century music.
• Hawk's Head Bakery On-site bakery offering fresh-baked goods including apple pie and other seasonal treats available for purchase on-site and via online pre-order.
• U-Pick Fruit Seasonal pick-your-own fruit experiences including apples, blackberries, strawberries, olallieberries, and raspberries depending on the season.
• Riley's Mercantile On-site and online gift shop offering toys, jewelry, accessories, jams, jellies, preserves, and historic souvenirs.
• Oak Glen Homes & Cottages Lodging Historic farm stay accommodations offered via Airbnb by the Devon Riley family, including Garden House, Hill View, Manor House, and Pine Cone Cottage, with discounted rates for Riley's Farm visitors.
• Birthday Parties Customizable birthday party packages featuring living history themes, farm activities, and dining options for private group celebrations.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase online and redeemable for farm admissions, dining, and merchandise.
• Field Trip Programs Comprehensive school field trip programs including curriculum-aligned educational day trips and overnight programs for homeschool groups, church schools, and public/private school groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of students introduced to American history through living it rather than reading about it
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Devon Riley Family (Oak Glen Homes & Cottages)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtended Devon Riley family offers four Oak Glen farm homes for overnight stays through Airbnb. The Devon Riley family operates independently but maintains close association with Riley's Farm, offering discounted rates for Riley's Farm visitors using code 'RileysFarmFriend' (15% discount, 10% in October).
• La Quinta Inn & Suites (Yucaipa)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand new hotel 20 minutes from the farm offering Riley's Farm guests a 20% discount via corporate booking link. Provides accommodation options for visitors traveling from greater distances.
• PragerUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPragerU's 'Street Smarts' kids show filmed at Riley's Farm in October 2023, featuring the farm's living history facilities as a filming location for their educational multimedia content.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Old Sturbridge Village: Massachusetts living history museum featuring 19th-century New England village recreation with costumed interpretation, dining, and educational programs. Comparable in delivering immersive historical experiences to schools and families, though larger-scale and East Coast.
• Knott's Berry Farm: Southern California theme park founded on a working berry farm, offering dining, retail, and seasonal events. Comparable in SoCal location, agricultural heritage, and entertainment/event-driven visitor model, though much larger scale and broader amusement focus.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Massachusetts-based living history museum featuring colonial reenactments, period tavern meals, and curriculum-aligned school programs. Comparable in blending immersive historical experiences with educational group revenue, though at larger scale and East Coast geography.
• Colonial Williamsburg: Largest U.S. living history destination featuring costumed interpretation, tavern dining, and educational programming across an entire town. Operates as a much larger, broader incumbent in the same living history / historical reenactment category as Riley's Farm.

Direct peers

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: NY-based working farm offering farm-to-table dining, educational programs, and seasonal events on a large agricultural estate. Comparable to Riley's Farm in combining active crop production with on-site dining, education, and visitor experiences.
• Conner Prairie: Indiana-based living history museum with immersive historical reenactments, overnight programs, and educational field trips across multiple historical eras. Most direct living-history peer to Riley's Farm's reenactment-driven model.
• Shelburne Farms: Vermont nonprofit working farm offering farm stays, educational programming, on-site dining, and inn lodging on a large historic estate. Comparable farm-stay + education + hospitality combination, though Northeast geography.
• Underwood Family Farms: Ventura County farm with multiple U-pick locations, school field trip programs, fall harvest festivals, and on-site farm markets. Closely comparable agritourism model with education-anchored group revenue similar to Riley's Farm.
• Tanaka Farms: Southern California working farm offering U-pick produce, educational field trips, and seasonal events. Directly comparable to Riley's Farm in combining crop production with agritourism, school programming, and on-site food/bakery offerings.

Regional players

• Heritage Square Museum: Los Angeles living history museum featuring restored Victorian-era buildings and costumed interpretation. Regional peer offering similar period-immersive experiences but in a different (urban) setting and time period than Riley's Farm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RFTCtroupe/?view_public_for=1447769111902457
• Xx.com/rileysfarm1776

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Riley’s Farm