Anderson & Girls Orchard: The Ultimate Michigan Orchard Experience

Over the years, we’ve shared the best ice cream stands, animal attractions, orchards, and baked goods across the state. Now, let’s explore a location where you can get all that in one place. Welcome to Anderson & Girls Orchard, about an hour outside of Grand Rapids. 

As the name might suggest, it’s a family-run business, with parents and three adult daughters helping keep the fun going. It was probably also way too long a name to call it “Anderson and Girls and 140+ Animals Plus Food, Shopping and Special Events” on a website or business card.

This local favorite is a farm dream come true, complete with a petting zoo, playground, and seasonal activities. Whether you’re looking to spend a full day here or just make a quick stop, there’s something special about Anderson & Girls Orchard.

History of Anderson & Girls Orchard

Anderson & Girls Orchard started in 1978 when Terry and his wife, Gwen, purchased the farm. At first, it was a roadside stand with summer and fall hours. 

In 2000, the Andersons added a petting zoo. At first, it was just calves and goats. Slowly over the past 26 years, the farm has expanded to include more than 140 animals. As the tourism appetite grew, the cafe, ice cream shop, and store expanded. 

Things to Do at Anderson & Girls Orchard

This is a family-friendly affair, but it works just as well for a romantic day trip or a solo adventure. There’s something for everyone, and an animal waiting to meet you. Let’s look at the many things to do at Anderson & Girls Orchard.

Petting Zoo

The star attraction actually has more than 140 star attractions. The petting zoo is free, but donations are appreciated. 

Some of the animals, you might recognize, like the goats, camels, and alpacas. Others might require a quick Wikipedia search. Terry and Gwen have rounded up exotic animals from all over the world, including:

• Wallabies
• Sloths
• Bobcats
• Lemurs

Animals are carefully placed according to safety measures, with fences between animals like the mania-driven monkeys that like to shout at guests. Others are allowed to wander up to nudge your hand or try to sneak a quick pat on the head.

Within the petting zoo, you can also pay to feed the parakeets and goats, ride a camel, or walk with the wallabies.

If you look at the Parties/Groups page of Anderson & Girls Orchard, you’ll see the available animal encounters that get you even closer to sloths and penguins.

Farm Market

If you’re picturing a simple roadside stand, this isn’t that. The farm market at Anderson & Girls Orchards feels more like a full-on grocery-store-meets-farm experience where you just happen to leave with great food.

The farm produces 14 varieties of apples, giving you a sweet selection to browse. That includes the made-on-site apple cider by the gallon.

The market is also packed with whatever’s in season, so it shifts throughout the year. Strawberries kick things off in early summer, then peaches roll in, and by fall, it’s apples, pears, pumpkins, and basically everything you’d want for a Midwest harvest table.

Some farm fresh foods you’ll find at the market:

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Green beans
• Green peppers
• Peaches
• Pumpkins
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

It’s open seven days a week between late March and December.

Anderson & Girls Bakery

The bakery at Anderson & Girls Orchards is where any plan to “just browse” falls apart. This is ground zero for their homemade donuts, and yes, they absolutely hold their own against any in Michigan. They’re fresh, soft, and just the right kind of indulgent.

Beyond the donuts, the lineup is stacked with pies, specialty breads, brownies, and cookies, all made in-house. You’ll also find jams, cheeses, local honey, and maple syrup sourced from nearby farms, which makes it easy to turn a quick bakery stop into a full-on haul of Michigan-made favorites.

Guests are also welcome to grab some baked goods and cider and sit on the front porch, soaking in the beautiful views.

The Sweet Shop at Anderson & Girls Orchard

If you don’t want to get the ingredients, let the skilled team at Anderson & Girls Orchards cook for you. The Sweet Shop is where the farm shifts from market mode into full-on comfort food stop, with a casual menu of sandwiches, hot dogs, and simple sides that hit the spot after a few hours of wandering.

Then comes the real reason people linger. The ice cream menu leans into both soft serve and hand-dipped options, so you can keep it classic or go all in. Think malts, shakes, flurries, floats, and creative combinations that feel more like a treat than a quick dessert.

You can grab it to-go, but most people don’t. Between the indoor seating and picnic tables outside, this is the kind of place where you sit, slow down, and convince yourself you probably should try one more thing.

The Gift Shop

A gift shop here means more than kitschy souvenirs. This is a place designed to bring home authentic Michigan memories, whether that’s something edible, wearable, or just plain fun to stumble across. Guests get three floors to explore gifts for others (and some for themselves).

Explore the floors:

• The first floor blends right into the bakery and market, so you’re browsing homemade jams, local goods, Anderson’s apparel, coffee, candy, and toys all in one pass. 
• On the second floor, things shift into rustic home décor, candles, mugs, and thoughtful gifts that don’t feel mass-produced.
• A short trip to the third level turns seasonal, with apparel and rotating finds that match whatever time of year you visit. 

The products and items available are always changing, so it’s never the same shopping experience twice.

Party at Anderson & Girls Orchard

If all this sounds so good that you’re worried about crowds, you should know there are rental options where you can carve out a space of your own.

At Anderson & Girls Orchards, parties and group gatherings come with a built-in advantage. You’re not just booking a room. You’re getting access to the farm experience without fighting for elbow space. 

Private areas can be reserved for birthdays, family get-togethers, school groups, or casual celebrations, with room to spread out and actually enjoy it. The pavilion available to rent is inside the petting zoo for a half-day or full-day adventure. 

Party packages come with some of the add-ons, like feeding goats, included. 

Special Events at Anderson & Girls Orchard

Since so much about Anderson & Girls Orchard is seasonal, that means you should always check the schedule for upcoming special events. 

That might mean a hayride, photos with Santa and his reindeer, or craft vendor gatherings with even more gifts to explore.

Even though this is an orchard and farm, you can’t pick apples from the orchard. However, there is usually a strawberry picking weekend in early summer.

Where Is Anderson & Girls Orchard?

The farm sits about 52 miles northwest of Grand Rapids in Stanton. The address is 2985 N Sheridan Road, Stanton, Michigan, 48888. If you’d prefer to call, the phone number is 989-831-4228.

It’s open seasonally between March and December. 

• March, April, November, December: 9am – 5pm
• May – October: 9am – 6pm

The ice cream shop and cafe open at 11am during seasonal operations. 

Is Anderson & Girls Orchard Worth a Visit?

Short answer, yes, and not just necessarily as a quick stop. Anderson & Girls Orchards has that rare mix of loyal locals who treat it like a tradition and travelers who stumble in once and immediately get it.

Part of the appeal is how flexible it is. You can swing through for donuts and cider and be on your way, or turn it into a slower visit with the free petting zoo, food, shopping, and time to wander. There’s no pressure to do it all, which makes it easy to fit into whatever kind of day you’re having.

It also never really stays the same. New animals show up, the bakery rotates seasonal favorites, and the gift shop keeps evolving. So even if you’ve been before, there’s usually a reason to come back and see what’s new.