Tanner's Orchard
Tanner's Orchard, commonly referred to as Tanner's Apple Orchard, is a functioning orchard and agritourism destination in unincorporated Speer, Illinois, roughly 20 miles north of Peoria, Illinois.
History
The Tanner's apple farming legacy began in Walde, Switzerland, where Rudolph Tanner ran his family's orchard that he had been raised on. In 1906, he would immigrate to the United States with his wife, Mina. They would settle in Deer Creek, Illinois where Tanner would continue his orchard business. Rudolph and Mina would go on to have eleven children.
Move to Speer
The seventh child, John Tanner, would take over operations of the family orchard in the 1940s and would eventually move his family and the orchard operation to an 80-acre farm near Speer, Illinois in 1947. This orchard already had 20 acres of established apple trees located along the newly built Route 40. John and Margaret would raise their four kids here and develop the orchard into a major wholesale contributor.
Expansion as a market
John and Margaret's two sons, Harold and Richard, would continue the operation until the late 20th century. Along with their respective spouses, they carried the business name through three decades, focusing largely on the move to creating a market space. While they continued to grow produce, their overall focus shifted away from production and into direct retail. During their time as operators, the orchard began to produce their own finished goods, such as jams, sauces, and baked goods. Tanners continues to operate a market which is located at the orchard and continues to sell these types of consumer goods.
Shift to entertainment (modern)
Today, the operation continues to be run by Richard and his wife Marilyn, while their children and children-in-law also operate the business as fourth generation farmers. Under their direction, Tanners has shifted toward agritainment, or agriculture-based entertainment. They no longer operate as a whole-saler for fruits, and their market has expanded to include more goods for purchase. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, multiple attractions have been added, included a petting zoo and haybale maze. The orchard is not open year-round, and seasons typically coincide with apple's harvest season, or Fall.