Linvilla is not the typical haunted house type of excursion I would normally post on here. There’s nothing haunted/scary about it…..just simply an orchard with lots of pumpkins, cornstalks, decorative merchandise, “fall food”, etc. On paper, that is enough of a winning formula to get my attention. The idea of walking with a cup of hot cider on a crisp fall day, through acres of farmland surrounded by changing colors and fall festivities sounds like the perfect way to spend an October day. In fact, its such a good idea that everyone in a 60-mile radius flocks to this place. The crowds can be overwhelming. Before you even enter their parking lot, you can be stuck in your car for a while just trying to get into this place. I once saw the traffic backed all the way up Knowlton Rd even on to 352.
Why do I feel like Im the only one that is put off by the crowds? I dont mind it as much for a place like Pennhurst or Eastern State Penn. For those places, the actual walk-through is regulated and they are notorious for being a go-to Halloween destination. Why does an orchard draw such a crowd though? Why arent there more orchards that cash in on this and funnel some of the crowds away? Is it possible there are alternatives and I just dont know? When you have this kind of popularity, you cant exactly blame the place for a poor business model. If the only complaint is you don’t like crowds, then you cant write to the owner and say, “turnaway some customers so I can enjoy myself”. I keep hoping the illogical quote, “too crowded that nobody goes there anymore” would come true
When I go to Linvilla, I look around and see nothing but smiles and people having a good time. Honestly Im glad that so many people can share my excitement of this stuff. I just would like to be able to enjoy it without being shoulder to shoulder with other attendees the whole time Im there. This could turn into a seriously introspective psychological piece, with implications that I want no part of….still though, I feel like I get agreement from others that events like this get way too crowded. I guess others endure it better than I do.
I need a pretty good excuse to drive all the way out to Delaware County on one of my precious few fall weekend days. I dont think Linvilla Orchards is going to cut it this fall. I feel that it does embody all things fall, and the idea of it sounds wonderful, but the crowds just kill the mood for me. Actually, the last time I attended Linvilla, I couldn’t bear more than 15 minutes, but I was able to salvage the day with a nice trip to nearby Ridley Creek Park where I enjoyed a good hike.