Our Story
The roots of this orchard are old and deep. Originally a pear orchard and part of the historic Saunders Ranch, settlers have grown fruit on this land since the 1920s. Apple trees were planted by Ed Hart during the 1960’s, and in 1980, Conrad Young, an apple enthusiast and material engineer, purchased the property, planting many more trees of antique and unique varieties. For decades since, the Young family has hosted small u-pick weekends and fresh fruit sales during harvest season, occasionally making a batch of cider with surplus fruit. It wasn’t until 2018 that David Young, a winemaker with a degree in pomology and the son of Conrad Young, began collaborating with other Julian locals such as Ian Wright to create Calico Cider.
Calico Ranch
This history of this plot of land is crucial to the context of Julian, too. In the winter of 1869, a Black rancher and miner by the name of Fred Coleman came to the area with his wife, Maria, of the Kumeyaay tribe. While taking his horse to drink from the creek that runs through what is now Calico Ranch, he discovered gold. Within a month, hundreds of prospectors flocked to the area with their families. A century and a half later, that boomtown is a vibrant dark sky community nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountains, welcoming visitors to Julian from far and wide.
