Crow Nest Farm ready for visitors

Crow Nest Farm has successfully celebrated its soft opening and is ready to welcome the Trumansburg community every weekend going forward.

Patrons can enjoy a flight of Idiot Brothers cider, chat with the cider makers, or peruse and shop in the general store, which offers gift ideas and oddities.  

“We are open and blown away by how fun it is,” said Chris Fontana. “The store is gorgeous and just what we wanted. Folks peruse while sipping cider and love our curated oddities.”

Last summer, Fontana and Cindy Linville became the owners of a 5-acre farm in Trumansburg, which once belonged to Ruth Stiles Gannett Kahn, author of the Newbery Award-winning “My Father’s Dragon.” Despite being retired, they have been busy setting up the farm and preparing to welcome visitors.

It has been important for Fontana and Linville to build a sense of community in retirement, and with the help of Robert Kuhar and his brother, Richard, a creative exchange was born. The Kuhar brothers, who run Idiot Brothers, a hand-crafted cidery, agreed to use the crab apples from the farm in exchange for tree pruning and other helpful tasks. 

A walk-in cooler was built by Robert, which was just the beginning.

“The cidery barter is going great,” reported Fontana. “The boys give me five hours a week and have pulled off some pretty big jobs. They moved an 8×4 piece of slate from the basement that I bet has been there since 1900!”

While there is a bakery, it is currently on pause. As of now, Fontana is busy opening Adventure Airbnbs.

The Crow Nest Farm currently offers visitors the opportunity to stay and explore, boasting a new midcentury modern Jetson suite with a queen-sized bed and windows that pour in sunlight. The aesthetic, designed to transport visitors back to the days of yesteryear, offers fun vintage toys like Lite-Brite, Slinky and other fun delights.

A second option at the farm, the Bunkhouse, offers an adventurous opportunity for glamping in an 1880s barn, complete with bunk beds made of spalted maple, lockers and a private deck. Visitors will feel like kids again, gaining access to the upper bunks via ladder or rope. While it may sound rustic, the bunks have a tech-forward offering of built-in outlets, USB ports, lamps and high-speed internet. Those who book the Bunkhouse also receive access to a dedicated campfire area with a s’more kit. 

The farm, located at 8315 state Rte. 227, will be open from noon to 5 p.m. There is parking in the second driveway past the big blue barn.

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Please send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or courtney.rehfeldt@gmail.com. 

In brief: 

Prepare your college student for fall 

The Jacksonville Church Attic Thrift Shop reminds the community that they are a great place to visit to prepare your student for college this fall.

The thrift shop is located at 1869 Trumansburg Rd. in Jacksonville and is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Donations are accepted on Mondays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and during business hours on Saturdays. Please visit the church website at www.jcumc.com.

Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’

Encore Players Community Theatre announces upcoming performance of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.” 

Performances will be held July 27-30 and August 3-6. Thursday-Saturday performances will be at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees will begin at 3 p.m.

Performances will be held at Arena Theatre at 9706 Congress St. Extension.

All ticket sales are presale and online. There will be no purchases at the door. 

To purchase tickets, visit encoreplayers.org.

Lakeside services

Trumansburg Area Churches offer the following dates for lakeside services. 

All services are at 8 a.m. at Taughannock Falls State Park at North Point.

All are welcome and are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.

• July 30: Trumansburg United Methodist Church, Rev. Robert Dean
• Aug 06: No service (annual Cayuga Lake Triathlon)
• Aug 13: Mecklenburg United Methodist Church, Pastor Susan Wissick
• Aug 20: First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, Rev. Susan Rack
• Aug 27: Church of the Epiphany, Rev. Dr. April Stace

Outdoor yoga

Enjoy summer yoga at the Inn at Taughannock Falls for yoga in the garden. All are welcome.

Classes are $15 or donation. They take place on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. with Denise Hatch and on Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. with Suzanne Jung. 

For more information, email Denise4health@aol.com or call Suzanne 707-599-7823.

The 172nd Annual Trumansburg Fair

The annual Trumansburg Fair will be held Aug. 22 to 27. A soft opening is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 22, when no rides will be available.

The official opening of the fair will be at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 23. 

Free parking will be available on the grounds. 

Admission is $6 per person, and children 12 years and under are free. 

Presale discount wristband tickets are available at colemanbrothersshows.com.

For the complete schedule and fair book, visit trumansburgfair.weebly.com.