There’s a reason why Halcyon Days Cider Co., nestled just outside Lexington, has quickly become a must-visit for those seeking the authentic taste and spirit of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. It’s not just the cider that draws you in—although unique flavors like s’mores certainly could. It’s the story of a family who, with little more than a dream and a dash of courage, returned to the area they loved, found themselves at the heart of a legacy orchard, and in the process, discovered a new way of life.
Planting Seeds
For Liz and Ryan Colvin, the journey to Halcyon Days began long before their first apple was pressed. Consider it their leap of faith and a whole lot of serendipity with their story starting in the summer of 1999, on a baseball field in Wellsville, NY. A chance meeting sparked romance and set them on a path together. After Ryan’s 2001 graduation from Virginia Military Institute, the Colvins soon built a life filled with adventure, family, and a shared love for Virginia’s rolling hills.
Life and work took them to Illinois and Indiana, where they raised three children and built careers—Ryan in business, Liz as a teacher. But eventually the couple felt Virginia calling them back. “We never really wanted to leave the area,” Ryan recalls. When an opportunity for a second chapter appeared, they leapt. They quickly sold their home and packed up their youngest son, Hendrick, in a whirlwind move that felt, in Liz’s words, “meant to be.”
Luckily, the Colvins, while planning their second chapter around Lexington, found Halcyon Days on the market, seeking older ways and better days (the cidery’s motto!). It was the warmth of the community and the legacy of the orchard’s founders that sealed their decision to move back and take the leap of faith.
“We wanted to do something together we’d never done and create a legacy,” Liz says, which she happily shares with all who visit. The previous owners, still active and supportive, Larry and Martha Krietemeyer, welcomed them with open arms, eager to share their secrets. Their first visit to the cidery included a quick side trip to Bread Days at Seasons’ Yield Farm in nearby Rafine, where they were greeted not as strangers, but as already part of the community. During that visit, every door opened, and everything fell into place, as if it was destined to be.
Aerial view of the apple labyrinth at Halcyon Days. Photo courtesy of Halcyon Days Cider Co.
A gazebo sits squarely in the center of the labyrinth. Photo courtesy of Halcyon Days Cider Co.
Picking Dreams
Since that auspicious beginning, life at Halcyon Days has become a true family endeavor. Their son Hendrick, a high-school sophomore, has fully embraced Blue Ridge living—fishing before school, hiking, joining the golf team, and pitching in at the cidery wherever needed. “We wake up in the morning, look out the window at the mountains, come to work, and can’t believe how much fun we’re having,” Ryan says. Bonfires and pinch-me moments are now part of daily life.
For the Colvins, Halcyon Days is more than a business; it’s a philosophy tied to simpler times. “We want to be an environment where people can just come and relax,” Ryan explains. The cidery’s production facility, built in 2022, is small-batch and hands-on, blending old-world techniques with modern technology. The orchard itself is a living museum, with 50 varieties of heirloom and heritage apples—including the Virginia Hewes Crab, the Harrison, Arkansas Black, and Golden Russet—each with a story rooted in the region’s agricultural past.
At the heart of the property lies a labyrinth, originally designed by Larry, the previous owner, a retired architect, with nothing more than a string and a tape measure. The space invites quiet reflection, blending history, nature, and community.
With ciders for every palate and stories created by every guest, Halcyon Days’ sips are as varied as the apples themselves. “Cider is a really cool medium because you can back-flavor or give somebody something unique,” Ryan says. Whether you’re a first-time taster or a seasoned aficionado, the Colvins are eager to share their passion and their process. Ryan, a longtime homebrewer, took a crash course at the Cider Institute of North America and isn’t above consulting YouTube when a new challenge arises. Liz, meanwhile, runs the tap room, leads marketing, and ensures every guest feels at home.
For those seeking more than just a taste, Halcyon Days offers an invitation: Walk the labyrinth, sip cider among the apple trees, and discover the magic of a place where legacy, community, and savoring natural beauty converge. The Colvins’ leap of faith has become a gift to all who visit—a crisp reminder that the life you were meant to live might be waiting just around the next bend.
This article originally appeared in the June 2026 issue.
