From a chance meeting to a family-run cidery
Just outside Lexington, Halcyon Days Cider Co. is the kind of small business that ties personal history to place. Ryan and Liz Colvin left and returned to the region that shaped them. Their decision to settle near the Blue Ridge culminated in a purchase of a longstanding orchard and a cidery they describe as a second chapter.
The couple leapt into the enterprise with the help of the previous owners, who remain involved. The changeover blended continuity with new energy: the orchard’s legacy provided a base while the Colvins brought fresh ideas and a family-focused approach to hospitality and production.
What visitors find at the taproom
The taproom showcases a rotating lineup of ciders and an emphasis on creative flavor profiles. Visitors are drawn not only by the classic apple expressions but by inventive offerings — like a dessert-inspired variant — that highlight the cidery’s willingness to experiment within a traditional craft.
- Family story: founders Ryan and Liz Colvin, who returned to the region after years away.
- Legacy orchard: the site’s established fruit trees and community history.
- Distinctive flavors: traditional ciders alongside seasonal and novelty varieties.
- Community ties: previous owners remained supportive during the transition.
"We wanted to do something together we'd never done and create a legacy," Liz says.
Timeline of a return
The Colvins' journey is shaped by decades of events that ultimately led them back to the Blue Ridge foothills:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Ryan and Liz meet on a baseball field in Wellsville, N.Y. |
| 2001 | Ryan graduates from Virginia Military Institute |
| Recent years | Family returns to the Lexington area and purchases Halcyon Days |
Why this matters for the region
Halcyon Days is part of a larger trend in the Commonwealth: small farms and orchards finding new life through craft beverage production and agritourism. For towns like Lexington, those operations boost weekend visitation, provide local jobs and help preserve agricultural land. The Colvins’ emphasis on community and continuity underscores how such enterprises can anchor rural economies while offering visitors a distinctly local experience.
For Virginians curious to visit, the cidery offers a taproom experience rooted in personal history and orchard-grown fruit. The presence of supportive former owners signals a collaborative handoff rather than a complete reinvention, a detail that matters to neighbors and longtime patrons.
As Halcyon Days continues to develop its offerings and welcome guests, it joins a growing roster of Blue Ridge producers balancing tradition with new tastes — a practical example of how local enterprise can both honor the past and create a viable future.
